The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 3: Oxford, Oriel College, MS 79 (O) version of 30 December 2003 William Langland Edited by Katherine Heinrichs Graduate Research Assistants Patricia Bart, Michael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Peter Eubanks, Paul Fyfe, Paul Gaffney, Janice McCoy, Chloe Smith, Timothy L. Stinson, Jordan Taylor, and Keicy Tolbert. Computer Consultants and Programmers Shayne Brandon, Kirk V. Hastings, Richard A. Peterson, Daniel Pitti, Jonathan Rodney, and John Unsworth. Published for the Medieval Academy of America and The Society for Early English and Norse Electronic Texts (SEENET) by Boydell and Brewer Ltd. Cambridge ISBN: 1843840251

copyright 2004, by SEENET

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2004

SEENET A.5

Oxford, Oriel College, MS 79

late 14th or early 15th century Source copy consulted: Oxford, Oriel College, MS 79

brown ink anglicana bastarda italic Lombard Cap ornamented capital, N lines high rubricated touched in red textura underlined underlined in red green ink blue ink

Latin French German May, 2001 cataloger Patricia Bart New header created P ers plowman

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: Et s in e v erbo rum  sonitu . fit doctor eo rum Ip se tua m me nte m  regat & faciat sapie nte m Recte c redente m  monitos q ue bonos retine nte m Vt b en e viue ndo  ma ndata q ue sana sequendo Leticia m v ere  luc is . m erearis habere Q ue teneb ras nescit  miro q ue decore nitescit Et cuicu m que dat ur  s in e fine beatificat ur H oc t ibi det mun us  q ui regnat t rin us & vn us . ame n.

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 Pers Plowman." They are the final eight lines of the <foreign lang="lat" TEIform="foreign">Carmen Paraeneticum ad Rainaldum</foreign> , a twelfth-century poem of unknown authorship ( PL 184, 1307A-1314C). Thanks are owed to Michael Blum for the research that led to the identification of this fragment.

I N a somer sesoun  whanne soft was þe sunne I schope me in schroudes  as I a scheep were In habyt as an heremyt  vnholi of werkis Wente wyde in þis world  wondres to heere Ac on a may mornyng  on Maluerne hillis Me befel a ferly  of fayrie me þouȝte I was wery for -wandrid  and wente me to rest Vndir a brood bank  bi a bornes syde And as I lay & lenede  & lokede in þe watris I slumbrede in a slepyng  it sweyuede O.P.10: This word caused scribal confusion. YC 2CL share the reading of O; other variants include sweyd (G), swyȝed (HmCRF), sweyed (WM), and sweuenyd (H). Although the MED relates the form swiȝede in the corresponding line of the C-text (Trinity MS) to swevenen, "to dream," Skeat's gloss on sweyued as meaning "flowed, rippled along" (Dan. svæve) accords better with the sense of the line. However, the MED lists no forms of sweien with a medial <u>. Schmidt (363) adopts the reading of ZA, sweyed, which he glosses as "sounded." Kane and Donaldson adopt this form as well. so myrie Þanne gan I to meten  a merueylous sweuene Þ at I was in wildernesse  wiste I neuere where As I behelde in -to þe est  on hyȝ to þe sunne I sawȝ a toure on a toft  triedliche O.P.14: The form triedliche, meaning "excellently," appears in ME only here and in The Destruction of Troy 3054, 9786, 10583 (cited in MED). Variants include trieliche (WGYLF), trychlych (Cr 3), ryaly (H), rieliche (CM), rychely (HMCR 12), and reallecle (C 2). Kane and Donaldson adopt trieliche. I -maked A deep dale byneþe  a dongeou n þ er -Inne Wiþ depe dichis & derke  & dredeful of syȝt A faire feeld ful of folk  fonde I þere bitwene Of al man ere of men  þe mene & þe riche Worchynge & wandrynge  as þe world askiþ Su mme putte hem to þe plow  pleyede ful seelde In settynge & souwynge  swonken ful harde And wonnen þat wastouris  in O.P.22: GOC 2 alone have in in place of correctly alliterating with. glotenye distroyen And su mme putten hem to pride  apparayleden hem þ er -after In countenaunce of cloþing  coomen disgysed In preyere O.P.25: OC 2 alone have the singular form. & in penaunce  putten hem many Al for loue of oure lord  lyueden ful streyte In hope for to haue  heuene -riche blisse As ancres & heremytis  þat holde n he m in her selles And coueyten not in contre  to cayren aboute For no likerous lijflode  her lickam to plese And su mme chosen chaffare  þei cheuen þe better As it semet to oure siȝt  þ at swiche O.P.32: OC 2 alone lack a word between swiche and þryuen; most B manuscripts have men. þryuen Minyst ralis And su mme myrþes to make  as mynyst rales ku nnen And geten gold wiþ her gle  not O.P.34: OC 2 alone include the negative. synles I leue As iapers & iangeleris  Iudas children Þat O.P.36: YOC 2M alone include Þat. feynen hem fantasies  & foles hem maken And han her witt at her wille  to wirche if þei schulden O.P.37: OC 2 alone have the form schulden; most B manuscripts have schulde. Q ui no n laborat no n ma nducet O.P.38: This line is divided after laborat , so that it appears opposite ll. 38-39. Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this gloss, which occurs only in OC 2, on the grounds that it is scribal. Þat poul prechiþ of hem  I nyle not preue it heere Qui turpiloq uiu m loq uit ur  is lucifers knaue Bidderis & beggeris  faste aboute ȝieden O.P.40: OC 2 alone have the form ȝieden; all other beta witnesses have yede. Wiþ her bely & her baggys  of breed ful I -cra mmyd Faiteden for her fode  fauȝten at O.P.42: OC 2 alone lack þe before ale. ale In glotenye . god it woot  goon þei to bedde And rysen wiþ ribaudie  þe O.P.44: OC 2 alone have þe; most B manuscripts have þo. roberdis knaues Sleep & sory slouþe  suen he m euere Pilgrymys & palmeris  pliȝteden O.P.46: OC 2 alone have the form pliȝteden; variants include plyght (Cr), plighted (YLM), pyghtyn (F), pyth (H), gedir (C), and pliȝten (WHmG). hem to -gyderes Pilg rimys To seke seynt Iames  & seyntis in Rome Þey wenten forþ in her wey  wiþ many wise tales And hadden leue for to lye  al her lijf after I seyȝ su mme þat seyden  þei hadden I -souȝt seyntis To iche a tale þat þei tolden O.P.51: OC 2 alone have the form tolden in place of tolde.  her tunge was te mperid to lye More þan O.P.52: OC 2 alone lack to before the infinitive. seye soþ  it semede . bi her speche Heremytis on an heep  wiþ hoked staues Wenten to walsyngh am  & her wenchis after heremytis Grete lobyes & longe  þat loþ weren to swynke Cloþeden hem in copis  to be knowen from oþ ere And schopen hem heremytis  her ese to haue I fonde þere freris  alle þe foure ordres Freris Precheden þe peple  for p rofiȝt of hem -seluen Gloseden þe gospel  as hem good likede For coueytise of copes  construeden it . as þei wolden O.P.61: OC 2 alone have the form wolden; most B manuscripts have wolde. Many of þeise maystre freris  mowen cloþen he m at likyng For her money & marchaundises O.P.62: OYC 2C alone have the plural form.  marchen to -gyderis For siþ charite haþ ben chapman  & cheef to schryue lordis charitas Many ferlies han fallen  in a fewe ȝieris But holi chirche & þei  holde bettre to -gyderis Þe moost myscheef on erþe O.P.67: OC 2 alone have erþe in place of molde.  is mountynge vp wel O.P.67: OC 2 alone include both vp and wel. faste Perdonneris Þere p rechede a p ardoner  as he a preest were Brouȝte forþ a bulle  wiþ bischoppis seelis And seyde þ at hym -self myȝte  assoylen he m alle Of falshed of fastyng  & of vowes Ibroken Lewede men leueden O.P.72: O alone has the form leueden; most B manuscripts have leued. hy m wel  & likeden hise wordis Comen vp knelynge  to kissen hise bulles He bunchede hem wiþ his breuet  & blerede her yen And rauȝte wiþ his ragman  rynges & broches Þus þei gyuen her gold  glotounes to kepe And louen O.P.77: OC 2 alone have louen; most B manuscripts have leneþ. siche loselis  þat leccherie haunten Were þe bischop Iblessid  & worþ hise boþe O.P.78: O alone transposes boþe hise. eres His seel schulde not be sent  to disceyue þe peple Ac it is not bi þe bischop  þ at þe boye prechiþ For þe parisch preest & þe p ardoner  parten þe siluer Þat þe pore porayle O.P.82: YOC 2M alone have pore porayle; variants include pore men (F), poraille (WHmCL), and pouerty (Cr). Kane and Donaldson emend to pouere peple. of þe parisch  schulde haue . if þei ne were Curatis Persounes & p arisch prestis  pleyneden O.P.83: O alone has the form pleyneden; most B manuscripts have pleyned. hem to þe bischop Þ at her parisches weren pore  siþ þe pestelence tyme To haue a licence & leue  at london to dwelle And syngen þere for symonye  for siluer is swete Bischoppis & bacheleris  boþe maystres & doctouris Þat han cure vndir crist  & crownyng in tokene And signe . þ at þei schulden  schryuen her parischenes Prechen & preye for hem  & þe pore fede Liggen in london  in lente n and ellis Su mme s eruen þe kyng  & his siluer tellen In checker & in chauncerie  chalengen hise dettis Of wardis of O.P.94: HmOC 2H alone have of; variants include & (CrGYCLM) and and of (WRFH). wardmotes  of weyues of O.P.94: HmOC 2 alone have of in place of and before streyues. streyues And su mme s eruen as s eruauntis  lordis & ladyes And in stede of stiwardis  sitten & demen Her messe & her mateyns  & many of her ouris Arn doon vn -deuoutliche  drede is at þe last Lest crist in consistorie  curse O.P.99: OC 2 alone have curse; most B manuscripts have acorse. ful many I p arceyuede of þe power  þat peter hadde to kepe To bynde & to vnbynde  as þe book telliþ How he . it self O.P.102: OC 2 alone have self; most B manuscripts have lefte. wiþ loue  as oure lord hyȝte Among ys foure v ertues  þe best of alle vertues Þat cardynalis ben clepid  & closyng ȝatis Þere crist is in kyngdam  to close & to schitte And to opene it to hem  & heuene blis schewe Ac of þe cardynalis at court  þat cauȝten of þat name Ac O.P.108: O alone has Ac; all other beta witnesses have And. power p resumeden O.P.108: O alone has presumeden; all other beta witnesses have presumed. in hem  a pope to make To haue þat power þat petir hadde  Impugne it O.P.109: OC 2 alone include it before I. I nylle For in loue & lettrure  þe elecciou n bilongeþ For -þi I can & I O.P.111: OC 2H alone include I before the second occurrence of can. can not  of court speke more Þanne cam þ er a kyng  knyȝthod hym ladde Myȝt of þe comunes  made hym to regne And þanne kam kynde witt  & klerkis he made For to counceyle þe kyng  & þe comune saue Þe kyng & knyȝthod  & clergye boþe Casten þ at þe comune  schulden O.P.117: OC 2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde. hem -self fynde Þe comune contreuede  of kynde witt . craftes And for p rofiȝt of al þe peple  plowmen ordeyneden O.P.119: O alone has the form ordeyneden; all other beta witnesses have ordeyned. To tilie & trauayle  as trewe lijf askeþ Þe kyng & þe comune  & kynde witt . þe þridde Schopen lawe & leute  iche man to knowe his owne Þanne lokede vp a lunatyk  a lene þing wiþ -al And knelynge to þe kyng  clergiali he seyde Crist kepe þee sir kyng  & þe þi kyng -riche And lene þee to O.P.126: OYC 2M alone include to before lede. lede þi lond  so leute þee louye And for þi riȝtful rewlyng  be rewardid in heuene And siþþen in þe eir on hyȝ  an aungel of heuene Lowede to speke in latyn  for lewede men ne kouden O.P.129: OC 2M alone have the form kouden; all other beta witnesses have koude. Iangle ne Iugge  þat Iustifie hem schulde But suffren & s eruen  for -þi seyde þe aungel v ersus Su m rex su m p rinceps  neutru m fortasse deinceps O q ui iura regis  cristi . sp ecialia regis Hoc quod agas meli us  iust us es . esto pius Nudu m ius a te  vestiri vult pietate Qualia vis metere  talia g rana sere Si ius nudat ur  nudo de iure metat ur Si serit ur pietas  de pietate metas 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. Þa nne greuede hym a goliardeys  a glotoun of wordis And to þe aungel on hyȝ  answerede after v ersus Cu m O.P.141: YOC 2C alone have Cum in place of Dum . rex a regere  dicat ur nomen habere Nomen habet sine re  nisi studet iura tenere O.P.142: A bracket in the right margin connects the preceding two lines; a wavy line joins l. 141 to the bracket. Þanne gan alle þe comunes  crie . in vers of latyn To þe kyng ys counceyl  construe . who -so wolde v ersus Precepta regis  sunt nobis vincula legis O.P.145: This line is followed by three ticks. Ratounes . Wiþ þat ran þer a route  of ratounes at ones And smale myce wiþ hem  moo þan a þousand And comen to a counceyl  for her comune p rofiȝt For a cat of a court  cam whanne hym likede And ou erleepe hem lyȝtly  & lauȝte hem at his wille And pleyede wiþ he m p erelouslich  & possede he m aboute For doute of dyuerse dedes O.P.152: OC 2 alone have dedes in place of drede(s).  we doren O.P.152: O alone has doren; all other beta witnesses have dar. not wel loke And if we grucchen of hys gamen  he wole g reue vs alle Cracche vs & clawe vs  & in hise cloches holde Þ at vs loþeþ þe lijf  or he lete vs passe Myȝten O.P.156: OC 2 alone have the form Myȝten; all other beta witnesses have Miȝte. we wiþ any witt  his wille wiþ -stonde We myȝten be lordis a -loft  & lyuen at oure ese A Ratou n of renou n  moost renable of tunge Seyde for a souereyn  help . to hym -seluen O.P.159: OC 2 alone have hym-seluen; all other beta witnesses have hymselue. I haue seyn segges quod he  in þe cite of london Beren byes ful bryȝt  abouten her neckis And su mme colers of crafty werk  vncoupled þei wenden Boþe in wareyn & in wast  where hem leue likiþ And oþ er -whyle . þei arn ell is -where  as I here telle Were þ er a belle on her byes O.P.165: YOC alone have the plural form.  bi iesu as me þinkeþ Men myȝten wite where þei wenten O.P.166: OC 2 alone have the form wenten in place of wente.  & awey renne And riȝt so quod þe O.P.167:   GOC 2F alone have þe in place of þat. ratou n  resou n me schewiþ To bigge a belle of brasse  or of bryȝt siluer And knytte on a koler  for oure comune p rofiȝt And hange it vp -on þe cattis hals  þa nne . here we mowen O.P.170: This and the preceding line are encompassed by a very lightly written red parenthesis in the right margin. Where he rit or restiþ  or renneþ to pleye And if hym liste for to layke  þa nne loke we mowen And peren in his p resence  þ er -while hym pleye likiþ And if hym wraþþeþ be ywar  & his weye schonye Al þis route of ratounes  to þis resou n assenteden O.P.175: O alone has the form assenteden in place of assented. Ac þoo þe belle was I -bouȝt  & on þe bye hangyd Þ er ne was ratoun in al þe route  for al þe rewme of fraunce Þat durste haue bounde þe belle  aboute þe cattis necke Ne hangen it aboute þe cattis hals  al Englond to wynne O.P.179: The letter <E> has been rewritten in the right margin in the main scribal hand, apparently because the <E> in Englond is ill-formed. And helden hem vnhardi  & her counceyl feble Myce And leeten her labour lost  & her longe studie A mous þat myche good  couþe . as me þouȝte Stroke forþ sterneli  & stode bi -forn hem alle And to þe O.P.184: OC 2 alone here lack the object of the prepositional phrase, and thus the first alliterating stave. Most B manuscripts have route of. ratounes  rehercede þeise wordis aiij Þouȝ we killeden O.P.175: O alone has the form killeden; variants include haddyn kyllyd (F), had Iculled (R), kylled (C 2), kulled (CLM), killen (WHmG), and kylle (HYCr). þe cat  ȝet schulde þ er come an -oþ er To cracche vs and al oure kynde  þouȝ we cropen vnd er benchis For -þi I cou nceyle al þe comune  to latte þe cat worthe And be we neu ere so bold  þe belle hym to schewe For I herde my sire seyn  is seuene ȝer ypassed Þere þe cat is a kitou n  þe court is ful elenge Þat witnessiþ holi writ  who -so wole it rede Ve t erre  vbi puer est Rex O.P.192: HmOC 2R alone transpose Rex est . & c etera . For may no renke þere rest haue  for ratou ns bi nyȝt Þe whyle he cacchiþ conynges  he coueitiþ not oure careyne But fet hym wiþ venysou n  defame we hym neuere For better is a litil losse  þan a longe sorwe Þe mase among ys vs alle  þouȝ we mysse a schrewe For many me nnys malt  we myce wolden distroye And also þe route of ratou ns  rende me nnys cloþis Nere þat cat of þat court  þat can ȝow ou er -lepe For hadden O.P.201: O alone has the form hadden in place of hadde or omission. ȝe rattis ȝoure wille  ȝe couþen O.P.201: O alone has the form couþen in place of kouþe. not reule ȝow -selue I seye for me quod þe mous  I se so mykil after Schal neuere þe cat ne þe kitou n  bi my cou nceyl be greuyd Ne carpyng of þis coler  þat costede me neuere And þouȝ it hadde cost me catel  biknowe it . I nolde But suffre . as hym -self wolde  to do as hym likiþ Couplid & vncouplid  to cacche . what þei mowen For -þi . iche a wyse wyȝt  I warne . wite wel his owne What þeise O.P.209: YOC 2 alone have the plural form. metels bemenett O.P.209:It would seem that O alone has bemenett, which Kane and Donaldson do not record. C 2 has bemenet.  ȝe men þat ben myrie Dyuyne ȝe . for I ne dar  bi dere god in heuene Ȝet houeden O.P.211: O alone has the form houeden; most B manuscripts have houed. þere an hundred in howues of silk Sergeauntis it semeden  þat s erueden at þe barre Plededen for penyes  & poundis . þe lawe And not for loue of oure lord  vnlose her lippis ones Þow myȝtist better . mete þe myst  on malu eren hillis Þan gete a mu mme of her mouþe  but money be schewid Barou ns & burgeys  and bonde -men also I seyȝ in þis assemble  as ȝe schul here after Baxters & brewsters  and bocheris manye Wollen websteris  and weueris of lynnen Taylouris & tynkeris  & tolleris in markettis Masou ns & mynouris  & many oþere craftis Of alle kyn libbynge laboreris  lopen forþ su mme As dykers & deluers . þat doon her dedis ille 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. And dryuen forþ þe longe day . wiþ dieu vous saue dame Emme Cookes Cookes & her knaues  cryeden hote pyes hote Goode gees & grys  go we dyne go we Tau erners vn -til hem  tolden þe same Whyte wiyn of Oseye  & rede wiyn of Gascoigne Of þe Ryne & of O.P.230: O alone lacks þe before Rochel. Rochel  þe roost to deffye Al þis sawe I slepynge  & seuene syþes more . Primus passus O.1.000: The heading is divided after Primus , so that it appears as two lines. w W Hat þis mountayn bemeneþ  & þe merk dale And þe feeld ful of folk  I schal ȝow fayre schewe A louely lady of lere  i n lynnen I -cloþed Come doun from a castel  & callede me fayre And seyde sone slepist þou  seest þ ou þis peple How bisy þei been  aboute þe mase Þe moost p artie of þis peple  þat passen on þis erþe Haue þei worschip i n þis world  þei wilnen no better Of oþ er heuene þan here  holden þei no tale I was a -feerd of hir face  þouȝ sche fayr were And seyde m ercy ma -dame  what is þis to mene Þe tour vp þe toft quod sche  truþe is þ er -i nne And wolde þat ȝe wrouten  as his word techiþ For he O.1.14: O alone lacks is before fadir. fadir of feiþ  formede ȝow alle Boþe wiþ felle & wiþ face  & ȝaf ȝow fyve wittis For to worschipe hy m þ er -wiþ  þe whyle ȝe been here And þ er -fore . he hyȝte þe erþe  to helpe ȝow ichone Of wollen . of lynnen  of lyflode at nede In mesurable maner  to make ȝow at ese And comaundede of his c urteisie  i n comune . þre þing ys Arn noon nedeful but þoo  O.1.21: OC 2 alone lack and before nempne. nempne he m I þinke And reckene he m bi resou n  reherce ȝe he m after Þat oon . is vesture  from chele þee to saue And mete at meele  for myseise of þi -selue And drynk wha nne þ ou dryest  ac do not out of resou n Þ at þ ou worþe þe werse  wha nne þ ou worche schuldest For loth in his lijf -dayes  for likyng of drynk Dide bi hise douȝtres  þat þe deuel likede Delitede hy m i n drink  as þe deuel wolde And leccherie hy m lauȝte  & lay bi hem boþe O.1.30: OC 2 here lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "And al he witte it wyn þat wikked dede." Ineb riem us eu m vino . dormiam usq ue cu m eo vt s eruare possim us de p atre n ostro semen . Þoruȝ wiyn & þoruȝ wo mmen  þ ere was loth acombred And þ ere he gate in glotenye  gyrles þat weren cherles For -þi drede delitable drynk  & þ ou schalt do þe better Mesure is medicyne  þouȝ þ ou myche ȝerne It is not al good for þe goost  þat þe gutte askeþ Ne lijflode to þi likham  þat leef is to þi O.1.37: Of the manuscripts which include the line in this form, OC 2RF alone have þi in place of þe. soule Leeue þ ou not O.1.38: OC 2 alone have þ ou not in place of nauȝt. þi likham  for a lyer hym techeþ Þat is a O.1.39: OC 2 alone have a in place of þe. wrecchid world  wolde þee bitraye For þe feend & þi flesch  folewen þe e to -gydere Þis & þat seeþ þi soule  & seiþ O.1.41: OC 2 alone lack it before i n . i n þin herte And for þ ou schuldest been I -war  I wisse þee þe bettre O.1.42: OC 2 alone have bettre in place of beste. Ma -dame m ercy quod I  me likeþ wel ȝoure wordes Ac þe money of þis moold  þat men so fast holden Telle me to whom ma -dame  þat tresore appendeþ Go to þe gospel quod sche  þat god seyde hym -seluen peple O.1.47: A solidus/punctus above temple and another above the marginal addition indicate that it is intended as a substitution, although such a reading is unattested elsewhere and to adopt it would destroy the sense of the line. To O.1.47: OC 2 alone have To; most B manuscripts have Tho. þe peple þat O.1.47: OC 2 alone include þat. hy m apposede  wiþ a peny in þe temple Wheþ er þei schulden þ er -wiþ  wo rschipe þe kyng Cesar And god askede of he m  of whom spake þe lettre And þe ymage Ilike  þat þ er -inne O.1.50: An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in inne. stondiþ Cesaris . þei seyden  we seen hy m wel ichone Reddite cesari . quod god  þat cesari bifalleþ Et que su nt dei . deo  or ellis ȝe doon yuele O.1.53: OC 2 alone have yuele in place of ille. For riȝtful resou n  schulde rule ȝow alle And kynde witt be wardeyn  ȝoure welþe to kepe And tuto ur of ȝoure tresore  & take it ȝow at nede And O.1.57: OC 2 alone have And in place of For. housbondrie & þei O.1.57: GOC 2 alone have þei in place of a correctly alliterating pronoun beginning with <h> ( he, heo, hij, hy).  holden to -gydere Þa nne I fraynede hir faire  for hy m þat hir made Þat dongeou n i n þe dale  þat dredeful is of syȝt What may it be to mene  ma -dame . I ȝow bis eche Þat is þe castel of care  who -so comeþ þ er -inne O.1.61: An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in inne. May banne . þ at he born was  to body & O.1.62: GOC 2H alone have & in place of or. to soule Þ er -inne wonyeþ a wyȝt  þat . wrong . is I -hote Fadir of falshed  and foundede it hy m -selue Adam and Eue  he eggede to ille Counceylede Caym  to killen his broþ er Iudas he iapede  wiþ Iuwen syluer And siþen on an eller  hangede hy mselue after He is letter of loue  & lyeþ hem alle Þat tristen on his tresore  bitrayeþ he su nnest Þa nne hadde I Þa nne hadde I wonder i n my witt  what wo mman it were Þat swyche wyse wordis  of holi writ schewede And askede hir i n O.1.73: HmOC 2C alone have in; most B manuscripts have on. þe hye name  er sche þe nnys ȝede What sche were wittirli  þat wissede me so faire Holi chirche Holi chirche I am quod sche  þou ouȝtest me to knowe I vnd erfonge þee first  & þee O.1.76: O alone has the form þee; most B manuscripts have þe. feiþ tauȝte And þ ou O.1.77: HmOC 2 alone have And þ ou in place of And or Thou alone. brouȝtest me borwes  my biddyng to fulfille And to loue me leelli  þe while þi lijf dureþ Þa nne I courbede on my knees  & cryede hir of g race And preyede hir pitousli  preye for my synnes And also . kenne me kyndeli  on crist to beleeue Þ at I myȝte worche his wille  þat wrouȝte me to man Teche me to no tresore  but telle me þis ilke How I may saue my soule  þat seynt art yholden Wha nne alle tresores been I -tryed O.1.85: OC 2 alone have I-tryed; most B manuscripts have tried quod she.  truþe is þe best I do it on deus caritas  to deme þe soþe It is as derworþe a drurye  as dere god hy m -seluen Who -so is trewe of his tunge  & telliþ noon oþ er And O.1.89: OC 2 alone lack some variant of doþ before þe werkis, obscuring the sense of the line. þe werkis þ er -wiþ  & wilneþ no man ille He is a god bi þe gospel  on ground & on loft And Ilike to oure lord  bi seynt lukes wordis Þe clerkis þat knowen þis  schulde n kenne it aboute For cristen & vncristen  cleymen it ichoou n Kyngys & knyȝtis  schulden kepen it bi resou n Riden & rappen adou n  in rewmes aboute Knyȝthode And take transgressouris  & tyen hem fast Til truþe hadde I -t ermyned  her trespasse to þe eende And þat is þe O.1.98: A small round hole in the vellum, present at the time of copying, appears between is and þe. p rofessiou n ap ertli  þat appendiþ to knyȝtis And not to fasten a fryday  i n fyue score wynter But holden wiþ hy m & wiþ hir  þat wolde n al truþe And neu ere leue he m for loue  ne for lacchyng of sylu er For dauid i n his dayes  dubbede knyȝtis And dide he m swere on her swerd  to s erue truþe eu ere And who -so passede þe O.1.104: OC 2 alone have þe in place of þat. poynt  is O.1.104: YOC 2M alone have the present-tense form. apostata i n þe ordre But crist kyngen kyng  knyȝtede ten Cherubyn & Seraphyn  swyche seuene & an -oþ er And ȝaf he m myȝt i n his mageste  þe myrier he m þouȝte And ou er hise mene meyne  made he m archaungelis Tauȝte he m bi þe t rinite  truþe to knowe a 1 To be buxu m at his biddyng  he bade he m nouȝt ellis Lucifer wiþ legiounes  lernede it in heuene But for he brake buxu mnesse  his blis gan he tyne And fel fro þat felawschipe  i n a feendis liknesse In -to a depe derk helle  to dwelle þ ere for eu ere And moo þouȝsandis wiþ hy m  þa n man couþe nou mbre Loopen out wiþ lucifer  in loþeliche forme For þei leeueden vp -on hy m  þat lyede i n þis manere Pona m pede m meu m O.1.118: GOC 2 alone include meum with pedem , although H has the reading sedem meam. i n aq uilone & si milis ero altissi mo And alle þat hopede n it myȝte be so  noon heuene myȝte he m holde But fellen out i n feendis liknesse  nyne dayes to -gydere Til god of his goodnesse  gan stable & stynte And garte þe heuene to stekye  & stonden i n quiete Wha nne þeise wickide wenten out  wonderwyse þei fellen Su mme i n þe erþe O.1.124: OC 2MF alone have þe erþe in this position in the line. Variants include Eyr (HmCrGL), þe eyr (WCH), and erthe (YR). . su mme i n þe eyre  & su mme i n helle depe Ac lucifer lowest  liyþ of hem alle For pride þat he puttede O.1.127: OC 2 alone have the form puttede; most B manuscripts have putte. out  his peyne haþ noon eende And alle þat worchen wiþ wrong  wenden þei schulle Aft er her deþ -day O.1.128: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original day deþ.  & dwelle wiþ þat schrewe Ac þoo þat worchen wel  as holi writ telleþ And eenden as I erst O.1.130: OC 2 alone have erst; most B manuscripts have er. seyde  i n truþe þat is best Mowen be siker þ at her soule  schal wende to heuene Þ ere truþe is i n t rinite  & troneþ he m alle For -þi . I seye as I seyde eer  bi siȝt of þeise textis O.1.133: OC 2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Whan alle tresors arn tried truþe is þe best." Lereþ it þeise O.1.134: WYOC 2 alone have þeise; variants include this (HmCrCLR), thys ye (GF), and ye (M). lewede men  for lettred me n it knowen Þ at truþe is tresore  þe triest on erþe Ȝit haue I no kynde knowy ng q uod I  ȝit mote ȝe kenne me bett er Bi what craft i n my coors  it comseþ & where O.1.137: A small round hole in the vellum, present at the time of copying, appears in the right margin. Þ ou doted daffe quod sche  dulle arn þi wittis To litel lateyn þ ou lernedest  leode in þi ȝouþe Heu m ichi q uia sterile m  duxi vita m Iuuenile m It is a kynde knowyng q uod schehe O.1.141: A solidus/punctus above sche and the marginal addition indicate that it is intended as a substitution. As he is not the feminine singular pronoun used by the main scribe, the correction may represent either an error or an attempt to bring the text into conformity with the corrector's own dialect.  þat kenneþ i n þin herte For to louye þi lord  leuere þan þi -seluen No dedli sy nne to do  deye þouȝ þou schuldest Þis I trowe be truþe  who can teche þee bette O.1.144: O alone has bette in place of bettre. Loke þ ou suffre hy m to seye  & siþen lere it after For þ us witnessiþ his word  worche þ ou þ er -after For truþe telleþ þ at loue  is triacle in O.1.147: YOC 2 alone have in; most B manuscripts have of. heuene May no sy nne be on hy m sene  þat vseþ þat spice And alle hise werkis he wrouȝte  wiþ loue as hym liste And lernede it Moyses for O.1.150: OC 2F alone lack þe before leuest. leuest þi ng  & moost like O.1.150: A solidus/punctus above like, accompanied by a marginal caret/punctus, mark like for deletion. i n O.1.150: OC 2 alone have i n in place of to. heuene And also þe plente of pees  moost p recious of v ertues For heuene myȝte not holde it  it was so heuy of hy m -selue Til it hadde of þe erþe  eten his fille And wha nne it hadde of þe folde  flesch & blode O.1.153: OC 2 alone lack take(n) at the end of this line. Was neu ere leef vp -on lynde  liȝter þ er -after And portatyf & p ersau nt  as þe poynt of a nedel Þat myȝte noon armure it lette  ne noon hye wallis For -þi . is loue leder  of þe lordis folk of heuene And a mene as þe meyr is  bitwixe þe kyng & þe comou ns Riȝt so is loue a leder  & þe lawe schapiþ Vp -on man for hise mysdedis  þe m ercyment he taxiþ And for to knowe it kyndeli  it comseþ bi myȝt And i n þe herte . þ er is þe hed  & þe hye welle For i n kynde knowyng i n herte  þ ere a myȝt bigynneþ And þat falliþ to þe fadir  þat formede vs alle Lokede on vs wiþ loue  & leete his sone deye Mekeli for oure mysdedis  to amende vs alle And ȝit wolde he he m no woo  þat wrouȝte n hy m þat peyne But mekelich bi O.1.169: OC 2 alone have bi in place of wiþ. mouþe  m ercy he bisouȝte To haue pite on þat peple  þat peynede hym to deþ Here myȝtist þ ou se ensau mples  i n hym -seluen O.1.171: OC 2 alone have hym-seluen in place of hymself. one Þ at he was myȝtful & meke  & m ercy gan g raunte To he m þat hongen hy m on hyȝ  & his herte þirled For -þi I rede ȝow riche  haue reuþe of þe pore Þouȝ ȝe been myȝtful to mote  beþ meke i n ȝoure werkis For þe same mesures þat ȝe meten  amys oþ er ellis Ȝe schul be weyen þ erwiþ  wha nne ȝe wenden hennys Ead em me nsura q ua mensi fu erit is  remeciet ur vobis For þouȝ ȝe be trewe of ȝoure tunge  & trulich wy nnen And as chaast as a chiyld  þat i n chirche wepiþ But if ȝe loue lellich  & lene þe pore Swich good as god ȝow sente  goodelich parteþ  Ȝe ne han no more m eryte  i n masse ne i n oures Þan malkyn of hir maydenhood  þat no man desireþ For Iames þe gentil  iuggede in hise bokis Þ at feiþ wiþ -outen þe feite  is riȝt no -þi ng worþi And as deed as a dore -tre  but if þe dedis folewen O.1.187: OC 2 alone have the form folewen; all other beta witnesses have folwe. Fides s in e op erib us  mortua est . a 2 For -þi . chastite wiþ -outen charite  worþ cheyned i n helle It is as lewed as a lau mpe  þat no liȝt is Inne Many chapeleyns arn chaast  ac charite is a -weye Arn no men auerouser þan þei  wha nne þei been auaunced Vnkynde to her kyn  & to alle cristen Chewen her charite  & chiden after more Swich chastite wiþ -oute n charite  worþ cheyned i n helle Many curatouris kepen he m  clene of her bodies Þei been acombred wiþ coueytise  þei cun not do it from hem So harde haþ auarice  yhasped he m to -gyderis And þat is in O.1.199: OC 2 alone have in, which has been added above the line. All other beta witnesses have no. truþe of þe t rinite  but treccherie of helle And lernyng to lewede men  þe latter for to deele For -þi . þeise wordis  ben writen i n þe gospel Date & dabit ur vobis  for I deele ȝow alle And þat is þe lokke of loue  & lateþ out my g race To cou nforte þe careful  acombrid wiþ synne Loue is leche of liyf  & next oure lord seluen O.1.205: OC 2 alone have seluen in place of selue. And also þe greiþ gate  þat goþ in -to heuene For -þi I seye as I seyde erst O.1.207: OC 2 alone have erst; most B manuscripts have er. .  bi þe trewe O.1.207: OC 2 alone include trewe, which is marked for deletion by a solidus/punctus above and a caret/punctus in the right margin. textis Wha nne alle tresores been ytried  truþe is þe best Now haue I told þee what truþe is  þ at no tresore is better I may no lenger lenge þee wiþ  now loke þee oure lord Secundus Passus . O.2.000: The heading is divided after Secundus , so that it appears as two lines. 2 us pass us ȝ Ȝ it I courbede on my knees  & criede hir of g race And seyde m ercy ma -dame  for marie loue of heuene Þat bare þat blisful barn  þat bouȝte vs on þe rode Kenne me bi su m craft  for O.2.4:  GOC 2 alone include for. to knowe þe fals Loke vp -on þi left half  & lo where sche O.2.5: OC 2 alone have sche; most B manuscripts have he. standiþ Boþe fals & fauel  & her feres many I lokede on my left half  as þe lady me tauȝte And was war of a wo mman  worþili I -cloþed Purfilid wiþ pelure  þe fynest vp -on erþe I -crownyd wiþ a crowne  þe kyng haþ noon better Fetislich hir fyngres weren  fetrid O.2.11: OC 2C alone have fetrid in place of fretted. wiþ gold wire And þ er -onne reede rubies  as reede as any glede And dyamauntis of derrest price  & double man ere saphers Orientalis & ewages  envenymes to distroye Hir robe was ful riche  of reede scarlet engreyned Wiþ ribans of reed gold  & of riche stonys Hire aray . me raueschede  swich richesse sawe I neu ere I hadde wondir . what sche was  & whos wijf sche were What is þis wo mman quod I  so worþili atired Þat is mede þe mayden quod sche  haþ noyed me ful ofte And Ilackide my lemman  þat leute is hoten And bilowen hir to lordis  þat lawes han to kepe In þe popis paleys sche is  pryue as my -selue But soþnesse wolde not so  for sche is a bastard For fals was hir fadir  þat hadde O.2.25: YOC 2 alone have the preterite form. a fikel tunge And neu ere soþ seyde  siþ he come to erþe And Mede is man ered after hy m  riȝt as kynde askeþ Q ual is p ater tal is fili us . Bona arbor bonu m fructu m facit I auȝte been heyer þa n sche  I cam of a better My fadir þe greet god is  & ground of alle g races O god wiþ -outen gynnyng  & I his good douȝter And haþ ȝyuen me m ercy  to marie wiþ . me -selue O.2.32: OH alone have me-selue in place of myselue. And what man be m ercyful  & lelli me loueþ Schal be my lord & I his leef  i n þe hye heuene And what man takeþ mede  my lijf O.2.35: YOC 2M alone have my lijf in place of myn heed. dar I legge Þ at he schal lese for hir loue  a lappe of caritatis How co nstrueþ dauid þe kyng  of men þat taken mede And men of þis moold  þat mayntenen truþe And how ȝe schul saue ȝow -seluen O.2.39: OC 2 alone have ȝow-seluen in place of ȝow-self.  þe saut er beriþ witnesse D omine quis h abitabit in tabernac ulo tuo & c etera And now worþ þis mede I -maried  al to a mansed O.2.41: The scribe has written the gloss i d est cursid above the line. O.2.41: OC 2 alone lack sherewe at the end of this line. To oon fals fikel tunge  a feendis biȝete Fauel þoruȝ his faire speche  haþ þeise folk enchauntid And al is liers ledyng  þ at sche is þ us Iweddid To -morwe worþ ymaad  þe maydenes brydale And þ er myȝtist þ ou wite if þ ou wilt  whiche þei been alle Þat longen to þat lordschipe  þe lesse & þe more Knowe hem þ ere if þou canst  & kepe wel þi tunge O.2.48: YOC 2F alone have wel þi tonge; variants include þow þi tonge (WHmCrGMH) and thy tonge (CLR). And lacke he m not but late he m worþe  til leute be iustise And haue power to punysche he m  þa nne putte forþ þi resou n Now I bike nne þee crist quod sche  & his clene modir And late no co nscience acombre þee  for coueytise of mede Þus lafte me þat ladi  liggyng a -slepe And how Mede was ymaried  in metels me þouȝte And O.2.55: OC 2 alone have And in place of That. al þe riche retenaunce  þat regneþ wiþ þe fals Weren boden to þe bridale  on boþe two sydes a 3 Of alle manere of men  þe mene & þe riche To marie þis mayden  was many man assembled As of knyȝtis & clerkis  & oþ ere comune peple As sisours & sumpno urs  scherreues & her clerkis Bedellis & baylifs  & brokouris of chaffare Forgoeris & vitayleris  & vocates of þe arches I can not reckene þe route  þat ran aboute mede Ac symonye & Cyuyle  & sisouris of courtis Weren moost p riue wiþ mede  of any men me þouȝte Ac fauel was þe first  þat fette hir out of boure O.2.66: OC 2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "And as a Brocour brouȝte hire to be wiþ fals enioyned." Wha nne symonye & Cyuile  saw her boþ er wille Þei assentede n O.2.68: O alone has the form assenteden in place of assented. for syluer  to seye as boþe wolden O.2.68: OC 2 alone have the form wolden in place of wolde. Þa nne leepe lier forþ  & seyde . lo here a chartre Þat gyle wiþ hise grete oþis  gaf he m to -gyderis And p reyede Cyuyle to see  & symonye to rede it Þa nne Symonye & Cyuyle  stonden forþ boþe And vnfolden þe feffement  þat fals haþ I -makid And þus bigy nnen þeise gomes  to greden ful hye Sciant presentes & futuri & c etera Carta . Witeþ & witnesseþ  þat wonyeþ vp -on þis erþe Þat Mede is maried  more for hir goodes Þan for any vertu of fayrnesse  or for O.2.78: YOC 2M alone have or for; most B manuscripts have or. any fre kynde Falsnesse is fayn of hir  for he woot hir riche And fauel wiþ his fikel felaw O.2.80: OC 2 alone have felaw in place of speche.  feffeþ bi þis chartre To be p rincesse O.2.81: OC 2H alone have princesse; most B manuscripts have princes. i n pride  & pouerte to dispise To bacbite & to boste  & bere fals witnesse To scorne & to scoolde  & sclaundre to make Vnbuxum . & boold  to breke þe ten heestes And þe eerldom of e nuye  & wraþþe to -gyd eres Wiþ þe chastilet of Cheest  & chateryng out of resou n Þe Countee of Coueytise  & alle þe coostes aboute Þat is vsure & auarice  alle I hem graunte In bargey ns & i n brocages  wiþ al þe boruȝ of þeft And al þe lordschip of lecherie  i n lengþe & i n breede As in werkis & in wordis  & waytyngys wiþ yen And i n wedes & wisschyngys  & wiþ ydel þouȝtis Þere as wille wolde  O.2.93: YOC 2C alone lack and (the) before werkmanschip, which is essential to the sense of the line. werkmanschip fayliþ Glotenye he gaf hem eke  & grete oþes to -gyderes And al day to drynke at dyuers tauernes . And þere to iangle & to iape  & iugge her euene -Cristen And i n fastyng -dayes to frete  er ful tyme were And þa nne to sitte & to O.2.98: OC 2 alone include to before soupe. soupe  til sleep hem assayle And breden as boruȝ swyne  & bedden hem esyli Til sleuþe & sleelp sleep  slike n hise sydes And þa nne wanhope to a -wake hym so  wiþ no wille to amende For he leueþ . he O.2.102: OC 2 alone include the second he. be lost  þis is her last ende And þei to haue & to holde  & her eires after A dwellyng wiþ þe deuel  & da mpned be for eu ere Wiþ al þe p urtenau nce of p urgatorie  i n -to þe pyne i n O.2.105: O alone has in in place of of. helle Ȝeldynge for þis þing  at oon ȝeres ende O.2.106: The letter <d> is rewritten in the left margin, apparently because the <d> in Ȝeldynge is spoiled by an inkblot. Her soulis to sathan  to suffre wiþ hym peynes And wiþ hym to wonye i n woo  whyle god is i n heuene In witnesse of which þing  wrong was þe first And pers þe p ardouner of paulynys doctryne Bette þe bedel  of bokyngham -schyre Reynold þe reue  of Rutelan d sokene Munde þe myluer  & many moo oþ ere In þe date of þe deuel  þis dede I assele Bi syȝt of sir symonye  & Cyuelis leeue . Teologia Þa nne tenede hym theologie  wha nne he þis tale herde And seyde to Cyuyle  now sorwe mote þow haue Sich weddyng es to worche  to wraþþe wiþ truþe Ac O.2.119: O alone has Ac in place of And. er þis weddyng be wrouȝt  woo þee be -tyde For Mede is Mulirie O.2.120: O alone has the form Mulirie; most B manuscripts have muliere.  of amendis engendrid And god grauntede to gyue  Mede to truþe And þow hast gyuen hir to a gylo ur  now god gyue þee sorwe Þi text telliþ þee not so  truþe woot þe soþe For dignus est ep erarius [o]p erarius  his hyre to haue And þow hast fest hir to fals  fy on þi lawe For al . bi lesyng ys þow lyuest  & lecherouse werkis Symonye & þi -self  schenden holi chirche Þe notaries & ȝe  noyen þe peple Ȝe schul abiggen it boþe  bi god þat me made Wel ȝe witen wernardis  but if ȝoure witt fayle Þ at fals is feiþlees  & fikel in hise werkis And was a bastard I -born  of belsabubbes kyn And Mede O.2.133:  HmOC 2 alone lack is (a) before Mulere. Mulere  a mayden of goode And myȝte kysse þe kyng e  for cosyn & sche wolde a 4 For -þi worcheþ bi wisdam  & bi witti O.2.135: OC 2 alone have witti; most B manuscripts have wit. also And ledeþ hir to london  þere lawe is I -schewid If any lawe wole loke  þei ligge to -gyderes And þouȝ iustises iugen hir  to be ioyned wiþ fals Ȝit beþ war of weddyng  for witty is truþe And concience is of his cou nceyl  & knowiþ ȝow ichone And if he fynde ȝow i n defaute  & wiþ þe fals holde It schal bisitte ȝoure soulis  ful soure at þe last Her -to assentiþ Cyuyle  ac symonye ne wolde Til he hadde siluer for his s eruyse  & also þe notaries Þa nne fette fauel forþ  floreyns I -nowe And bade Gyle go gyue  gold al aboute And nameli to þe notaries  þ at he m noone O.2.147: The ne in noone seems to have been added over an erasure after the initial copying, in a hand too similar to that of the main scribe to be attributed with certainty to another. fayle And feffe false witnesse  wiþ floreyns I -nowe For þei may Mede amaystrye  & maken at my wille Þoo þis gold was gyue  greet was þe þankyng To fals & to fauel  for her faire ȝiftes And comen to cou nforte  from care þe fals And seyden . certis sire  ceece schal we neu ere Til Mede be weddid þi O.2.154: OCr 23C 2 alone transpose þi wedded. wijf  þoruȝ wittis of vs alle For we han Mede amaystryed  wiþ oure myrie speche Þat sche graunteþ to goon  wiþ a good wille To london to loke  if þ at þe lawe wolde Iugge ȝow ioyntli  in Ioye for euere Þa nne was falnesse fal[s]nesse fayn  & fauel as bliþe And leeten sumpne alle segges  i n schires aboute And bade hem alle be boun  beggers & oþ ere To wende wiþ hem to westmynystre  to witnesse þis dede Ac þa nne carede n O.2.163: O alone has the form carede n ; most B manuscripts have cared. þei for caples  to carien hem þider And fauel fette forþ þa nne  foolis ynowe And sette Mede vp -on a schirreue  schod al newe And fals sate O.2.166: A double solidus above each word indicates transposition of original sate fals. on a sisour  þat softelich trottede And fauel on a flaterer  fetislich atired Þoo hadden notaries noon  anoyed þei weren O.2.168: The letter <d> is rewritten above the line, apparently because the <d> in anoyed is spoiled by an inkblot. For symonye & Cyuyle  schulden on her feet gange Ac þa nne swore symonye  and Cyuyle boþe Þ at sumpnouris schulde n O.2.171: OC 2 alone have the form schulde n in place of sholde. be sadelid  & s erue hem ichoon And late appareyle þeise p rouysouris  in palfreys wyse Sire symonye hym -seluen  schal sitte vp -on her bakkis Denes & sudenes  drawe ȝow to -gyderes Erchedekenes & officialis  & alle ȝoure Registreris Official Late sadele hem wiþ syluer  oure synne to suffre As auoutrie & deuorces  & derne vsure To bere bischoppis aboute  a -brood in visytynge O.2.178: The letter <d> is rewritten above the line, apparently because the <d> in a-brood is spoiled by an inkblot. Paulynes preues  for pleyntis in þe consistorie Schul serue my -seluen O.2.180: OC 2 alone have my-seluen in place of my-self.  þat Cyuyle is nempned And Cartesadele oure Comyssarie  oure cart schal he lede And fecchen vs vitaylis  at fornicatores And makeþ of lyer a longe cart  to lede alle þeise oþ ere Freris As freris & fautouris O.2.184: O alone has fautouris in place of Faitours. The terms are distinct. The MED defines fautour as "an adherent, supporter, follower," "one who encourages or connives in reproachable action or belief," and faitour as "a deceiver, imposter, cheat; esp., a beggar or vagabond who feigns injury or disease."  þat on her feet rennen And þus fals & fauel  fareþ forþ to -gyderes And Mede in þe myddis  & alle þeise oþ ere after I haue no toom to telle  þe tayl þat hem folewiþ Of many man ere man  þat on þis molde libbeþ Ac gyle was forgoer  & guyede hem alle Soþenesse sawȝ hym wel  & seyde but a litil And prikede his palfrey  & passede hem alle And come to þe kyng ys court  & concience it tolde And concience to þe kyng  carpede it after Now bi crist q uod þe kyng  & I cacche myȝte Fals or Fauel  or any of hise feres I wolde be wroken of þoo wrecchis  þat worchen so ille And do hem hange bi þe hals  & alle þat hem mayntenen Schal neu ere man on molde  maynprise þe leeste But riȝt as þe lawe wole loke  late falle on hem alle And comau ndede a cunstable  þat come at þe first To atache þoo tirauntis  for any þing I hote And fetereþ fast falsnesse  for any kyns ȝiftes And gyrdeþ of . gyles hed  & late hym goo no ferþer And if ȝe lacche lyer  late hym not ascapen Er he be put on þe pilerie  for any preyer I hote And bryngeþ Mede to me  maugrey hem alle Drede at þe dore stode  & þe doom herde And how þe kyng comau ndede  cunstables & s ergeauntis Falsnesse & his felawschip  to feteren & to bynden Þa nne drede wente wyȝtlich  & warnede þe fals And bade hym flee for feer  & hise felawis alle how falsnesse fley to þe freris . O.2.212: This rubric is divided after falsnesse, and the two lines of the rubric are connected by a bracket on the right. Falsnesse for feer þa nne  fley to þe freris And gyle dooþ hym to goo  agast for to dye Marchau ntis Ac marchauntis metten hym wiþ O.2.214: OC 2 alone transpose wiþ hym.  & maden hym abide And bischetten hy m in her schop  to schewen her ware And apparayleden O.2.216: O alone has And apparayleden n ; variants include Apparayleden (HmHm 2), And apparailled (YC 2CLMRH), & paraylid (F), and Apparailed (WCrG). hym as a prentise  þe peple to s erue Liȝtlich lyer  leepe awey þa nne Lorkynge þoruȝ lanes  to -lugged of many He was nouȝwher welcome  for hise many talis Ou er -al I -howted  & I -hote . trusse P ardoun eres Til pardoun eres hadden pite  & pulleden hym i n -to house Þe Þe[i] wesschen hym & wipede n hym  & wounden hy m i n cloutes And sente hym wiþ seeles  on sundayes to chirche O.2.223: YHmOC 2 alone have the singular form. And gaf p ardou n for pens  poundmele aboute Leches Þa nne loureden leches  & lettres þei senten Þ at he schulde wonye wiþ he m  watris to loken O.2.226: OC 2 alone have the form loken in place of loke. Spiceers Spiceers spoken wiþ hym  to spien her ware For he kouþe of her craft  & knewe many gomesgommes O.2.228: The marginal addition is apparently intended as a substitution for gomes; it is gums, or pastes, and not men, of which spicers have knowledge. The error is shared by GC 2. Ac mynystralis & messageers  metten wiþ hym ones And helden hym an half ȝeer  & elleuene dayes Freris Freris wiþ faire speche  fetten hym þennes And for knowyng of komers  kopede hym as a frere Ac he haþ leeue to lepe out  as ofte as hym likeþ And is welcome wha nne he wole  & woneþ wiþ hem ofte Alle fledden for feer  & flowhen in -to hirnes Saue Mede þe Mayden  no moo dursten abide Ac truli to telle  sche tremblede for drede And eke wepte & wronge  wha nne sche was attached Passus tertius O.3.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines. n N Ow is Mede þe mayde  & no mo of hem alle pass us 3 us de visione The guide words are divided after de , so that they appear as two lines. Wiþ bedellis & baylis  brouȝt bifore þe kyng Þe kyng callede a clerk can I not his name To take mede þe mayde  & make hir at ese I schal assaye hir my -self  & soþelich appose What man of þis molde  þat hir were leuest And if sche worche bi my witt  & my wille folewe I wole forgyue hir þis gylt  so me god helpe ¶ Curteyslich þe Clerk þa nne  as þe kyng hyȝte Toke Mede bi þe myddil  & brouȝte hir i n O.3.10: OC 2 alone have in; most B manuscripts have into. chaumbre And þere was myrþe & mynystralcie  Mede to plese Þei þat wonyen i n westmynstre  worschipede n hir alle Ientilich wiþ ioye  þe iustises comen O.3.13: OC 2 alone have comen; variants incude some (Hm 2Cr 1C), sone (B), came (Cr 23G), þan (H), manye (F), and somme (WHmYLMR). Buskede hem to þe boure  þere þe bryde dwellide To cou nforte hir kyndeli  bi clergise leue And seyde morne þ ou not Mede  ne make þ ou no sorwe For we wissen O.3.17: OC 2 alone have the form wissen; most B manuscripts have wisse. þe kyng  & þi weye schapen O.3.17: OC 2 alone have the form schapen; most B manuscripts have shape. To be weddid at þi wille  & where þee leue likiþ For al concience cast  or craft as I trowe Mildelich þa nne Mede O.3.20: OC 2 alone transpose Mede þa nne .  m ercyede hem alle  Of her greet goodnesse  & gaf hem ichon  Coupis of clene gold  & cuppes of syluer Ryngys wiþ rubies  & richesses many Þe leest man of hir meyne  a motou n of gold Þa nne lauȝten O.3.25: O alone has the form lauȝten; most B manuscripts have lauȝte. þei leue  þeise lordis at Mede Clerkis Wiþ þat comen clerkis  to cou nforte hir þe same And beden hir be bliþe  for we been þine owne For to wirche þi wille  þe while þ ou myȝte laste Heendelich sche þa nne  bihyȝte hem þe same To loue hem lelli  & lordis to make O.3.31: OC 2F alone lack a conjunction at the beginning of this line; most B manuscripts have And. In þe consistorie at court  do calle ȝoure name O.3.31: OC 2F alone have the singular form. Schal no lewidnesse lette  þe lede þat I loue Þ at he ne worþ first auau nced  for I am biknowen Þere ku nnynge clerkis  schul clokke bihynde Confesso urs Þa nne come þ ere a confessour  coped as a frere To Mede þe mayde  he medelede O.3.36: OC 2 alone have he medelede; variants include he melled (CCrBLMRH), & meelyd (F), he medled (Y), he mened (WHmHm 2), and he mouthed (G). þeise wordis How freris schryue n folk O.3.37: The rubric is divided after freris, so that it appears as two lines. And seyde ful softelich  in schrift as it were Þouȝ lewid men & lered men O.3.38: The original reads lered men & lewid men; a double solidus above both lered and lewid indicates transposition.  hadde n leyn bi þee boþe And falsnesse hadde I -foulid O.3.39: OCr 3C 2 alone have I-foulid; variants include folwed (YGM), yfouloed (Cr 2), fowled (HmHm 2H), defoulyd (F), and yfolwed (WGBLR). þee  al þi s fifti wynter  I schal assoyle þe my -self  for a seem of wheete And also be þi bede -man  & bere wel þi message Amongys knyȝtis & clerkis  concience to turne Þa nne Mede for hir mysdedis  to þat man knelede And schroue hir of hir schrewidnesse  schameles I trowe Tolde hym a tale  & toke hym a noble For to be hir bedeman  & hir brocour als Þa nne he assoylede hir soone  & siþen he seyde We han a wyndow i n wirchyng  wil sitten vs ful hye Woldist þ ou glase þat gable  & graue þ er -i nne þi name Siker schulde þi soule be  heuene to haue Wiste I þat quod þat wo mman  I wolde not spare For to be ȝoure freend frere  & fayle ȝow neu ere Whyle ȝe louen lordis  þat leccherie haunten And lakken not ladyes  þat louen wel þe same It is a frelete of flesch  ȝe fynden it in bokis And a cours of kynde  wher -of we comen alle Who -so may scape þe sclaundre  þe scaþe is soone amendid It is sy nne of þe seuene  is O.3.58: OC 2 alone repeat is. sonnest releced Haue m ercy quod Mede  of men þat it haunten And I schal keu ere ȝoure kirke  & ȝoure cloystre do make O.3.60: OC 2 alone have the form do make; most B manuscripts have do maken. Wowes do whyten  & wyndowes glasyen Do peynten & purtreye  & paye for þe makyng Þ at euery segge schal seye  I am sister of ȝoure hous Ac god to alle goode folk  sich grauyng defendiþ To writen in wyndowes  of her wel -dedis On auenture pride be peyntid þere  & pompe O.3.66: The letter <p> is rewritten above the line, perhaps in hand 3, apparently because <p> in pompe is spoiled by an inkblot. of þe world For crist knowiþ þi co ncience  & þi kynde wille And þi cost & þi coueytise  & who þe catel ouȝte For -þi I lere ȝow lordis  leueþ siche werkis To writen in wyndowis  of ȝoure wel -dedis Or to greden after goddis men  wha nne ȝe delen doles On auenture ȝe han ȝoure hyre heer  & ȝoure heuene als Nesciat sinist ra quid faciat dextra Late not þi lift half  late no O.3.74: OL alone have no; most B manuscripts have ne. raþe  Wite what þou worchest  wiþ þi riȝt syde And O.3.76: OC 2 alone have And in place of For. þus bit þe gospel  goode men do her almesse Meires & maystres O.3.77: OCr 23C 2 alone have maystres; most B manuscripts have Maceres.  þat menes been bitwene  Þe kyng & þe comunes O.3.78: OGC 2F alone have the plural form.  to kepe wel O.3.78: OC 2F alone include wel. þe lawes To punyschen on pyleries  & pynynge stoolis Breusters & bakesters  bochers & cokis For þeise arn men on þis molde  þat moost harm worchen To þe pore peple  þat p arcelmele biggen For þei punyschen O.3.83: OC 2 alone have punyschen in place of (en)poisone. þe peple  p riueylich & ofte Þei richen þoruȝ regraterie  & rentis hem biggen Wiþ þat þe pore peple  schulde putte i n her wombe For toke þei on truli  þei tymbreden not O.3.86: OC 2 alone have tymbreden not; most B manuscripts have tymbred nouȝt. so hye Ne bouȝte noon burgages  be ȝe ful certeyn Ac Mede þe mayde  þe Meir haþ bisouȝt Meyres . Of alle siche sellers  syluer to take Or p resentes wiþ -oute pens  as peces of syluer Ryngys or oþ er richesse  þe regrateris to mayntene For my loue quod þat lady  loue hem ichone And suffre hem to selle  sumdel aȝeyn resou n Salomon þe sage  a s ermou n he made For to amende Meyris  & men þat kepen lawes And tolde hem þis teme  þat I telle þenke Ignis deuorbit O.3.97: OC 2 alone have deuorbit; most B manuscripts have deuorabit. tabernac ula m eo rum q ui libent er accipiu nt mun era & c etera O.3.97: OC 2H alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Among þise lettrede l[or]des þis latyn [amounteþ]." Þat is O.3.98: OC 2 alone include is. . fijr schal falle & bre nne  al to bloo askes Þe housis & þe homes  of hem þat desyren  Ȝiftis or ȝeresyues  bi cause of her offices Þe kyng fro cou nceyl cam  & callede aft er Mede And ofsente hir als swyþe  wiþ s ergeauntis manye Þat brouȝten hir to boure  wiþ blis & wiþ ioye Curteyselich þe kyng þa nne  comsede to telle To Mede þe mayde  melleþ þeise wordis Vnwittili wo mman  wrouȝt hast þow ofte Ac wers wrouȝtist þ ou neu ere  þan þoo þ ou fals toke O.3.107: A dash followed by double virgules appears in the right margin, in ink too faint for the hand to be identified. But I forgyue þee þis O.3.108: OC 2 alone have þis in place of þat. gylt  & graunte þee my grace Hennys to þiy O.3.109: This revision of þi to þy is odd. The corrected form appears only here. deþ -day  do so no more I haue a knyȝt co ncience  cam late fro biȝonde If he wilneþ þee to wijf  wilt þow hym haue Ȝhe lord quod þat lady  lord forbede ellis But I be holly at ȝoure heest  latte hange me soone An An[d] O.3.114: Although an is recorded by the MED as a variant form of and, it is not used elsewhere by this scribe and appears to be an error. þa nne was co ncience called  to come & apere Bifore þe kyng & his cou nceil  as clerkis & oþ ere . Knelynge concience  to þe kyng lowtede To wite what his wille were  & what he do schulde Wilt þ ou wedde þis wo mman  quod þe kyng . If I wole assente For sche is fayn of þi felawschip  for to be þi make Concience Quod Concience to þe kyng  crist it me forbede Er I wedde sich a / wijf  woo me be -tyde For sche is frele of hir feiþ  fikel of hir speche And makiþ men mysdo  many score tymes Trust of hir tresore  treyeþ ful many Wyues & wydewes  wantownesse sche techeþ And lereþ hem leccherie  þat louen hir ȝiftis Ȝoure fadir O.3.127: OC 2 alone lack the subject pronoun here; most B manuscripts have sche. felde  þoruȝ fals biheest And haþ a -poysowned popes  & peyrid holy chirche I s not a better bawde  bi hym þat me made . Bitwene heuene & Helle O.3.130: The ascender of the <H> in Helle is about two lines in height and decorated with bars.  in erþe þouȝ men souȝten O.3.130: OC 2 alone have the form souȝten in place of souȝte. For sche is fikil O.3.131: OC 2 alone have fikil in place of tikil. of hir tayl  tale -wijs of hir tunge As comune as a cartewey  to ich a knaue þat walkiþ To monkys . to mynystralis  to meseles in heggis Sisouris & sumpnouris  siche men hir preysen Schirreues of schires  weren schent . if sche nere For sche dooþ men lese her lond  & her lijf boþe Sche leteþ passe p risouneris  & payeþ for hem ofte And gyueþ þe gayleris gold  & grotes to -gyderis To vnfetere þe fals  flee where hym likiþ And takiþ þe trewe bi þe top  & tieþ hym faste And hangeþ hym for hatered  þat harm dide neu ere To be cursid in co nsistorie  sche countiþ not a rische For sche copiþ þe comyssarie  & coteþ hise clerkis Sche is assoylid as soone  as hir -self likiþ And may nyȝ as myche do  in a moneþ ones As oure O.3.146: OC 2 alone have oure in place of ȝoure (i.e., the king's). secret seel  in sixe score dayes For sche is pryue wiþ þe pope  prouysouris it knowen For sire symonye & hir -self  seleþ her bullis Sche blessiþ þeise bischoppis  þouȝ þei been lewide Prouendreþ p ersounes  & preestes maynteneþ To haue le mmans & lotebies  alle her lijf -dayes And bryngen forþ barnes  aȝeyn forboden lawes Þ ere sche is wel wiþ þe kyng  woo is þe rewme For sche is fauerable to þe fals  & fouliþ truþe ofte Bi iesus wiþ hir Iuelis  ȝoure iustises sche scheendiþ And lyeþ aȝeyn þe lawe  & lettiþ hym þe gate Þ at feiþ may not haue his forþ  hir floreynes goon so þikke Sche lediþ þe lawe as hir liste  & loue -dayes makiþ And dooþ men lese þoruȝ hir loue  þat lawe myȝte wynne Þe mase for a mene man  þouȝ he moote heer O.3.160: YOC 2 alone have moote heer; variants include moote (GF), mote hire (WCBLMR), mote hure (Hm), mote her (Cr), and mote with hyr (H). eu ere Lawe is so lordlich  & loþ to make an O.3.161: OC 2CotF alone include an. ende Wiþ -outen p resentis or pens  sche plesiþ wel fewe Barounes & burgeyses  sche bryngeþ in -to O.3.163: OC 2 alone have in-to in place of in. sorwe And al þe comunes O.3.164: OC 2F alone have the plural form. i n -to O.3.164: OC 2 alone have in-to in place of in. care  þat coueyten lyue in truþe For clergye & coueytise  sche coupliþ to -gyderes Þis is þe lijf of þat lady  now lord ȝyue hir sorwe And alle þat mayntenen hir men  meschau nce hem be -tide For pore men mowen haue no power  to pleyne he m þouȝ þei smerten O.3.168: OC 2 alone have the form smerten in place of smerte. . Sich a maystre is Mede  amongys men of goode Þa nne mornede Mede  & menede hir to þe kyng To haue space to speke  spede if sche myȝte Þe kyng grau ntede hir grace  wiþ a good wille Excuse þee . if þ ou canst  I can no more seggen For co ncience accuseþ þee  to congeye þee for eu ere Nay lord quod þat lady  leueþ hym þe werse Wha nne ȝe witen wittirli  where þe wrong liggeþ Þ ere þat mescheef is greet  Mede may he lpe And þ ou knowist co ncience  I cam not to chyde Ne depraue þi p ersoone  wiþ a proude herte Wel þou wost wernard  but if þ ou wilt gabbe Þ ou hast hanged on myn half  elleuene tymes And also gryped my gold  gyue it where þee likide And why þou wraþþist þee now  wondir me þinkiþ Ȝit I may as I myȝte  menske þee wiþ ȝiftis And mayntene þi manhod  more þan þ ou knowist Ac þ ou hast famed me foule  bifore þe kyng heer For killede I neu ere no kyng  ne cou nceylede þ er -after Ne dide as þou demest  I do it on þe kyng In normau ndye was he not  noyed for my sake Ac þ ou þi -self soþeli  schamedest hym ofte Crope in -to a caban  for cold of þi naylis Wendist þ at wynt er  wolde haue durid O.3.192: OC 2 alone have durid in place of (y)last(ed). eu ere And dreddist to be deed  for a dym cloude And hyedest þee O.3.194: OC 2 alone include þee. homward  for hungre of þi wombe Wiþ - oute pite pilour  pore men þou robbedist And bare her bras at þi bak  to caleys to selle Þ ere I lafte wiþ my lord  his lijf for to saue I made hise men myry  & mornyng lettede And O.3.199: OC 2 alone include And. I baterede hem on þe bak  & boldede her hertis And dide hem hoppe for hope  to haue me at wille Hadde I be marschal of O.3.201: OC 2 alone lack his before men. men  bi marie of heuene I durste haue leyd my lijf  & no lesse wed He schulde haue be lord of þat lond  a lengþe & abrede And also kyng of þat kiþþe  his kyn for to helpe Þe leest brolle of his blood  a barou ns pere Cowardlich þ ou concience  cou nceyledist hym þa nne O.3.206: YOC 2M alone have þa nne ; most B manuscripts have þennes. To leue his lordschip  for a litil syluer Þat is þe richest rewme  þat reyn ou er -houeþ I t bicomeþ to a kyng  þat kepeþ þe rewme To ȝyue mede to men  þat myldelich O.3.210: OC 2 alone have myldelich; all other beta witnesses have mekely. hym s eruen To alienys & to alle men  to honoure he m wiþ ȝiftes Mede makiþ hym beloued  & for a man holden Emp erouris & Erles  & alle man ere lordis For ȝiftes han ȝonge men  to renne & to ride Þe pope & alle p relatis  p resentis vnderfongen And meden men hem -seluen  to mayntene her lawis S eruantis for her seruyse  we seen wel þe soþe Taken mede of her mayster O.3.218: OC 2LF alone have the singular form.  as þei mowen acorde Begg ers for her biddyng  bidden men mede O.3.219: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original mede men. Mynyst ralis for her myrþe  mede þei asken Þe kyng haþ mede of his mene O.3.221: OC 2 alone have mene in place of men.  to make pees in londe Men þat techen children  crauen of hem mede Preestis þat p rechen þe peple  to goode asken mede And masse -pens & her mete  at þe male -tymes O.3.224: OC 2 alone have at þe male tymes; most B manuscripts have at þe meel tymes. Alle kyns crafti men  crauen mede for her p rentises Marchau ntis & mede  mote nede go to -gyderes No wyȝt as I wene  wiþ -out mede may libbe Quod þe kyng to co ncience  bi crist as me þinkeþ Mede is wel worþi  þe maystrie to haue Nay quod co ncience to þe kyng  & knelede to þe erþe Þ er arn two man ere of medis  my lord wiþ ȝoure leue Þat oon . god of his grace  grau ntiþ in his blisse To þoo þat wel wirchen  whyle þei been heer Þe p ropheet p recheþ þ erof  & puttiþ O.3.234: OC 2 alone have the form puttiþ; all other beta witnesses have putte. it in þe sauter D omine q uis h abitabit in tabernac ulo tuo & c etera Lord who schal wonye i n þi wones  & wiþ þin holi seyntis Or resten in þine holy hillis  þis askeþ Dauid And dauid assoyliþ it hym -self  as þe sauter telliþ Q ui i ngredit ur s in e mac ula  & op erat ur iusticia m Þoo þat entren of o colour  & of oon wille And han wrouȝt werkis  wiþ riȝt & wiþ resou n And he þat ne vseþ not  þe lijf of vsure And enformeþ pore men  & pursueþ truþe Q ui p ecunia m sua m no n dedit ad vsura m & mun era s uper i nnocente er i nocent e[m] amp; c etera And alle þat helpen þe i nnocent  & halt wiþ þe riȝtful Wiþ -oute mede dooþ hem good  & O.3.246: OC 2F alone lack þe before truþe. truþe helpiþ Sich man ere men my lord  schul haue þe first mede Of god at The box containing the catchwords is touched in red at the top right and bottom left corners. Of god at greet O.3.248: GOC 2 alone lack an article or possessive pronoun before nede. nede  wha nne þei goon hennys Þ er is an -oþ er mede mesureles  þat mayst ris desyren To mayntene mysdoers  mede þei taken And þ erof seiþ þe sauter  in a salmes eend In q uo rum manib us i niq uitates su nt  dext ra eo rum repleta e st mun erib us And he þat gripeþ þather gold  so me god helpe Schal abie it bittirli  or þe book lyeþ Preestis & p ersou ns  þat plesyng desiren Þat taken mede & money  for messis þat þei syngen Taken her mede heer  as Matheu vs telliþ O.3.257: HmOC 2F alone have telliþ in place of techeþ. Amen amen recep eru nt m ercedem sua m Þ at laboreris & low folk  taken of her mayst ris It is no man ere mede  but a mesurable hyre In marchau ndise is no mede  I may it wel auowe It is a p ermutac iou n aperteli  a penyworþ for an -oþ er Ac reddist þ ou neu ere Regu m  þ ou recreyed mede Why þe ve niaunce fel on saul  & on hise children God sente to saul  bi samuel þe p rophete Þ at agag &of amalek  & al his peple after Schulden dye for a dede  þat doon hadde n O.3.267: O alone has the form hadde n in place of hadde. her eldris For -þi seyde samuel to saul  god hym -self hotiþ  O.3.268: In the right margin of this line occurs the first of many marginal crosses, this one slanting and about three characters in height. The hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty, but resembles hand 3. Þee to O.3.269: HmOC 2 alone include to before be. be buxu m at his biddyng  & O.3.269: OC 2H alone include & before his. his wille O.3.269: OH alone lack to before fulfille. fulfille Wende to amalek wiþ þin oost  & what þ ou fyndist þ ere . slee it Bernes & beestis  brenne hem to dede Wydewis & wyues  wo mmen & children Mebles & vnmebles  & al þat þ ou myȝte fynde Brenne it . bere it not awey  be it neu ere so riche For Mede nor for money  loke þ ou distroye it Spille it & spare it not  þ ou schalt spede þe better And for he coueytide her catel  & þe kyng sparede Forbare hym & hise beestis boþe  as þe bible witnessiþ Oþ er -wise þan he was  warned . of þe p rofeet God seyde to samuel  þ at saul schulde dye And al his seed for þat sy nne  schenfullich ende Swich a mescheef mede made  saul þe kyng to haue Þ at god hatede hym for eu ere  & alle hise eires after Þe culo rum of þis caas  kepe I not to schewe On auenture it noyede men  noon eend wolde O.3.285: OC 2 alone have wolde in place of wol. I make For so is þis world went  wiþ hem þat han power b 1 O.3.286: This quire signature is almost entirely illegible, having been cropped off except for the top of the <b>. Þ at who -so seiþ hem soþes  is sunnest I -blamed I concience knowe þis  for kynde witt me tauȝte it O.3.288: OC 2 alone place it at the end of the line; most B manuscripts have me yt taughte. Þ at resou n schal regne  & rewmes gou erne And riȝt as agag hadde  happe schul su mme Samuel schal slee hym  & saul schal be blamed And dauid schal be diademed  & daunten hem alle And oon cristen kyng  kepen hem alle Schal no more Mede be mayst er  as sche is nouþe Ac loue & lownesse  & lewte to -gyderis Þeise schul be mayst ris on moold  truþe to saue And who -so trespasseþ aȝeyn truþe  or takiþ aȝeyn his wille Lewte schal doo hym lawe  & no lijf ellis Schal no seriaunt for her s eruyse  were a silken howue Ne no pelure in his cloke  for pledyng at þe barre Mede of mysdoeris  makiþ many lordis And ou erlondislordis O.3.302: A solidus/punctus above londis and above marginal lordis indicate substitution. The uncorrected reading is shared with C 2. lawes  ruliþ þe rewmys Ac kynde loue schal come ȝet  & co ncience to -gyderes And make of lawe a laborer  swich loue schal arise And swich a pees amonge þe peple  & a p arfiȝt truþe Þ at Iues schul wene in her witt  & waxe wondir glad Þ at Moyses or Messye  be comen in -to þis erþe And haue wondir in her hertis  þ at men been so trewe Alle þat beren basalard  brode swerd or launce Ax oþer hachet or any wepene ellis O.3.310: A cross appears in the left margin of ll. 309-310. Schal be demed to þe deþ  but if he do it smyþe O.3.311: OC 2C alone have smyþe; most B manuscripts have smyþye. In -to sikil or to syþe  to schar or to culter Conflabu nt gladios suos in vom eres Ich man to pleye wiþ a plow  pikeys or spade Spynne or sprede dung  or spille hy mself wiþ sleuþe Preestis & p ersounes  wiþ placebo to hunte . n ota . huntynge curatis . O.3.317: The rubric is divided after nota and huntynge, so that it appears as three lines. And dynge vp -on dauid  ich a day til euen Huntynge or haukyng  if any of hem vse His boost of his benefice  worþ bynome hym after Schal neiþ er kyng ne knyȝt  cunstable ne meyr Ou er -lede þe comune  ne to þe court sompne Ne putte hem in panel  to do hem plyȝte her truþe But after þe dede þat is doon  oo doom schal rewarde Mercy or no mercy  as truþe wole acorde Kyngys court & comune court  consistorie & chapitle Al schal be but o court  & o barou n be iustise Þa nne worþ trewe tunge a tidy man  þat tenede me neu ere Bataylis schul noon be  ne no man bere wepen And what smyþ þat any smyþeþ  be smyten þ er -wiþ to deþe Non leuabit gens con tra gente m gladiu m O.3.330: OC 2FH alone lack & c etera at the end of this line. And er þis fortune falle  fynde men schul þe werst Bi sixe su nnes & a schippe  & half a scheef of arwes And þe mydele of a mone  schal make þe Iues to turne And sarasenys for þat syȝt  schul synge . Gl oria i n excelsis For . Machometh & Mede  myshappe schul þat tyme For . melius est bonu m nomen  q uam diuicie multe Also wroþ as þe wiynd  wex Mede in a whyle I can no latyn quod sche  clerkis woten O.3.338: OC 2 alone have the form woten; most B manuscripts have wote. þe soþe See what salomon seiþ  in sapience bokis Þ at he þat O.3.340: Cr 23OC 2 alone have Þ at he þat ; variants include That þei that (WHCr 1GB), they that (Hm), þat þei (H), That hij that (YCLMR), and Of hem þat (F). ȝyueþ ȝiftes  þe victorie wynneþ And myche worschip hadde þ erwiþ  as holi writ telliþ Honorem adquiret  qui dat mun era & c etera I leue wel lady quod concience  þ at þi latyn be trewe Ac þ ou art like a lady  þat redde a lessou n ones Was O mnia p robate  & þat plesede hir herte For þat lyne . was O.3.346: OC 2 alone lack no before leng er . leng er  at þe leues eend Hadde sche lokid þat oþ er half  & þe leef turned Sche schulde haue founden fele wordis  folwynge þ er -after Quod bonu m est tenete  truþe þat text made And so ferde ȝe madame  ȝe coude no more fynde Þoo ȝe lokede on sapience  sittynge in ȝoure studie Þis text þat ȝe han told  were good for lordis Ac ȝow faylede a cu nnynge clerk  þat couþe þe leef haue t urnyd O.3.353: A solidus/punctus above turnyd accompanied by a caret/punctus in the right margin mark it for deletion. And if ȝe seke sapience eft  fynde schul ȝe þat folewiþ A ful teneful text  to hem þat taken Mede And þat is A ni mam aute m aufert accipientiu m & c etera And þat is þe tayl of þe text  of þat þat ȝe scheweden O.3.357: O alone has the form scheweden; most B manuscripts have shewed. Þ at þouȝ we wynne worschip  & wiþ Mede haue victorie Þe soule þat þe soude takiþ  bi so myche is bounden O.3.359: OC 2 alone have the form bounden; most B manuscripts have bound. . pass us iiij us O.4.000: The passus heading was never entered, though the marginal instructions to do it appear in the right margin well within the preceding passus. pass us iiij us c C Eceþ seiþ þe kyng  I suffre ȝow no leng er Ȝe schul sauȝtle for -soþe  & s erue me boþe Kisse hir quod þe kyng  concience I hote Nay bi crist quod concience  cungeye me raþer But resou n rede me þ erto  raþer wole I dye b 2 O.4.5 This quire signature is almost entirely illegible, having been cropped off except for the top of the <b>. And I comaunde þee quod þe kyng  to concience þanne Rape þee to ride  & Resou n þ ou fecche Comaunde hym þ at he come  my cou nceyl to here For he schal reule my rewme  & rede me þe beste Of Mede & of moo oþ ere  & what man schal hir wedde And acounte wiþ þee concience  so me crist helpe How þ ou lernest þe peple  þe lered & þe lewid I am fayn of þat forward  seyde þe freke þa nne And rit ryȝt to resou n  & rowneþ in his ere And seyde as þe kyng bade  & siþen toke his leue I schal araye me to ride . quod Resou n  reste þee a w hyle And callede catou n his knaue  curteys of speche And also to mme trewe tunge  telle me no tales Ne lesyng ys O.4.19: OGC 2F alone have the plural form. to lauȝhe at O.4.19: OC 2H alone have at in place of of.  for I louede hem neu ere And sette my sadel vp -on suffre  til I see my tyme And lete werroke it wel  wiþ witty wordis gerþes And hange on hym þe heuy bridel  to holde his hed lowe For he ................wole make we -he  twyes or he be þere Þa nne concience vp -on his caple  cayreþ forþ faste And resou n wiþ hym rit  rownynge to -gyderes Whiche maystries Mede  makiþ on þis erþe Oon waryn wisdam  & witti his fere Foleweden O.4.28: O alone has the form Foleweden; most B manuscripts have Folwed. hem faste  for þei hadden to done In þe checker & in þe chauncerie  to be discharged of þing ys And riden fast for resou n  schulde rede O.4.30: OC 2 alone lack hem before þe. þe beste For to saue hem for syluer  from schame & from harmes And concience knewe hem wel  þei loueden coueytise And bade Resou n ride fast  & recche of her neiþ er Þei arn wyli O.4.34: YOC 2 alone have Þei arn wyli; most B manuscripts have Ther are wiles. in her wordis  & wiþ Mede þei dwellen Þ er as wraþþe & wranglyng is  þere wynnen O.4.35: OC 2 alone have the form wynnen; most B manuscripts have wynne. þei syluer Ac þ er is loue & lewte  þei wolen O.4.36: O alone has the form wolen; most B manuscripts have wol. not come þere Cont ric io & infelicitas in vijs eo rum & c etera Þei ne gyuen not of god  oon goos weenge Non e st tymor d omini an te oculos eo rum & c etera For woot god . þei wolden O.4.40: O alone has the form wolden; most B manuscripts have wolde. do more  for a doseyn chykenes Or as many capou ns  or for a seem of otis Þan for loue of oure lord  or alle hise leue seyntis For -þi Resou n . latte hem ride  þoo riche bi hem -seluen For concience knowiþ hem not  ne crist as I trowe An d þa nne Resou n rode faste  þe riȝt hye gate As concience hym kennede  til he O.4.46: GOC 2 alone have he in place of þei. He is not the form of the plural normally used by the O-scribe, and the context suggests the singular may have been intended. come to þe kyng Curteyslich þe kyng þa nne  come aȝeyn resou n And bitwene hym -self & his sone  sette hym on benche And wordeden wel wiseli  a greet whyle to -gyderes And þa nne come pees in -to p arlement  & puttede O.4.50: O alone has puttede; most B manuscripts have putte. forþ a bille How wrong aȝens his wille  hadde his wijf taken And how he rauyschede rose  reynoldis loue And margarete of hir maydenhood  maugrey hir chekis Boþe my gees & my grijs  hise gadelyng es fecchen I dar not for feer of hym  fiȝte ne chide He borwede of me bayard  he brouȝte hym hoom neu ere Ne no ferþing for hym O.4.57: YOC 2 alone have for hym in place of þerfore.  for ouȝt þat O.4.57: GOC 2 alone include þat. I coude plede He maynteneþ hise men  to murþere myne huen Forstalleþ my feyres  & fiȝtiþ in my chepyng And brekiþ vp my berne dores  & bereþ awey my whete And takeþ me but o tayle  for ten quart ers of otis And ȝit he bet me þ erto  & lijþ bi my mayde I am not hardy for hym  vnneþe to loke Þe kyng knewe . he seyde soþ  for concience hym tolde Þ at wrong was a wickid lift  & wrouȝte myche sorwe Wrong was a -feerd þa nne  & wisdam he souȝte To make pees wiþ hise pens  & p roferede hym manye And seyde hadde I loue of my lord þe kyng  litil wolde I recche Þouȝ pees & his power  pleynede hym eu ere Þoo wente wisdam & sire  waryn þe witty For þ at wrong hadde I -wrouȝt  so wickede a dede And warnede wrong þoo  wiþ swich a wise tale Who -so worcheþ bi my O.4.73: OC 2M alone have bi my; most B manuscripts have by alone. wille  wraþþe makiþ ofte I seye it bi þi -self  þ ou schalt it wel fynde But if Mede it make  þi mescheef is vppe For boþe þi lijf & þi loond  lijþ in his grace Þa nne wowede wrong  wisdam ful ȝerne To make his pees wiþ hise pens  handi -dandi payed Wisdam & witt þa nne  wenten to -gyderes And toke Mede myd hem  m ercy to wynne Pees put forþ his hed  & his pa nne blody Wiþ -outen gylt . god it woot  gate I þis skaþe Concience & þe comune  knowen þe soþe b 3 This quire signature is almost entirely illegible, having been cropped off except for the top of the <b>. Ac wisdam & witt  weren aboute faste To ou ercome þe kyng  wiþ catel if þei myȝten Þe kyng e swore bi crist  & bi his crowne boþe Þ at wrong for hise werkis  schulde woo þolie And comaundede a cunstable  to caste hym in Irnes And latte hym not þis seuene ȝer  seen hise feet ones God woot quod wisdam  þat were not þe beste And he amendis mowe make  latte maynprise hym haue And be boruȝ for his bale  & biggen hym bote And so amende þat is mys -doon  & eu ere -more þe better Witt acordede þ er -wiþ  & seynde þe same Better is þ at bote  bale adou n brynge Þan bale be Ibete  & bote neu ere þe better And þa nne gan Mede to mengen hir  & m ercy sche besouȝte And p roferede pees a p resent  al of pure gold Haue þis man of me quod sche  to amende þi scaþe For I wole wage for wrong  he wole do so no more Pitousli pees þa nne  preyede to þe kyng To haue m ercy of O.4.102: OG alone have of in place of on. þat man  þat mysdide hym so ofte For he haþ waged me wel  as wisdam hym tauȝte And I forgyue hym þat gylt  wiþ a good wille So þ at þe kyng assente  I kan seye no better For mede haþ maad me amendis  I may no more aske Nay quod þe kyng þoo  so me crist helpe Wrong wendiþ not so awey  erst wole I wite more For lope he so O.4.109: The scribe has added the same word in the left margin as well. liȝtli  lauȝwhen he wolde And efte þe balder be  to bete myne huen But Resou n haue ruþe on hym  he schal reste i n my stokkis And þat as longe as he lyueþ  but lownesse hym borwe Su mme men radden Resou n þoo  to haue ruþe on þat schrewe And for to cou nceyle þe kyng  & concience after Þ at Mede muste be maynp ernour  Resou n þei besouȝten O.4.115: OC 2 alone have the form besouȝten in place of bisouȝte. Rede me not quod Resou n  no ruþe to haue Til lordis & ladyes  louen alle truþe And haten al harlotrie  to here it or to mouþen it Til p ernelis purfyle  be put in hir hucche And children cherischyng  be chastysyng wiþ ȝerdis And harlottes holynesse  be holden for vnheende O.4.121: YO alone have vnheende; most B manuscripts have an hyne. Kane and Donaldson emend to an [heþyng]. Til clerken coueytise be  to cloþe þe pore & to fede And religious romers  recordare in her cloystres As seynt benet hem bade  bernard & fraunceys And til p rechouris p rechyng  be p reued on hem -seluen Til þe kyng ys cou nceyl  be þe comune p rofiȝt Til bischoppis bayardes  be beggers chaumbres Her haukis & her houndes  helpe to pore religious Pylg rimage And til seynt Iames be souȝt  þ ere I schal a -sygne Þ at no man goo to galis  but if he go for eu ere And alle rome renners  for robbers of biȝonde Bere no syluer ou er sehe  þat signe of kyng schewiþ Neiþ er grauen ne vng rauen  gold neiþ er siluer Vp -on forfeture of þat fee  who -so fynt hym at Dou ere But if he be marchaund or his man  or messager wiþ letteris Prouysour or preest  or penaunt for hise synnes And ȝit quod resou n bi þe rode  I schal no ruþe haue Whyle Mede haþ þe maystrie  in þis moot -halle Ac I may schewe ensaumples  as I see oþer -whyle I seye it bi my -self quod he  & it so were Þ at I were kyng were wiþ corown  to kepen a rewme Schulde neu ere wrong in þis world  þat I wite myȝte O.4.142: A line of dashes extends from the end of this line across the right margin. Be vnpunyschid in my power  for p erel of my soule Ne gete my grace for gyftis  so me god saue Ne for no Mede haue meurcy  but mekenesse it make For nullu m malu m þe man  mette wiþ impunitu m And bade nullu m bonu m . be irremuneratu m Latte ȝoure confessour sir kyng  construe þis vnglosid And if ȝe worken it in werk  I wedde boþe O.4.149: OC 2H alone include boþe. myne eris Þ at lawe schal been a laborer  & lede a -feeld dunge And loue schal lede þi lond  as þee leef likiþ Clerkis þat weren co nfessouris  coupleden hem to -gyderes Alle to co nstrue þis clause  for þe kyngys p rofiȝt Ac not for counfort of þe comune  ne for þe kyng ys soule For I syȝ Mede in þe moot -halle  on men of lawe wynken And þei lawȝhynge lopen to hir  & lafte resou n . manye Waryn wisdam  wynkede vp -on Mede And seyde . ma -dame . I am ȝoure man  what so my mouþ iangleþ I falle in floreyns quod þat freke  & fayle speche ofte Alle riȝtful recordeden O.4.160: O alone has the form recordeden; most B manuscripts have recordede.  þ at resou n truþe tolde And witt acordede þ er -wiþ  & co mmendede hise wordis b 4 And þe moost peple in þe halle  & many of þe grete O.4.163: YOC 2H alone lack an introductory conjunction or pronoun; most B manuscripts have And. Leten mekenesse a mayster  & Mede a mansed O.4.163: The scribe wrote in the right margin the gloss cursid for mansed. schrewe Loue lete of hir liȝt  & lewte ȝit lasse And seyde it so hye  þ at al þe halle it herde Who -so wilneþ hir to wijf  for welþe of hir goodis But he be knowen for a cokwold  cutte of my nose Mede mornede þoo  & made heuy chere For þe moost comune of þat court  callede hir an hore Ac a sisour & a su mpnour  sueden hir faste And a schirreues clerk  beschrewede al þe route For ofte haue I quod he  holpen ȝow at þe barre And ȝit ȝyue O.4.173: O alone has the form ȝyue; most B manuscripts have yeue. ȝe me neu ere  þe worþe of a rische Þe kyng callede concience  & aft erward resou n And recordede þ at Resou n  hadde riȝtfullich schewed And modilich vp -on Mede  wiþ myȝt þe kyng lokede And gan waxe wroþ wiþ lawe  for Mede almost hadde schent it And seyde . þoruȝ ȝoure lawe as I leue  I lese many chetis Mede ou er -maystrieþ lawe  & myche truþe letteþ Ac Resou n schal reckene wiþ ȝow  if I regne any whyle And deme ȝow on abi þis O.4.181: A solidus/punctus above on a and above the marginal addition indicate that it is intended as a substitution. The uncorrected reading is shared by C 2 alone. day  as ȝe han deserued Mede schal not meynprise ȝow  bi þe marie of heuene I wole haue lewte in lawe  & lete be ȝoure Ianglyng And as moost O.4.184: OC 2 alone lack the subject of this clause; all other beta witnesses have folk. witnessen wel  wrong schal be demed Quod concience to þe kyng  but þe comune wole assente It is ful hard bi myn hed  her -to . to brynge it Alle ȝoure lege lordis  to lede þus euene Bi hym þat rauȝte on þe rode  quod Resou n to þe kyng But if I rule þus ȝoure rewme  rende out my guttis If ȝe bidden buxu mnesse  be of myn assent And I assente quod þe kyng  bi seynt marie my lady Be my cou nceyl comen  of clerkis & of erles Ac redili Resoun  þow schalt not ride fro me For as longe as I lyue  lete þee I nylle I am a -redy quod Resou n  to reste wiþ ȝow eu ere So concience be of oure cou nceyl  I kepe no bett ere And I graunte quod þe kyng  goddis forbod it fayle As longe as oure lijf lasteþ  lyue we to -gyderes Passus quintus O.5.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines. þ Þ E kyng & hise knyȝtes  to þe kirke wenten To here mateyns of þe day  & þe masse after Þa nne wakede I of my wynkyng  & woo was wiþ -alle Þ at I ne hadde slepid sadder  & I -sye more Ac er I hadde faren a forlong  a O.5.5: OC 2FG alone include the article. feyntise me hente Þ at I ne myȝte ferþ er a fote  for defaut of slepyng And sate softli a -dou n  & seyde my beleue And so I babelede of O.5.8: OC 2 alone have of; most B manuscripts have on. my bedis  þei brouȝten me a -slepe why pestilence And þa nne sawȝ I myche more  þan I bifore tolde For I saw þe feeld ful of folk  þat I bifore of seyde And how resou n gan arayen hym  al þe rewme to p reche And a O.5.12: OC 2 alone have a; all other beta witnesses have wiþ a. crosse a -fore þe kyng  comsede þus to teche He p reueþ O.5.13: OC 2 alone have p reueþ ; all other beta witnesses have preued. þ at þise pestelences  was for pure synne And þe souþwest wijnd  on saterday at euene Was p ertlich for pure pride  & for no poynt ellis Piries & plu mtrees  weren puffed to þe erthe In ensau mple . ȝe segges  ȝe schulden do þe better Beches & brode okes  weren blowen to þe grounde Turneden O.5.19: O alone has the form turneden in place of turned. vpward her tayles  in tokenyng of drede Þat dedli sy nne er domes -day  schal fordo hem alle Of þis mater I myȝte  mamele ful longe Ac I schal seye as I saw  so me god helpe How p ertlich bifore þe peple  resou n gan to p reche n ota s ermo He Bade wastour . go wirche  what he best couþe Quom odo rac io p redicat And wynnen his wastyng  wiþ su mme man ere craft . O.5.25: The rubric is divided after rac io , so that it appears on two lines. And preyede p eronelle  hir purfile to lete And kepe it in hir cofer  for catel at hir nede Tomme stowe he tauȝte  to take two staues And fecche felice hom  from þe wyuen pyne And O.5.30: OC 2 alone lack the subject he. warnede watte  his wijf was to blame Þ at hir hed was worþ half mark  his hood not worþ a grote And bade bette kutte  a bowȝ oþ er tweyen And bete betou n þ er -wiþ  but if sche wolde wirche And þa nne he chargede chapmen  to chastisen her children Latte no wynnyng hem forwenye  whyle þei be ȝonge Ne for no pouste of pestilence  plese hem not out of resou n My sire seyde so to me  & so dide my dame Þ at þe leuer child  þe more lore bihoueþ And salomon seyde þe same  þat sapience made Qui p arcit virge  odit filiu m . Þe englisch of þis latyn  is . who -so wole it knowe O.5.41: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. Who -so spariþ þe spryng  spilliþ hise children And siþen he preyede p relatis  & preestis to -gyderes Þat ȝe p rechen to þe peple  p reue it on ȝoure -seluen And doþ it in dede  it schal drawe ȝow to goode If ȝe lyuen as ȝe leren vs  we schul leue ȝow þe better And siþen he radde religiou n  her reule to holde Lest þe kyng & his cou nceyl  ȝoure comunes appeyre And been stywardis of ȝoure stedis  til ȝe been rulid better And siþen he cou nceylede þe kyng  þe comunes to louye It is þi tresore if tresou n ne were  & triacle at þi nede And siþen he p reyede þe pope  haue pite on holi chirche And er he gyue any grace  gou erne first hym -seluen And ȝe þat han lawes to kepe  latte truþe be ȝoure coueytise More þan gold & oþ er O.5.55: C 2 alone shares the uncorrected form of this phrase. gyftes  if he O.5.55: OC 2 alone have he in place of ȝe. wole god plese For who -so cont rarieþ truþe  he telliþ i n þe gospel  Þ at god knowiþ hym not  ne no seynt of heuene O.5.57: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. Amen dico vobis  nescio vos . O.5.58: This line is followed by three ticks in red. Pylg rimes . And ȝe þat seken seynt iames  & seyntis of rome Sekeþ seynt truþe  for he may saue ȝow alle Q ui cu m patre & filio  þat faire hem befalle Þat suen my s ermou n  & þus seyde resou n . Amen . Þa nne ran repentaunce  O.5.63: OC 2 alone lack and before reherede. reherede reher[c]ede O.5.63: OC 2 alone have reherede in place of rehercede. his teme And gerte wille to wepe  water . wiþ hise yen Perenel proude -hert  platte hir to þe erþe Sup erbia . And lay longe er sche lokede  & lord m ercy criede And bihyȝte vn -to O.5.67: YOC 2M alone have vn-to in place of to. hym  þat vs alle made Sche schulde vnsewen hir serk  & sette þere an heyre To affayten hir flesch  þat fers was to synne Schal neu ere hye hert me hente  but holde me lowe And suffre to be mysseyd  & so dide I neu ere But now wil I meke me & m ercy beseche For al þis I haue  hatid in myn herte Þa nne lecchour seyde allas  & on oure lady criede luxuria To make m ercy for hise mysdedis  bitwene god & his soule Wiþ þat he schulde þe satirday  seuene ȝer þ erafter  Drynke but myd þe doke  & dyne but ones Envie wiþ heuy herte  askede after schrifte Envie . And carfullich mea culpa  he comsede to schewe He was as pale as a pelet  in palsie he semede And cloþed in a caurymaury  I couþe it not disc riue In kirtil & courtebi  & a knyf bi his syde Of a freris frokke  weren þe forsleues And as a leek hadde I -ley  longe in þe sunne i d est empti O.5.85: The marginal gloss is for lere. So lokede he wiþ lere O.5.85: OC 2 alone have lere, "empty," in place of lene. chekis  lourynge foule His body was to -bollen for wraþþe  þ at he bote hise lippis And wryngynge he ȝede wiþ his O.5.87: OC 2Cot alone have his; most B manuscripts have þe. fist  to wreke hy mself he þouȝte Wiþ werkis or wiþ wordis  wha nne he saw his tyme Ich a word þat he warpe  was of an addres tunge Of chydyng O.5.90: OC 2 alone lack and between the prepositional phrases. of chalengyng  was his cheef lijflode Wiþ bacbytyng & bismere  & beryng of falswytnesse fals wytnesse Þis was al his curteysie  where þat eu ere he schewede hym I wolde be schryuen quod þis schrewe  & I for schame durste I wolde be gladder bi god  þ at gybbe hadde meschaunce Þan þouȝ I hadde þis woke I -wonnen O.5.95: OC 2 alone have the form I-wonnen in place of (y)wonne.  a weye of Esex chese I haue a neiȝbore nyȝ me  I haue enuyed hym ofte And lowen on hym to lordis  to do hy m lese his syluer And made hise frendis be hise foon  þoruȝ my fals tunge His grace & hise goode happis  greuen me ful sore Bitwene many & many  I make debate ofte Þ at boþe lijf & lym  is lost þoruȝ my speche And wha nne I mete hym in market  þat I moost hate I haylse hym heendelich  as I his freend were For he is douȝtier þan I  I dar do noon oþ er Ac hadde I maystrie & myȝt  god woot my wille And wha nne I come to þe kyrke  & schulde knele to -for O.5.106: OC 2F alone have to-for in place of to. þe rode And preye for þe peple  as þe preest techeþ For pilgrymes & for palmers  for al þe peple after Þa nne I crye on my knees  þ at crist ȝyue hem sorwe Þat baren awey my bolle  & my broken schete Awey fro þe auter  þa nne turne I myne yen And biholde how eleyn  haþ a newe cote I wissche þa nne . it were myn  & al þe web after And of mennys leesyng I lawȝhe  þ at myn herte akeþ And for her wynnyng I wepe  & wayle þe tyme And deme þ at þei doon ille  þ er I do wel wers Who -so vndirnymeþ me her -of  I hate hym dedli after And O.5.118: OC 2 alone include And. I wolde þ at ich a wyȝt  were myn owne O.5.118: OC 2 alone have myn owne in place of my. knaue For who -so haþ more þan I  þat angreþ me sore And þus I lyue loueles  lijk a liþer dogge Þ at al my body bolneþ  for bittre of my galle I myȝte not ete many ȝeris  as a man ouȝte For enuye & yuele wille  is yuele to diffye May no sugre ne swete þing  asswage my swellyng Ne no diapendion  dryue it fro myn herte Ne neiþ er schrift ne schame  but who -so schrape my mawe ÞisȜis rede I O.5.127: OC 2 alone have rede I; most B manuscripts have redily. quod repentaunce  & radde hym to þe beste Sorwe of synnes  is sauaciou n of soulis I am sory quod þat segge  I am but selden oþ er And þat makiþ me þus megre  for I ne may me avenge Amongys burgeycis haue I been  dwellynge at lundou n And gerte bacbityng be a brokour  to blame mennys ware Wha nne he solde & I not  þa nne was I redy To lye & to loure on my neiȝbore  & lakke his chaffare I wole amende þis if I may  bi myȝt of god almyȝti Ira . Now awakiþ wraþþe  wiþ two whyte yen Freris And nyuelynge wiþ þe nose  & his necke hangynge I am wraþþe quod he  I was sum -tyme a frere And O.5.139: OC 2 alone lack þe before couentis. couentis gardener  for to graffen Impes On lymytouris & legistreris O.5.140: OCr 23C 2 alone have legistreris in place of some variant of listre(s).  lesyngys I Impede Til þei bere leues of lowe speche  lordis to plese And siþen þe i blosmeden O.5.142: OC 2 alone have the form blosmeden; all other beta witnesses have blosmede. abrode  in boure to here schryftes And now is fallen þ erof a fruyt  þ at folk han wel leu ere Schewen her schryftes to hem  þan schryue hem to her p ersou ns And now han p ersou ns p arceyued  þ at freris p arten wiþ hem Þeise possessioners prechen  & deprauen freris . And freris fynden hem in defaute  as folk beren witnesse Þ at wha nne þei p rechen O.5.148: OC 2 alone have the form p rechen in place of preche. þe peple  in many places aboute I wraþþe walke wiþ hem  & wisse hem of my bokis Þus þei speken of spiritualte  þ at eiþ er dispiseþ oþer Til þei been boþe beggers  & bi my spiritualte libben Or ellis alle riche  and riden aboute I wraþþe reste neu ere  þ at I ne muste folewe  Þeise wickide folk  for swich is my grace I haue an aunte to Nunne  & O.5.155: OCot alone lack a word or words between Nunne and abbesse; all other beta witnesses have an. abbesse boþe Hir were leu ere swowe or swelte  or O.5.156: OC 2 alone have or; most B manuscripts have þan. suffre any peyne I haue been cook in hir kychen  & þe couent seruede Many moneþis wiþ hem  & wiþ monkes boþe I was þe prioresse potager  & oþ ere pore ladies And made hem iowtes wiþ iangelyng  þ at dame Ione was a bastard And dame Clarice a knyȝtis douȝter  & a cokwold was hir sire And dame p eronel a p reestis file  p rioresse worþ sche neu ere For sche hadde child in chirie -tyme  al oure chapitre it wiste Of wickide wordis I wraþþe  her wortes I -made O.5.164: OC 2LR alone include the metrically required second I. Til þ ou lixt & þou lixt  loupen out at ones And eiþ er hitte oþ er  vndir þe cheke Hadden O.5.167: O alone has the form Hadden; most other B manuscripts have Hadde. þei had knyues bi crist  eiþ er hadde killed oþ er Seynt gregori was a good pope  & hadde a good forwit Þ at no p rioresse were p reest  for þat he ordeynede Þei hadden þa nne been infamis  þei O.5.170: Only YOC 2M have þei alone; most B manuscripts which contain the line in this form have þe firste day þei. kun so yuele holde cou nceyl Among munkes I myȝte be  ac many tyme I schonye For þei been many felle frekis  my feres to aspye Boþe priour & suppriour  & oure pater Abbas And if I telle any tales  þei taken hem to -gyderes And do me faste fridayes  to breed & to water And am chalengid in þe chapitre hous  as I a child were And baleysed on þe bare ers  & no breech bitwene O.5.177: OC 2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Forþi haue I no likyng, [leue me], wiþ þo leodes to wonye." I ete þere vnheende fisch  & feble ale drynke Ac oþ er -whyle wha nne wiyn comeþ  & I drynke it at euene I haue a flux of a foule mouþ  wel fyue dayes after Al þe wickidnesse þat I woot  bi any of oure breþ eren make knowe O.5.182: The scribal gloss in the right margin is to couþe. I couþe it in oure cloyster  þ at al þe couent woot it Now repente þee quod repentau nce  & reherce þow neu ere  Cou nceyl þat þ ou knowist  bi contenau nce ne bi syȝt O.5.184: OCr 23 alone have syȝt; most B manuscripts have riȝt. And drynke not ou er -delicatly  ne to depe neiþ er Þ at þi wille be cause þ erof  to wraþþ myȝte turne O.5.186: A caret/punctus, indicating intended deletion, appears in the extreme right margin, but no word or phrase on the line is marked for deletion. Esto sobrius . he seyde  & assoylede me after And bade me wilne to wepe  my wickidnesse to amende Auaricia And þa nne cam coueytise  I can hym not discryue So hungryli & holewe  sire heruy hym lokede He was bitilbrowed  and babirlippid also Wiþ two blered yen  as a blynde hagge And as a leþeren purs  lolleden hise chekis Wel sydder þan his chyn  þei ryueledenchyueleden O.5.194: O alone has the forms ryueleden or chyueleden; most B manuscripts have chyueled. for eelde And as a bonde -man of his bakou n  his beerd was bidrauelid Wiþ an hood on his hed  a lousy hat a -boue And in a tawney taberd  of twelue wynter of O.5.197: YOC 2F alone include the second occurrence of of. age Al to -torn & baudy  & ful of lijs crepynge O.5.198: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. But if þ at a lous kouþe  haue lopen þe better Sche schulde not haue walked þ er -on O.5.200: GYOC 2 alone have þ er-on ; variants include on þat welche (LR), on þat welþe (WCr 1M), on þe welte (Cr 23), on þat web (F), and there (HmCB).  so was it þreed -bare I haue been coueytous quod þis caytyf  I beknowe it heer For su m -tyme I s eruede  sy mme at þe style And was his prentice I -pliȝt  his p rofyt to wayte First I lernede to lye  a leef oþ er tweyen Wickedlich to weye  was my first lessou n fare O.5.206: A solidus/punctus above marginal fare and a caret/punctus beside it indicate that it was intended as a substitution for feyre, although the reading is unattested elsewhere. To wye & to wynchestre  I wente to þe feyre Wiþ many man ere marchaundises  as my mayst er me hyȝte Ne hadde þe g race of gyle  goo among my chaffare It hadde been vnsold þis seuene ȝer  so me god helpe Þa nne drowȝ I me among drapers  my donet to lerne To drawe þe lesere a -long  þe lenger it semede Among þe riche rayes  I rendride a lessou n To broche hem wiþ a pacnedel  & playtede hem to -gyderes And put hem in a presse  & pynnede hem þ er -i nne Til ten ȝerdis or twelue  hadde told O.5.215: OC 2 alone have hadde told; variants include tolled (LMRF), hadden tollid (B), and hadden tolde (Hm). out þrittene My wijf was a webbe  & wollen cloþ made Sche spake to spynsters  to spynnen it oute Ac þe pound sche payede bi  weyede a quartrou n more Þan myn owne aunser  who -so weyede truþe I bouȝte hir barli malt  sche brewe it to selle Peny ale & puddyng ale  sche pourede to -gyderes For laboreris & lowe folk  þat lay bi hem -seluen Þe best ale lay in my boure  or in my bed -chaumbre And who -so bu mmyd þ erof  he bouȝte it þ er -after A galou n for a grote  god woot no lesse And ȝit it come in . cupmele  þis craft my wijf vsede Rose þe regrater  was hir riȝt name Sche haþ holden hukrie  al hir lijf -tyme Ac I swere now . so the ik  þ at synne wole I lete And neu ere wickydlich weye  ne wickide caffare O.5.230: caffare, "dealings." A dialectal variant of chaffare. vse But wenden to walsyngham  & my wijf als And bidde þe rode of bromholm  brynge me out of dette Repentist þow eu ere quod repentau nce  or restituciou n madiste Ȝis ones I was herborwid quod he  wiþ an heep of chapmen I roos wha nne þei weren a -rest  & riflede her malis Þat was no restituc iou n quod repentau nce  but a robbers þeft Þow haddist been bett er worþi  to be O.5.237: Cr 3YOC 2 alone have to be in place of ben. hangyd þ erfore Þan for al þat þow hast  heer now schewid O.5.238: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. I wende riflyng were restituc iou n quod he  I lernede neu ere on book And I can no frensch in feiþ  but of þe ferþest eend of norþfolk Vsedist þow eu ere vsurie quod repentau nce  in al þi lijf -tyme Nay soþeli he seyde  saue in my ȝouþe I lernede among ys lumbardis  & Iues a lessou n To weye pens wiþ a peys  & pare þe heuyest And lene it for loue of þe crosse  to legge a wed & lese it Swiche dedis I dide write  if he his day brook I haue mo man ers þoruȝ rerages  þan þoruȝ mis eret ur & comodat I haue lent lordis  & ladies my chaffare And been her brokour after  & bouȝte it my -selue Eschaunges & cheuysaunces  wiþ swich chaffare I dele And lene folk þat lese wole  a lippe at eu ery noble And wiþ lumbardis lettres  I ladde gold to Rome And toke it bi tayle heer  & tolde O.5.253: OC 2 alone among beta witnesses lack hem before þere. þere lesse Lentist þ ou eu ere lordis  for loue of her mayntenau nce Ȝhe . I haue lent lordis  þat loueden me neu ere after And haue maad many knyȝt  boþe m ercer & draper Þat payede neu ere for his p rentyshod  not a peyre gloues Hast þ ou pite on pore men  þat moten nedis borwe I haue als myche pite on hem  as pedler haþ of kattis Þat wolde kille hem if he myȝte  for coueytises coueytise of her sky nnes Art þ ou manlich a -mong þi neiȝbores  of mete & of drynk I am holden as heend quod he  as hound is in kychyn Among my neiȝbores namelich  swich a name ich haue God lene neu ere quod repentau nce  but þow repente þee þe raþer Þe grace on þis ground  þi good wille O.5.265: HmCr 1OC 2 alone have wille; most B manuscripts have wel. to bisette Ne þine eyres after þee  haue ioye of þat þ ou wynnest Ne þine exsecutours bisette þi O.5.267: GYOC 2 alone have þi in place of þe. sylu er  þat þ ou hem leuest And þat was wo nnen wiþ wrong  wiþ wickide men be dispendid For were I frere of þat hous  þ ere good feiþ & charite is O.5.269: The right margin contains the first of a number of similar marginal designs that appear throughout the manuscript: a cross composed of four dots, with an additional flourish at the bottom. The hand responsible is probably the main scribal hand, but the function of this addition, whether emphasis or ornament, is unclear. I nolde cope vs wiþ þi catel  ne oure kirke amende Ne haue a peny to my pitau nce of þin  bi my soule hele For þe best book in oure hous  þouȝ brent gold were þe leues And I wist witterli þ ou were  swich as þ ou tellist Or ellis þ at I koude knowe it  bi any skyns wise O.5.274: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which occurs only in Cr 23YOC 2CB, as scribal. Seruus es alt erius cu m fercula pynguya queris Pane tuo pocius  vesc ere . liber eris Þ ou art an vnkynde creature  I can þee not assoyle Til þ ou make restituc iou n  & reckene wiþ hem alle And siþen þ at resou n rolle it  in þe registre of heuene Þ at þ ou hast maad ich man good  I may þee not assoyle No n dim ittit ur p ecc atum  donec restituat ur ablatu m & c etera For alle þat han of þi good  haue god my truþe Been holden at þe hye doom  to helpe þee to restitue And who -so leueþ not þis be soþ  loke in þe sauter glose In Mis erere mei d eus wher I mene truþe Ecce eni m v eritate m dilexisti & c etera Schal neu ere werkman in þis world  þryue . wiþ þat þ ou wy nnest O.5.287: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. Cu m s anc to  s anc tus eris & c etera construe me þat on englisch Þa nne wexe þat schrewe in wanhope  & wolde haue hangyd hy mself Ne hadde repentau nce þe raþ er  recou nfortede hy m in þis man ere Haue m ercy in þi mynde  & wiþ þi mouþ beseche it For goddis m ercy is more  þan alle hise oþ ere werkis O.5.292: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. Mi sericordia eius sup er om nia op era eius O.5.293: YOC 2 alone lack & c etera at the end of this line. And al wickednesse of O.5.294: OC 2 alone have of in place of in. þis world  þat man myȝte do or þenke Nis no more to þe m ercy of god  þan in þe sehe a glede O mnis i niq uitas q uantu m ad mi sericordiam dei  e st q uasi sintilla i n medio maris For -þi haue m ercy in þi mynde  & m erchaundise leue it For þ ou hast no good ground  to gete þee wiþ a wastel But if it were wiþ þi tunge  or ellis wiþ þi two handis For þe good þat þ ou hast geten  bigan al wiþ falshed And as longe as þ ou lyuest þ er -wiþ  þ ou ȝe ldist not but borwyst And if þ ou wost neu ere to whiche  ne whom to restitue Bere it to þe bischop  & bidde hym of his g race Bisette it hymself  as best is for þi soule For he schal answere for þee  at þe hye doom For þee & many moo  þat man schal ȝyue a reckenyng What he lernede ȝow in lenten  leue ȝe noon oþ er And what he lente ȝow of his good  to wite ȝow fro sy nne For he schulde helpe ȝow  of oure lordis good O.5.309: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which occurs only in Cr 23YOC 2CB, on the grounds that it is scribal. Gula Now bigynneþ glotou n  for to goo to schryft . And kaires hym to kyrkeward  his coupe to schewe Ac Betou n þe breuster  bade hym . good morwe And axede of hym wiþ þat  whyderward he wolde To holi kirke quod he  for to here masse And siþen And siþen I wole be schryuen  & synne no more I haue good ale gossip quod sche  glotou n wilt þ ou assay Hast þ ou ouȝt in þi purs  any hote spices I haue peper & pionyes quod sche  & a pound of garlyk A ferþingworþ of fenel seed  for fastynge -dayes Þa nne gooþ glotou n in  & grete oþes after Cesse þe sout eresse  sate on þe benche Watte þe warner  & his wijf after O.5.322: OC 2 alone have after in place of boþe. Tymme þe tynker  & tweyen of hise p rentices Hicke þe hakeney -man  & hue þe nedeler Clarice of cokkislane  & O.5.325: OC alone lack þe before clerk. clerk of þe chirche Dawe þe diker  & a doseyn oþere Sire peers of pride  & p eronel of flaundris A ribibour a ratouner  a raker of chepe A roper a redyngkyng  & rose þe discher Godfrey of garlikhyþe  & griffyn þe walsche And vpholders an heep  erli bi þe morwe Gyuen glotou n wiþ good chere  good ale to ansel Clement þe cobler  caste of his cloke And at þe newe feyre  he nempnede it to selle Hikke þe hakeney -man  hitte his hood after And bade bette þe bocher  been on his syde Þere weren chapmen chosen  þis chaffare to preyse Who -so hadde þe hood . schulde  haue amendis of þe cloke Two risen vp in rape  & rounede n to -gyderes And preyseden þeise penyworþis  a -part bi hem -selue Þei couþen not bi her concience  acorden in truþe Til robyn þe roper  aroos bi þe souþe And nempnede hy m for a nou nper  þ at no debate nere For to trye þis chaffare  bitwixen hem þre O.5.344: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which occurs only in Cr 23YOC 2CBHt, on the grounds that it is scribal. Hikke þe hostler  hadde þe cloke In couenaunt þ at clement schulde þe cuppe fille And haue hikkis hood hostler  & holde hym s erued And who þ at repentiþ raþer  schulde arise after And grete wel sire O.5.349: YOC 2F alone include both wele and sire. glotou n  wiþ a galou n ale Þ ere was lawȝhyng & louryng  & latte goo þe cuppe And so seten O.5.351: O alone has so seten; variants include sytten so (Cr 1GR), so satten (C 2), so seten they (YC), so sytten they (Cr 23), so þei setten (B), and seten so (WHmLMF) til euensong  & sungen oþ er -whyle O.5.351: OYC 2C alone have oþ er-while ; most B manuscripts have vmwhile. Til glotou n hadde glubbed  a galou n & a gylle Hise guttis bigune to gurlegotheli O.5.353: O alone has the form gurle; variants include gothely (YC), godly (LMR), gowle (GF), grouly (B), gotheli to grulle (C 2), and goþelen (WHmCr).  as two gredy sowes d 2 He pissede a potel  in a pater -noster whyle And blewe his rounde ruet  at his rigge -bonys ende Þ at alle þat herden þat horn  helden her nose after And wischede n it hadde be waxed  wiþ a wispe of firses He myȝte neiþ er steppe ne stonde  er he his staf hadde And þa nne gan he to goo  lijke a glewmannys bicche Sum tyme a -syde  & sum tyme a -rere As who -so leiþ lynes  for to lacche foules And wha nne he drowȝ to þe dore  þa nne dymmeden hise yen He stumblede on þe þreschold  & þrewȝ to þe erþe Clement þe cobler  cauȝte hym bi þe myddel For to lifte hym a -lofte  & leyde hym on hise knees Ac glotou n was a greet cherl  & grymme in þe liftyng And cowȝhede vp a caudel  in clementis lappe Is noon so hungry hound  in hertford -schire Durste lape of þat leuyngesleuenynges O.5.369: A solidus/punctus above both leuynges and marginal leuenynges indicate substitution. The word leuenynge, which appears in connection with this line only in O, is glossed by the MED as "lightning" or "shining," which has no application to this context. The scribe's motive for this substitution is unclear.  so vnlouelich þei smauȝten O.5.369: O alone has the form smauȝten; most B manuscripts have smauȝte. Wiþ al þe woo of þis world  his wijf & his wenche Baren hym hoom to his bed  & brouȝten hym þ er -i nne And after al þis accesse  he hadde an accidie Þ at he slepe saterday & sunday  til sunne wente to rest Þa nne wakede he of his wynkyng  & wipede hise yen O.5.375: YOC 2C alone lack The before first. First word þat he warpe was  where is þe bolle His witt gan edwite hym þoo  how wickidlich he lyuede And repentau nce riȝt þoo  so O.5.377: OC 2 alone incude both þoo and so. rebukede hym þat tyme As þ ou wiþ wordis & werkis  hast wrouȝt ille in þi lyue Schryue þee & be a -schamed þ erof  & schewe it wiþ mouþe I glotou n quod þe goom  gylti me ȝelde Þ at I haue trespassed wiþ my tunge  I can not telle how ofte Sworen goddis soule  & so god me helpe & halidam Þere no nede ne was  nyne hundrid tymes And ou ersey me at O.5.384: OC 2CotF alone lack an article, demonstrative, or possessive pronoun before soper; most B manuscripts have my. soper  & sum -tyme at nones Þ at I glotou n gyrd vp  er I hadde goon a myle And spilte þat myȝte be spared  & spendid on sum hungry Ou er -delicatli on fastynge -dayes  dronken & eten boþe And sate sum -tyme so longe þ ere  þ at I slepte & ete at ones For loue of tales in tau ernes  to drynke þe more I dynede And hyede to þe mete er noon  wha nne fastynge -dayes weren O.5.390: OC 2 alone have the form weren; all other beta witnesses have were. Þis schewynge schrift quod repentau nce  schal be m eryte to þee And þa nne gan glotou n grete  and greet deel made For his liþer lijf  þat he lyued hadde And vowede to faste  for hunger or for þrist Schal neu ere fisch on fryday  diffyen in my wombe Til abstynence myn aunte  haue ȝyuen me leue And ȝit haue I hated hir  al my lijf -tyme . Accidia . Þa nne cam sleuþe al beslabred  wiþ two slymy yen I muste sitte seyde þe segge  or ellis I schulde O.5.399: OC 2BmBo alone transpose sholde I; other variants include must I (G), I most (Cot), I must nedes (Cr), and omission (F). nappe I may not stonde ne stoupe  ne wiþ -outen a stool knele Were I brouȝt a -bedde  but if my tayl -eend it made Scholde no ryngyng do me rise  or I were ripe to dyne He bigan benedicite wiþ a bolk  & his brest knokkede And roxede & rorede  & rutte at þe last A -wake renk quod repentau nce  & rape þee to schrift If I schulde dye bi þis day  me liste not to loke I can not p arfiȝtli my pat er -nost er  as þe p reest syngeþ But I can rymes of robyn hood  & randolf of chester Ac neiþ er of oure lord ne oure lady  þe leest þat is maad I haue maad vowes fifty  & forȝeten hem on morwe I p arfornede neu ere penaunce  as þe preest me hyȝte Ne riȝt sori for my synnes  ȝit was I neu ere And if I bidde any bedes  but if it be in wraþþe Þat I telle wiþ my tunge  is two myle fro myn herte I am occupied ich day  halyday and oþer Wiþ ydel talis at þe ale  & oþ er -whyle in chirches Goddis peyne & his passiou n  ful selden O.5.417: OC 2 alone have selden in place of selde. þenke I on O.5.417: Only OC 2 conclude this line with on alone; most B manuscripts have theron. I visitede neu ere feble men  ne fetered folk in pittis I haue leu ere here an harlotrie  or a som er game of souters Or lesyngys to lawȝhe at  & bilye my neiȝboris Þan al þat eu ere mark made  Matheu Ion & lucas And vigilies & fastynge -dayes  alle þeise late I passe And ligge a -bedde in lenten  & my le mman in myne armes Til mateyns & messe be doon  & þa nne goo to þe freris Come I to Ite missa est  I holde me serued I nam not schryuen sum -tyme  but seeknesse it make Not twyes in two ȝer  & þa nne vp gesse I schryue me I haue been p reest & p ersou n  passynge þritti ȝer Ȝit can I neiþ er solfe ne synge  ne seyntis lyues rede But I can fynde in a feeld  or in a furlong an hare O.5.430: A small cross appears in the left margin; the hand cannot be identified with certainty, but resembles hand 3. Better þan in Beat us vir  or in beati omnes Construe o clause wel  & kenne it to my p arischenes I can holde loue -dayes  & here a reues rekkenyng Ac in canou n ne O.5.434: OC 2 alone lack in (þe) before decretalis. decretalis  I can not rede a lyne If I bigge & borwe it  but if it be tayled I forȝete it as soone O.5.436: Cr 23OC 2 alone have soone; most B manuscripts have yerne.  & if men me it axe  Sixe syþes or seuene  I forsake it wiþ oþes And þus tene I trewe men  ten hundrid tymes And my s eruau ntis sum -tyme  her salerie is bihynde Reuþe is to here þe rekkenyng  wha nne we schul re de acountis So wiþ wickide wille & wraþþe  my werke -men I paye If any man do me a benfeet  or helpe me at nede I am vnhende O.5.443: O alone has vnhende ( vnhynde C 2) ; most B manuscripts have correctly alliterating vnkynde. aȝens his curtesye  & can not vnderstonde it For I haue & haue had  sumdel haukes maneres I nam O.5.445: OLM alone have nam in place of am. not lered O.5.445: YGOC 2 alone have lered; most B manuscripts have lured. wiþ loue  but if ouȝt lye vnder þe þumbe O.5.445: A cross appears in the left margin, in a hand which, although not identifiable with certainty, resembles hand 3. It may represent an attempt by a corrector to point out the error of lered for lured. Þe kyndenesse þat myne euene -c ristene  kydden O.5.446: OC 2 alone have the form kydden in place of kidde. me ferne -ȝer Sixti siþes I sleuþe  haue forȝeten it siþþe In speche & in sparyng  I spilte many tyme Boþe flesch & fisch  butter mylk & chese Boþe breed & ale  & many oþ ere vitaylis Forsleuþede in my s eruyse  til it myȝte s erue no man I ran aboute in ȝouþe  & ȝaf me not to lerne And eu ere siþ haue I been O.5.453: WHmOC 2 alone have haue I been; variants include be (LR), haue be (YcrCM), I haue be (GBmCot), I haue iben (Bo), and I am þe (F). begg er  for my foule sleuþe Heu m ichi q uia sterile m  vitam duxi iuuenilem Repentist þ ou not quod repentau nce  & riȝt wiþ þat he swownede Til vigilate þe veyl  fette water at hise yen And flatte it on his face  & fast on hym criede And seyde . war þee for wanhope  wolde þee bitraye I am sori for my synnes  seye to þi -selue And bete þi -self on þe brest  & bidde hym of grace For is no gylt heer so greet  þ at his goodnesse is more Þa nne satte sleuþe vp  & seynede hym swyþe And made avow to -for god  for his foule sleuþe Schal no sunday be þis seuene ȝer  but seeknesse it lette Þ at I ne schal do me er day  to þe dere chirche And here mateyns & messe  as I a monke were Schal noon ale after mete  holde me þennys Til I haue euensong herd  I bihote to þe rode And ȝit wole I ȝelde aȝeyn  if I so myche haue Al þat I wickidlich wan  siþen I witt hadde And þouȝ my lijflode lakke  leten I nylle Þ at ich man schal haue his  er I hennys wende And wiþ O.5.473: OC 2 alone lack þe before residue. residue & þe remenaunt  bi þe rode of chestre I schal seke truþe erst  er I se Rome Robert þe robber  on reddite lokede And for þ er was not wher -of  he wepede swyþe O.5.476: OC 2 alone lack soore following swyþe. Ac ȝit þe synful sch rewe  seyde to hym -selue Crist þat on þe O.5.478: OC 2 alone include þe. caluarie  vp -on þe crosse dyedist dismas Þoo dismas my broþ er  bisouȝte ȝow of grace And haddist m ercy of O.5.480: YOC alone have of in place of on. þat man  for Memento sake O.5.480: Four dashes follow this line, becoming a continuous line below dismas which extends to the end of the margin. So rewe on þis robber  þat reddere ne haþ Ne neu ere wene to wynne  wiþ craft þat I owe But for þi mykel m ercy  mytigac iou n O.5.483: OC 2 alone lack a first-person pronoun before biseche; all other beta witnesses have I. biseche Ne dampne me not at domesday  for þat I dide O.5.484: Cr 23OC 2 alone lack so before ille. ille What bifel of þis schrewe O.5.485: OC 2 alone have schrewe in place of a correctly alliterating word; most B manuscripts have feloun.  I can not faire schewe Wel I woot he wepte fast  water . wiþ boþe hise yen And knowlechede his gylt to c rist  ȝit efter -soones O.5.487: O alone has the form efter; most B manuscripts have eft. Þ at penytencia his pijk  he schulde polische newe And lepe wiþ hym ou er lond  al his lijf -tyme For he hadde leyn bi latro  lucifers aunte And þa nne hadde repentaunce ruþe  & radde hem alle to knele For I schal beseche for alle synful  oure saueour of grace To amende vs of oure mysdedis  & do m ercy to vs alle Now god quod he of þi goodnesse  þat gu nne þe world make And of nouȝt madest ouȝt . & man  moost lijk to þi -selue And siþen suffrest for to synne  a seeknesse to vs alle And al for þe best as I beleue  what -eu ere þe book telliþ O felix culpa o necessariu m ade p ecc atum & c etera For þoruȝ þat synne þi sone  sent was to þis erþe And bicam man of a mayde  mankynde to saue And madest þi -self wiþ þi sone  & vs synful yliche O.5.501: A solidus/punctus above wiþ marks it for deletion. Faciam us ho mi nem ad ymagyne m & si militudine m n ostram Et alibi Q ui manet in caritate  in deo manet & c etera O.5.503: YOC 2 alone have & c etera in place of & deus in eo . oure sute And siþ wiþ þi self sone  in oure sute deydist On good fryday for mannys sake  at ful tyme of þe day Þ ere þi -self ne þi sone  no sorwe in deþ feledist But in oure secte was þe sorwe  & þi sone it ladde Captiuam duxit captiuitatem & c etera Þe sunne for sorwe þ erof  lees hys liȝt for a tyme Aboute mydday wha nne moost liȝt is  & meel -tyme of seyntis Feddest wiþ þi fresch blood  oure forfadris in derkenesse Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam And þoruȝ þe liȝt þat leepe out of þee  lucifer was blent And blewe alle þi blessede  in -to þe blis of p aradice Þe þridde day after  O.5.515: OC 2 alone lack þow before ȝedist. ȝedist in oure sute And synful marie þee seyȝ  er seynt marie þi dame And O.5.517: OC 2 alone lack al before to. to solace synful  þ ou suffredist it so were Non veni vocare iustos  s et p ecc atores ad penitencia m And al þat mark haþ I -maad  matheu jon & lucas Of þi douȝti dedis  weren doon in oure armes V erbu m caro f ac tum est  & h abitauit in nobis And bi so myche me semeþ  þe sikerer we mowe  Bidde & biseche  if it be þi wille Þat art oure fadir & oure broþ er  be m erciable til vs And haue ruþe on þis ribawdis  þat repenten hem heer sore Þ at eu ere þei wraþþeden O.5.526: OC 2 alone have the form wraþþeden; most B manuscripts have wraþed. þee in þis world  in word . þouȝt or dede Þa nne hente hope an horn  of deus tu co nu ersus viuificabis And blewe it wiþ Beati quo rum  remisse su nt i niq uitates Þ at alle seyntis in heuene  sunge n at ones Ho mi nes & Iumenta saluab is q uemadmo dum m ultiplicasti mi sericordiam tua m d eus & c etera A þousande of men þoo  þrungen to -gyderes Cryeden vpward to crist  & to his clene modir To haue grace to go wiþ hem  truþe to seke Ac þ er was wyȝt noon so wijs  þe weye þidir couþe But blustreden forþ as bestes  ou er bankes & hilles Til late was & longe  þ at þei a lede metten Apparaylid as a paynym  in pilg rimys wise He bare a burdou n ybounden  wiþ a brood liste In a swiþe wyndes O.5.539: YOC 2C alone read swiþe wyndes, a nonsense reading perhaps reflecting scribal unfamiliarity with wythewyndes, "woodbines," which is preserved in various spellings by WHmGLMR. wise  ywounden aboute A bolle & a bagge  he bare bi his syde An hundryd of ampulles  on his hat sete Signes of synay  & schellis of galis And many a crouche on his cloke  & keyes of rome And þe v ernycle bifore  for men schulden O.5.544: OC 2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde. knowe  And se bi hise signes  whom he souȝt hadde Þeise folk freyneden O.5.546: OC 2 alone lack an object pronoun before first; most B manuscripts have hym. first  from whennys he come Fro synay he seyde  & fro oure lordis sepulcre In bedlem & in babiloyne  I haue been in boþe I n Ermonye in alisaundre  in many oþ ere places Ȝe mowen se bi my sygnes  þat sitten on my hat Þ at I haue walked ful wyde  in wete & in drye And souȝte goode seyntis  for my soulis helþe Knowist þ ou ouȝt a corseynt  þat men callen truþe Koudist þ ou wissen vs þe weye  where þ at he dwelliþ Nay so me god helpe  seyde þe goom þa nne I seyȝ neu ere palm er wiþ pijk  ne wiþ scrippe wende O.5.556: OC 2 alone include wende. Axen after hym  er now in þis place Petre quod a plowman  & putte forþ his hed I knowe hym as kyndeli  as clerk doþ his book Concience & kynde witt  kennede me to his place And dide me swere sikirli  to s erue hym for eu ere Boþe to sowe & to sette  þe whyle I swynke myȝte I haue been his folewer  al þis fifti wynter Boþe sewe O.5.564: OC 2 alone have sewe; most B manuscripts have sowen. his seed  & fedde O.5.564: OC 2CCot alone have fedde; most B manuscripts have some variant of correctly alliterating suwed. hise bestes Wiþ -i nne and wiþ -oute n  waytede his p rofiȝt I dyke & I delue  & do þat truþe hotiþ Sum -tyme I sowe  & sum -tyme I þresche In taylouris craft & tynkers craft  what truþ e can deuyse I weue & I wynde  & do what truþe hoteþ For þouȝ I seye it my -self  I s erue hym to pay Ich haue myn hyre wel  and oþ er -whyles more He is þe p restest payer  þat pore men knowen He wiþhalt non hewe his hyre  þ at he ne haþ it at eue He is as lowe as a loomb  & louelich of speche And if ȝe wilneþ to wite  where þ at he dwelliþ I schal wisse ȝow wittirli  þe weye to his place Ȝ he leue peers quod þeise pilg rimys  & p rofreden hym hyre For to wende wiþ hem  to truþis dwellynge place O.5.578: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. Nay bi my soule quod peers  & gan for to swere I nolde fonge a ferþing  for seynt thomas schryne Truþe wolde loue me þe lesse  longe tyme after . no ta . how þ ou schalt goo on pilgrymage Ac if ȝe wilneþ to wende wel  þis is þe weye þidir . O.5.582: The rubric is divided after goo, so that it appears as two lines. Short flourishes in red appear at the left and right of no ta . Þat I schal seye to ȝow  & sette ȝow in þe soþe O.5.583: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which occurs only in Cr 23YOC 2CBHt, on the grounds that it is scribal. Ȝe moten goo þoruȝ mekenesse  boþe men & wyues Til ȝe come to concience  þ at crist wite þe soþe þe ten comaunde mentis . O.5.586: The rubric is divided after comaunde-, so that it appears on two lines. Þ at ȝe loue O.5.586: OC 2 alone have the form loue in place of louen. oure lord god  leuest of alle þing ys And þa nne ȝoure neiȝboris next  in noon wise appeyre Oþ er -wise þan þ ou woldest  he wrouȝte to þe -selue þ[i] -selue And so boweþ forþ bi a brook  beþ buxu m of speche Til ȝe fynden a foorþe  ȝoure fadris ȝe honoure honora prtrem p[a]trem & matre m & c etera O.5.591: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after patrem , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text. Wadeþ in O.5.592: OC 2 alone lack þat before water. water  & wasche ȝow wel þere And ȝe schul lepe þe liȝtlier  al ȝoure lijf -tyme And so schalt þ ou O.5.593: HmYOC 2 alone lack se before swere. swere not  but if it be for nede And namelich in ydel  þe name of god almyȝti Þa nne schalt þ ou come bi a croft  but come not þ er -Inne Þat croft hatte coueyte not  mennys catel ne her wyues Ne noon of her s eruauntis  þat noyen hem myȝte Loke ȝe breke no bowes þ ere  but if it be ȝoure owne Two stokkis þ er stonden  ac stynte ȝe not þere Þei hatten stele not ne slehe not  strike forþ bifore And leue hem on þi left half  & loke not þ er -after And holde wel þin haliday  hye til euene Þa nne schalt þ ou blenche at a beruȝ O.5.604: OR alone have beruȝ; variants include burgh (M), berch (Cr), berneȝ (C 2), beech (F), brygge (GCot), and Bergh (WHmYCBL).  bere no fals witnesse He is fryþid in . wiþ floreyns  and oþ ere foos many Loke þ ou plukke no plante þ ere  for p erel of þi soule Þa nne schul ȝe se . seye soþ  so it be do O.5.607: OC 2 alone have do in place of to. done In no man ere ellis not  for no mannys biddyng Þa nne schalt þ ou come to a court  as cleer as þe sunne Þe moot is O.5.610: OC 2 alone lack of before mercy; C 2 has þe in place of is. m ercy  þe man ere aboute Alle þe wallis been of witt  to holde wille oute And kirneled wiþ c ristendoom  mankynde to saue Botraced wiþ beleue so  or þ ou beest not saued O.5.614: OC 2 alone lack introductory And. Alle þe housis been hiled  halles & chaumbres Wiþ no leed but wiþ loue  & lowe speche as breþ eren Þe brigge is of bidde wel  þe bette may þ ou spede Ich piler is of penaunce  of preyer to seyntis Of almesdedis arn þe hokis  þe gates hangen onne Grace hatte þe gateward  a goode man for -soþe His man hatte amende ȝow  for many men hym knowen Telleþ hym þis tokene  þ at truþe wite þe soþe I p arfornede þe penaunce  þe preest me enioynede And am ful sori for my synnes  & so I schal eu ere Wha nne I þenke þer -on  þouȝ I were a pope Biddeþ . amende ȝow . meke hym  to his mayst er ones To wayue vp þe wiket  þat þe womman schette Þoo adam & eue  eten appelis vnrosted P er Eua m cuntis O.5.627: The misspelling of cunctis is shared by WGCLF and may therefore result from copying rather than a slip of the pen. clausa e st  & p er maria m v irgine m patef ac ta e st & c etera For he haþ þe keye & þe cliket  þouȝ þe kyng slepe And if grace g raunte þee  to goo in þis wise Þ ou schalt se in þi -self  truþe sitte in þin herte In a cheyne of charite  as þ ou a child were To suffre hym & segge nouȝt  aȝeyn þi sires wille Ac be war þa nne of wraþþe O.5.634: O alone has the form wraþþe; no other variants include two thorns.  þat is a wicked schrewe He haþ enuye til hym  þat in þin herte sittiþ And poukeþ forþ pride  to preyse þi -seluen Þe boldenesse of þi beenfetis  maken O.5.637: OC 2 alone have the form maken; variants include make (GYCBmBoF) and makeþ (WHmCrCotLR). þee blynde þa nne And O.5.638: OC 2F alone lack þanne between And and worþest. worþest þ ou dryuen out as dew  & þe dore closed Keyed & cliketid  to kepe þee wiþ -outen Happeli an hundrd hundr[e]d wynter  er þ ou eft entre Þus myȝtist þ ou lesen his loue  to lete wel bi þi -seluen And neu ere happeli eft entre  til O.5.642: OC 2 alone have til; most B manuscripts have but. grace þ ou haue Ac þ er been seuene sistren  þat s eruen truþe eu ere And been port ers of þe post ernes  þat to þe place longen Þat oon hatte abstynence  & humylite an -oþ er Ccharite Charite & chastite  been hise cheef maydenes Pacience & pees  myche peple þei helpen Largenesse þe lady  sche lete out O.5.648: OC 2F alone have out in place of in. ful many Sche haþ holpen a þousande  out of þe deuelis pynfold And who -so is sibbe to þeise seuene  so me god helpe He is wondirlich . welcome  & fayre vndirfongen And but if ȝe be sibbe  to su mme of þeise seuene It is ful hard bi myn hed quod peers  for any of ȝow alle To gete ingong at þe gate þ ere  but grace be þe more A Cutpurs . Now bi crist quod a cutpurs  I haue no kyn þere Non No[r] I quod an apeward  bi ouȝt þat I knowe Wite god quod a waferer  wiste I þis for soþe Schulde I neu ere ferþ er a fote  for no freris prechyng Ȝis quod peers þe plowman  & poukede alle O.5.659: Only in OC 2 does alle appear without a preceding pronoun or article. to goode Mercy is a mayden þere  haþ myȝt ou er alle And sche is sibbe to alle synful  & hir sone also And þoruȝ þe help of hem two  hope þ ou noon oþ er Þ ou myȝtist O.5.663: OC 2 alone have myȝtist in place of myȝt. gete grace þ ere  bi so þ ou go bi -tyme A p ardoner Bi seynt poule quod a p ardoun er  p arauenture I be not knowe þer e . I wole fecche my box wiþ my breuettis  & a bulle wiþ bischoppis le ttres ..... A comune womman O.5.666: The rubric is divided after comune, so that it appears as two lines. Bi c rist quod a comune wo mman  þi companye wole I folewe Þow schalt seye I am þi sister  I ne woot where þei bicomen O.5.667: OC 2 alone have the form bicomen; most B manuscripts have bicome. Passus Sextus O.6.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines. þ Þ Is were a wickide weye  but who -so hadde a guyde Þat wolde folewe vs ich a fote  þus þeise folk hem meneden O.6.2: O alone has the form meneden; most B manuscripts have mened. Quod p erkyn þe plowman  bi seynt peter of rome I haue an half acre to erie  bi þe hye weye Hadde I eried þis half acre  & sowen it after I wolde wende wiþ ȝow  & þe weye teche Þis were a longe lettyng  quod a lady in a sleyre What schulden we wo mmen  worche þe whyles Su mme schul sowe þe sakke quod peers  for schedynd schedyn[g] of þe whete And ȝe loueli ladies  wiþ ȝoure longe fyngris Þ at ȝe haue silk & sendel  to sewe wha nne tyme is Chesibles for chapeleyns  chirches to honoure Wyues & wydowes  wolle & flex spynneþ Makeþ cloþ I cou nceyle ȝow  & kenne so ȝoure douȝtres . no ta . O.6.15: The word no ta is accompanied by a flourish at the bottom. Þe nedy & þe nadkyd  nyme O.6.15: O alone has the form nyme; most B manuscripts have nymeþ. heed . how þei liggen And casteþ hem cloþis  for so biddiþ O.6.16: OC 2 alone have biddiþ in place of some variant of correctly alliterating comaundeþ. truþe For I schal lene hem lijflode  but if þe loond fayle Flesch & breed boþe  to riche & to pore O.6.18: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. As longe as I lyue  for oure O.6.19: OC 2M alone have oure in place of þe. lordis loue of heuene And alle man ere of men þat þoruȝ  mete & drynk libben Helpeþ hym to worche wyȝtliche  þat wynneþ ȝoure fod e O.6.21: The word fode is written in a different ink, possibly over an erasure; the supralinear <e> is written above a faded <e>. Bi crist quod a knyȝt þoo  he kenneþ vs þe best Ac on þe teem truli  tauȝt was I neu ere Ac kenne me quod þe knyȝt  & I wole assaye Bi seynt poule quod p erkyn  ȝe p roferen O.6.25: OC 2 alone have the form p roferen in place of profre. ȝow so faire Þ at I schal swynke & swete  & sowe for vs boþe And oþ ere labouris do for þi loue  al my lijf -tyme . þe lyuyng of trewe knyȝtis O.6.28: The rubric is divided after of, so that it appears as two lines. A flourish (two rays and a central punctus, arranged vertically) appears at its left. The hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty, but the flourish resembles those surrounding words written in the main scribal hand. In couenaunt þ at þ ou kepe  holy kirke & my -selue Fro wastouris & wikkide men  þat þis world stroyen And go hunte hardili  to hares & to foxes To bores & to brokkes  þat breken adou n myn hegges And go affayte þi faukou ns  wylde bestis O.6.32: OC 2 alone have bestis; most B manuscripts have correctly alliterating foweles. to kille For swyche comen to my croft  & croppen my whete Curteyselich þe knyȝt þa nne  comsede hise O.6.34: OC 2 alone have hise in place of þise. wordis Bi my power peers quod he  I pliȝte þee my truþe To fulfille þis forward  þouȝ I fiȝte schulde As longe as I lyue  I schal þee mayntene Ȝhe & ȝit a poynt quod peers  I preye ȝow of more Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt  but truþe wole assente And þouȝ ȝe mowe amercye hem  latte m ercy be taxour And mekenesse þi mayster  maugrey Medis chekis And þouȝ pore men p roferen O.6.42: OC 2 alone have the form p roferen in place of profre. ȝow  p resentis & ȝiftis Nyme it not in auenture  ȝe mowen it not deserue For þ ou schalt ȝelde it aȝeyn  at oon ȝeris eende In a ful p erelous place  purgatorie it hatte Mysbede not þi bonde -men  þe bett er mayst þ ou spede Þouȝ he be þin vndirlyng heer  wel may happe in heuene Þ at he worþier sitte  & wiþ more blysse Amice ascende sup erius O.6.49: This line is written in the right margin. Þan þ ou but þ ou do bette  & lyue as þ ou schuldist O.6.50: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which appears only in Cr 23YOC 2CBHt, on the grounds that it is scribal. For in charnel & O.6.51: Only O has & unaccompanied by any other word, rendering the line unintelligible. It is unintelligible as well in the reading of Cr 23YC 2CB, & in. WHmCr 1GLMRF have at(te) alone. cherche  cherlis been yuel to knowe Or a knyȝt from a knaue  knowe þis in þin herte And be trewe of þi tunge  & loke þ ou talis hatye But if it be of wisdam or witt  þi werkemen to chastise Holde wiþ noon harlottes  ne here not her talis And namelich at mete  swiche men eschewe For it been þe deuelis disouris  I do þee to vndirstonde I assente bi seyn Iames  þe knyȝt seyde þa nne For to worche bi þi wordis  þe whyle my lijf dureþ how peers gooþ on pilg rimage . . O.6.60: The rubric is divided after gooþ, so that it appears on two lines. Two ticks in black, underlined in red, follow the rubric. I schal apparayle me quod p erkyn  in pilg rimes wise And wende wiþ ȝow I wole  til we fynde truþe And caste on my cloþes  ycloutid & hole My cokeris & my cuffes  for coold of my nayles i d est a seed leep O.6.64: A rubricated solidus/punctus above hoper and above seed identify the latter as a gloss. And hange myn hoper at myn hals  in stede of a scrippe A busschel of breed -corn  brynge me þ er -inne For I wole sowe it my -self  & siþen wole I wende To pilg rimage as palmers doon  p ardou n O.6.67: GOC 2F alone lack for before to. to haue Ac who -so helpiþ me to erie  or sowe . er I wende  Schal haue leue bi oure lord  to lacche hire in heruest And make myrie þ er -myd  maugrey who -so grucchiþ And alle kyn crafti men  þat ku nnen lyue in trouþe I schal fynde hem fode  þat feiþfulliche libben Saue iakke þe iogelour  & ionet of þe stues And danyel þe dees player  & enot þe bawde And þe frere O.6.75: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original frere þe. faytour  & folk of his ordre And robyn þe ribaudour  for hise rusti wordis Truþe tolde me ones  & bade me telle it after Deleant ur de libro viuenciu m  I schulde not dele wiþ hem For holi chirche is hoten O.6.79: OC 2 alone have the form hoten; all other beta witnesses have hote.  of hem no tiþe to take Quia cum iustis non scribant ur Þei been ascaped good auenture  but O.6.81: OC 2 alone have but in place of now or nothing at all in this position. god hem amende Dame worche wha nne tyme is  Peers wijf hyȝte His douȝt er hiȝte do riȝt so  or þi dame schal þee bete His sone hiȝte suffre  þi sou ereynys O.6.84: OC 2RF alone lack to before haue. haue her wille Deme hem not . for if þ ou do  þ ou schalt ful O.6.85: OC 2 alone have ful; most B manuscripts have it. dere abigge Latte god worþe wiþ al  for O.6.86: YOC 2 alone lack so before his, obscuring the sense of the line. his word techiþ For now I am oold & hoor  & haue of myn owne þeise O.6.88: The marginal word is apparently intended as a substitute for þis, but it is not marked for change. To penau nce & pilg rimage  I wole passe wiþ þis oþ ere For O.6.89: OC 2 alone have For; most B manuscripts have Forþi I wole er I wende  do write my biquest Testame ntum petri . Plowm an O.6.90: The rubric is divided after Testame ntum , so that it appears as two lines. In dei no mi ne amen  I make it my -selue He schal haue my soule  þat best haþ ys erued it And fro þe fee nd it defende  for so I beleue Til I come to hise acountis  as me?y credo me telliþ To haue a relees & remissiou n  on þat rental I leue Þe kirke schal haue my careyn  & kepe my bones For of my corn and catel  he crauede þe tiþe I payede it hym p restli  for p erel of my soule For -þi is he holden I hope  to haue me in his messe And mengen in his memorie  amonge alle cristen My wijf schal haue of þat I wan  wiþ truþe & no more And dele among my douȝtres  & my dere children For þouȝ I dye to -day  my dettes arn quytte I bare hoom þat I borwede  er I to bedde ȝede And wiþ þe residue & þe remenau nt  bi þe rode of lukes I wole worschipe þ erwiþ  truþe bi my lyue And be his pilgryme at O.6.106: YGOC alone have at in place of atte. plow  for pore mennys sake My plowfoot schal be my pijkstaf  & picche atwo þe rotis And helpe my cultur to kerue  & clense þe forwes Now is p erkyn & hise pilg rimes  to þe plow faren To erie þis half acre  holpen hym manye Dikers & deluers  diggeden vp þe balkes Þ er -wiþ was p erkyn appayed  & preysede hem faste Oþ ere werkemen þ er weren  þat wrouȝten ful ȝerne Ich man in his man ere  made hym -self to done And su mme to plese p erkyn  pikeden vp þe wedis At hye pryme peers  lete þe plow stande To ou erseen hem hym -self  & who -so best wrouȝte He schulde be hyred þ er -after  wha nne heruest tyme come And þa nne seten su mme  & sungen at þe nale And holpen erie his half acre  wiþ hey trolly lolly Now bi þe p erel of my soule quod peers  al in pure tene But ȝe arise þe raþ er  & rape ȝow to worche Schal no greyn þat growiþ  glade ȝow at nede And þouȝ ȝe dye for deel  þe deuel haue þat reccheþ Þoo weren faytouris a -feerd  & feynede hem blynde Su mme leyden her leggys a -liry  as swiche loseles ku nnen And made her moone to peers  & preyeden hym of grace For we han no ly mmes to laboure wiþ  lord y -gracied be ȝe Ac we preyen O.6.129: O alone has the form preyen; most B manuscripts have preie. for ȝow peers  & O.6.129: OC 2 alone lack for before ȝoure. ȝoure plow boþe Þ at god of his grace  ȝoure greyn multiplie lyue O.6.130: A solidus/punctus above ȝyuen and marginal lyue indicate that the latter is intended as a substitution. And ȝelde ȝow of O.6.131: OC 2 alone lack youre before almes. almes  þat ȝe ȝyuen vs heer For we mowen not swynke ne swete  swich seeknesse vs eyliþ Of ydel beggers If þis be soþ quod peers  I schal it soone aspye Ȝe been wastours I woot wel  & truþe woot þe soþe And I am his olde hyne  & hyȝte hym to warne Whyche þei weren in þi s werld  hise werkemen appeyreden O.6.136: O alone has the form appeyreden; most other B manuscripts have apeired. Ȝe wasten þat men wynnen  wiþ trauayle & tene Ac truþe schal teche ȝow  his teem to dryue Or ȝe schul ete barli breed  & of þe brook drynke But if he be blynde or broken -legged  or bolted wiþ Irnes He schal ete swete O.6.141: OC 2 alone have swete; all other beta witnesses have whete. breed  & drynke wiþ my -selue Til god of his goodnes  amendement hym sende Ac ȝe myȝten O.6.143: O alone has the form myȝten; most B manuscripts have myȝte. trauayle as truþe wolde  & take mete & hyre To kepe kijn in þe feeld  þe corn fro þe bestis Diken or deluen or deluen  or dyngen vp -on scheues Or helpe make morter  or bere muk a-feeld In leccherie & losengerie  ȝe lyuen & in sleuþe Of heremytis And al is þoruȝ sufferau nce  þ at veniaunce ȝow ne take O.6.148: OC 2 alone have the form take in place of takeþ. Ac ancres & heremytis  þat eten not but at nones And no more er morwe  my n almesse schul þei haue And catel to cope hem wiþ  þat han cloystres & chirches Ac roberd renne -aboute  schal not haue of myn Ne posteles but þei p reche ku nne  & haue power of þe bischop Þei schul haue payn & potage  & make hem at ese For it is an vnresounable religiou n  þat haþ no þing in certeyn Þa nne gan a wastour to wraþþe hym  & wolde haue yfouȝten O.6.156: OC 2 alone have the form yfouȝten; variants include fought (CrHmGCBF) and yfouȝte (WYLMR). And to peers O.6.157: OC 2F alone lack þe before plowman. plowman  O.6.157: OC 2 alone lack he before proferede. proferede his gloue A britoner a bragger  a O.6.158: a, "he." bostede peers als And bade hym go pisse hym O.6.159: GOC 2 alone include hym. wiþ his plow  forpyned schrewe Wilt þ ou or nylt þ ou  we wole haue oure wille Of þi floure & of þi flesche  fecche wha nne vs likeþ And make vs myrie þ er -myd  maugrey þi chekes Þa nne peers O.6.163: OC 2 alone lack þe before plowman. plowman  pleynede hym to þe knyȝt To kepe hym as couenaunt was  fro curside schrewis And fro þeise wastours wolf -skynnes  þat maken þe werld dere For þoo wasten & wynnen nouȝt  & þat ilke whyle  Worþ neu ere plente amonge þe peple  þe whyle my plow liggeþ Miles Curteyslich þe knyȝt þa nne  as his kynde wolde Warnede wastour  & wissede hym þe O.6.169: Cr 3OC 2 alone include þe. better Or þ ou schalt abigge bi þe lawe  bi þe ordre þat I bere wastour I nas O.6.171: OC 2 alone have nas in place of was. not wont to wirche quod wastour  & now I nylle bigynne And lete liȝt of þe lawe  & lesse of þe knyȝt And sette peers at a pese  & his plow boþe And manacede peers & hise men  if þei mette eft -soone Now bi þe p erel of my soule quod peers  I schal appeyre ȝow alle And houpede after hungur  þat herde hym at þe first A -wreke me of þeise wastouris quod he  þat þis werld schenden Hungur in hast þoo  hente wastour bi þe mawe And wronge hym so bi þe wombe  þ at boþe hise yen wattreden O.6.179: O alone has boþe hise yen wattreden; most B manuscripts have boþe hise eiȝen watrede. He buffatede þe britoner  aboute þe chekis Þ at he lokede lijk a lant erne  al his lijf after He bette hem so boþe  he braste neer her guttis Ne hadde peers wiþ a peyse loof  preyede hungur to cece Þei hadden been doluen boþe  ne deme þ ou noon oþ er Suffre hem lyue he seyde  & latte hem ete wiþ hogges Or ellis benes & bran  ybaken to -gyderes Or ellis mylk & meyne ale  þus preyede peers for hem O.6.187: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. Fawtours O.6.188: O alone has this form in place of some variant of Faitours. See the note at 2.184. for feer þ erof  flowen in -to bernes And flappeden on wiþ fleyles  fro morwen til euen Þ at hungur was not so hardy  on hem for to loke For a potful of pesen  þat peers hadde y -maked An heep of h eremytis  henten hem spades And kitten her copis  & curtbies hem made And wenten as werkemen  wiþ spades & schouelis And delueden & dikeden  to dryue awey hungur no ta how beggers & wastouris been chastised O.6.196: The rubric appears in the top right margin, divided after nota , & and been, so that it appears as four lines. The word nota is accompanied by flourishes at left, right, and bottom. Blynde & bedered  weren botened a þousande Þat seten to begge syluer  soone weren þei heled For þat was baken for bayerd  was bote for many hungry And many begger for benes  buxu m was to swynke And ich a pore man wel payed  to haue pesen for her O.6.200: OC 2 alone have plural her in place of his or omission. hyre And what peers p reyede hem to do  as prest as a sp erauk And þ erof was peers proude  & putte hem to werke And ȝaf hem mete as he myȝte aforþe  & resou nable O.6.203: Cr 3OC 2 alone have resounable in place of correctly alliterating mesurable. hyre Þa nne hadde peers pite  & preyede hungur to wende  Hoom . in -to his owne erþe  & holden hym þere For I am wel awroken now  of wastouris þoruȝ þi myȝt Ac I p reye þee er þ ou passe  quod peers to hungur Of begg ers of O.6.208: Only OC 2 have of alone; variants include and (CrYCBM) and and of (WHmGLRF). bidders  what best be to done For I woot wel . be þ ou went  þei wolen do O.6.209: HmOC 2 alone have do in place of werche or worchen. ful ille For myscheef it makiþ  þei been so meke nouþe And for defaute of her fode  þis folk is at my wille And ȝit þei O.6.212: Only YOC 2 have And ȝit þei; all other beta witnesses have Thei alone. arn my blody breþ eren quod peers  for god bouȝte vs alle Truþe tauȝte me ones  to loue hem ichone And to helpe hem of al þing  ay as hem nediþ And now wolde I wite of þee  what were þe best And how I myȝte amastrie hem  & make hem to worche Bolde begg ers Here now quod hungur  & holde it for a wisdam Bolde beggers & bigge  þat mowen her breed biswynke Wiþ houndis breed & hors breed  holde vp her hertis Abate hem wiþ benes  for bolnyng of her wombe And if þei grucche þa nne  bidde hem go swynke And he schal soupe swetter  wha nne he it haþ deserued And if þ ou fynde any freek  þat fortune haþ appeyrid Or any man ere fawti O.6.224: Cr 3OC 2 alone include some variant of fawti; most B manuscripts have false. man O.6.224: Cr 3OC 2 alone have the singular form.  fonde þ ou swiche to knowe Cou nforte hem wiþ þi catel  for cristis loue of heuene Loue hem & lene hem  for so þe lawe techiþ Alt er alterius on era portate & c etera And alle man ere of men O.6.228: OC 2C alone lack þat before þou.  þ ou myȝtist O.6.228: OC 2 alone have the form myȝtist in place of myȝt. aspye Þat nedy been & nouȝti  helpe hem wiþ þi goodes Loue hem & lakke hem not  latte god take þe veniaunce Þouȝ þei doon yuele  latte god worthe Michi vindictam & ego retribuam Ac O.6.233: O alone has Ac in place of And. if þ ou wilt be gracious to go O.6.233: A solidus/punctus above go, accompanied by a caret/punctus in the right margin, indicate deletion, but no substitute is supplied. The error is shared by Cr 3C 2.  do as þe gospel techiþ And biloue þee among ys low men  so schalt þ ou lacche grace Facite vobis amicos  de mammona iniquitatis I wolde not greue god quod peers  for al þe good on ground Myȝte I synneles do as þ ou seyst  seyde peers þa nne Ȝhe I bihote þee quod hungur  or ellis þe bible lieþ Go to genesis þe geaunt  þe engendrour of vs alle In sudore & in swy nk  þ ou schalt þi mete tilie And laboure for þi lijflode  & so oure lord hiȝte And sapience seiþ þe same  I seyȝ it in þe bible Pig er p ro frigore  no feeld nolde tilie And þ erfore schal he begge & bidde  & no man bete his hungur Mathew wiþ mannys face  mouþed þeise wordis Þ at s eruus neq uam hadde a nam  & for he nolde not chaffare He hadde maugre of his mayst er  for eu ere -more after And bynam hym hys nam  for he ne wolde worche And ȝaf þat nam to hym  þat ten nammes hadde And wiþ þat he seyde  þ at holi chirche it herde He þat haþ schal haue  & helpe þ ere it nediþ And he þat nouȝt haþ schal not haue  & no man hym helpe And þat he weneþ wel to haue  I wole it hym bereue Kynde witt wolde  þ at ich a wyȝt wrouȝte Or in dykyng or in deluyng  or trauaylynge in preyeris Contemplatijf lijf or actijf  crist wolde þei wrouȝten Þe sauter seiþ in þe salme  of beati omnes Þe freek þat fediþ hym -self  wiþ his feiþful labour He is blessid bi þe book  in body & in soule Labores manuu m tuaru m & c etera O.6.260: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after manuu m , and a red parasign appears at the beginning of the second line. Ȝit I preye ȝow quod peers  p ur charite & ȝe ku nne Any leef of leche -craft  lere it me my dere For su mme of my s eruauntis & my -self  been seek oþ er -whyle O.6.263: YOC 2 alone have ben seke otherwhyle in place of boþe. Of al þe O.6.264: OC 2F alone have þe in place of a. weke worchen not  so oure wombe akeþ I woot wel quod hungur  what seeknesse ȝow eyliþ Ȝe han manged to myche  & þat makeþ ȝow to grone And I hote þee quod hungur  as þou þin hele wilnest Þ at þ ou drynke no day  er þ ou dyne sum -what Ete not I hote þee  er hungur þee take And sende þee of his sauce  to sauere wiþ þi lippis And kepe sum to soper tyme  & sitte not to longe And rise vp er appetijt  haue eten his fille Latte not sire surfayt  sitten at þi boord Leeue hym not for he is leccherous  & likerous of his tunge And after And after many man ere metis  his mawe is a -fyngred And if þ ou diete þee þus  I dar legge my eres Þ at phisik schal his furred hood  for his fode selle And his cloke of calabre  wiþ alle þe knappis of gold And be fayn bi my feiþ  his phisik to lete And lere to laboure wiþ loond  for lijflode is swete For murþerers arn many leches  lord hem amende Þei doon men dye þoruȝ her drynkis  er destyne wolde Bi seynt poule quod peers  þeise arn p rofitable wordis O.6.284-285: These lines are transposed. Wende now hungur wha nne þ ou wilt  þ at wel be þee eu ere For þis is a loueli lessou n  lord it þee forȝelde Bihote god quod hungur  hennys wole I not wende Til I haue dyned bi þis day  & ydrunke boþe I haue no peny quod peers  polettis for to bigge Ne neiþ er goos ne grijs  but two grene chesis A fewe cruddis & creem  & an hauer cake And two loues of benes & bran  ybaken O.6.291: OC 2 alone have the form ybaken; variants include bake (CrG), y bok yt (F), I take (CB) and ybake (WHmYLMR). for my fauntis And ȝit I seye bi my soule  I haue no salt bakou n Ne no cokeney bi crist  coloppis to O.6.293: OC 2 alone have to; most B manuscripts have for to. make Ac I haue p ercel & porettis  & many cole plantes And eek a cow & a calf  & a cart mare To drawe a -feeld my dung  þe whyle þe wedir is drye And bi þis lijflode we moten lyue  til heruest -tyme come O.6.297: YOC 2 alone include come. And bi þat I hope to haue  heruest in my croft And þa nne may I dyȝte þi dyner  as me dere likeþ Al þe pore peple  þoo pescoddis fetten Benes & baken appeles  þei brouȝten in her lappis Chibolles & cheruelles  & ripe chiries many To make peers a present  to plese wiþ his hungur Al . hungur eete in hast  & askede after more Þa nne pore folk for feer  fedden hungur ȝerne Wiþ grene porettis & pesen  to poysen hungur þei þouȝten By þat neyȝhede it O.6.307: OC 2 alone transpose it neyȝhede. heruest  newe corn come to chepyng Þa nne was folk fayn  & fedde hem O.6.308: OC 2CF alone have hem in place of hunger. of þe best Wiþ good ale as glotou n tauȝte  & gerte hungur go slepe And þoo wolde wastour not wirche  but wandrede aboute Ne no begg er ete breed  þat benes Inne weren But of coket or cleer -matyn  or ellis of clene whete Ne noon halpeny ale  in no wise drynke But of þe best & þe brounest  þat in boruȝ is to selle Laboreres þat hadde O.6.315: OC 2 alone have the preterite form. no loond  but lyue wiþ O.6.315: YOC 2F alone have but lyue wiþ in place of to lyue on but. her handis Wolden ete no nyȝt -olde O.6.316: An otiose mark appears above the <o> in olde. wortis  ne drynke no peny -ale O.6.316: YOC 2 here spoil the alliteration by conflating the following two lines: "Deyne[þ] noȝt to dyne a day nyȝt olde wortes. May no peny ale hem paie, ne no pece of bacoun." But fresch flesch oþ er fisch  fryed oþ er baken O.6.317: O alone has fryed oþ er baken ; variants include fryed ouþer ybake (WBo), fryed othur bake (HmCr 3YCBmL), Fried oþer bakon (C 2), fryed or bake (GCot), fried ether or bake (Cr 12), rosted or baken (M), and omission. And þat chaud or plus chaud  for chillyng of her mawe And but he be hye O.6.319: OC 2 alone have hye in place of heiȝliche. hyrid  ellis wole he chyde Aȝens catou ns cou nceyl  comseþ he to iangle Paup ertatis onus pacient er ferre memento He greueþ hym aȝeyn god  & grucchiþ aȝeyn resou n And he curseþ þe kyng  & al his cou nceyl after Swiche lawes to loke  laboreris to greue And whyles hungur was her mayster  wolden þei not O.6.325: O alone has wolden þei not; variants include þanne wolde none (F), þer wolde noon of hem (WHmLMR), non off þem wold (G), not one of hem wold (Cr), and wolde they nat (YC 2CB). chyde Ne stryue aȝens his statute  so sternelich he lokede Ac I warne ȝow werkemen  wynneþ while ȝe mowen For hungur hidirward  hastiþ hym faste He schal awake wiþ water  wastouris to chastise O.6.329: OC 2 alone have chastise; most B manuscripts have chaste. Er fyue ȝeer be fulfild  swich famyn schal arise Þoruȝ flodes & foule werdis O.6.331: OC 2Bm alone have werdis; most B manuscripts have wedres.  frutes schul fayle And so seyde saturne  & sente ȝow to warne Wha nne ȝe seen þe sunne amys  & two monkes hedis And a mayde haue þe maystrye  & multiplye bi eyȝte Þa nne schal deþ wiþdrawe  & derþe be iustise And dawe þe dyker  deye for hungur But if god of his goodnesse  g raunte vs a trewe Passus . 7 us septim us . O.7.000: The hand which wrote this passus heading, one contemporary with the main scribe, is not seen elsewhere in the manuscript. T Ruþe herde tell her -of  & to peers sente To taken hys teem  & tilie þe erþe A pena & a culpa O.7.3: The rubric is divided after a, so that it appears as two lines. Three ticks, the first underlined in red, follow it. And p urchacede hym a p ardou na pena & a culpa For hym & for hise eires  for eu ere -more after And bade hym holde hym at home  & erien hise leyes And alle þat holpen hym to erie  to sette or to sowe Or any oþ er myster  þat myȝte peers auayle P ardou n wiþ peers plowman  truþe haþ yg rauntid Kyngys & knyȝtis  þat kepen holy chirche And riȝtfulli in rewmes  rulen þe peple Han p ardou n þoruȝ p urgatorie  to passe ful liȝt Wiþ pat riarkes & p rophetis  in p aradice to be felawe Bischoppis yblessid . if þei been . as þei schulden Legistres of boþe þe lawes  þe lewid . þ er -wiþ to p reche O.7.15: OC 2 alone lack introductory And. In as myche as þei mowen  amende alle synful Arn peres wiþ þe apostelis  þis p ardou n Peers schewiþ And at þe day of doom  at þe hye deys to sitte Marchauntis O.7.18: Another hand, apparently hand 3, has substituted a supralinear <d> for the <t> in Marchauntis. Marchauntis in þe margyne  hadden many ȝeres Ac noon a pena & O.7.19: CrO alone lack a second a before culpa . culpa  þe pope nolde hem graunte For þei holden not her halidayes  as holi chirche techiþ And for þei sweren bi her soule  & so god muste hem helpe Aȝens clene concience  her catel to selle Ac vndir her O.7.23: OC 2 alone have plural her in place of his. secreet sehel  truþe sente hem a lettre Þ at þei schulden bigge boldli  þat hem likede best O.7.24: OC 2 alone transpose best likede. And siþen selle it aȝeyn  & saue þe wynnyng How þ ou schalt do þin almes O.7.26: The rubric is divided after do, so that it appears as two lines. And amende mesondeux þer -myd  & myseyse folk helpe And wikkide weyes  wyȝtliche hem amende And do bote to brygges  þat to -broken weren Marien maydenes  or maken hem nunnes Pore peple & prysones  fynde hem her lijflode And setten scolers to scole  or to su mme oþ ere craftes Releue religiou n  & renten hem better And I schal sende ȝow my -self  seynt Myhel myn archaungel Þ at no deuel schal ȝow dere  ne fere ȝow in ȝoure doynge And wite ȝow fro whanhope  if ȝe wole þ us worche And send ȝoure soulis in -to O.7.36: OC 2 alone have in-to in place of in. sauete  to my sey ntis in Ioye Þa nne weren marchaundis myrie  & O.7.37: YOC 2M alone have and in place of correctly alliterating manye. wepten for Ioye And preyseden peers þe plowman  þat p urchacede þis bulle Men of lawe leest p ardou n hadde  þat pletede n for mede For þe sauter saueþ hem not  swyche as taken ȝiftis And nameli of Innocentis  þat noon yuel kunnen Sup er Innocentem mun era non accipies Pledours schulden O.7.43: O alone has the form schulden; most B manuscripts have sholde. pyne hem  to plede for swiche & helpe Prynces & p relatis schulden  paye . for her trauayle A regib us & p rinci pib us erit m erces eo rum Ac many iustises & iurour  wolden for ion do more Þan p ro dei pietate  leue þ ou noon oþ er Ac he þat spe ndiþ his speche  & spekiþ for þe pore Þat is Innocent & nedy  & no man appeyreþ Counfortiþ hym in þat caas  wiþ -outen coueytise of ȝiftis And schewiþ lawe for oure lordis loue  as he it haþ lerned Schal no deuel at his deþ -day  deren hym a myte Þ at he ne worþ saaf & his soule  þe sauter bereþ witnesse D omine quis habita ... bit in tabernaculo tuo . Ac to bigge water ne wijnd  ne witt ne fijr þe ferþe Þeise foure þe fadir of heuene  made to his folde in comune Þeise bee n truþis tresoris  trewe folk to helpe Þat neu ere schul waxe ne wanye  wiþ O.7.58: OC 2 alone lack oute(n) after wiþ, so that the sense of the line is destroyed. god hym -selue Wha nne þei drawen vn -to þe deþ  & Indulgences wolden haue His p ardou n is ful petyt  at her p artyng hennys Þat any mede of mene men  for his motyng takiþ Ȝe legistres & lawyers  holden þis for truþe Þat if þ at I lye  mathew is to blame For he bade me takemake O.7.64: OC 2 alone have take. ȝow þis  & þis p rou erbe me tolde O.7.64: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate. Quodcu m que vultis vt faciant vobis ho mi nes  facite eis Alle libbynge laborers  þat lyuen wiþ her handis Þat trulich taken  & truliche wynnen And lyuen i n loue & in lawe  for her lowe hertis Han O.7.69: OC 2 alone have Han; variants include Haueþ (WCrYLMR), haue (HmG), þey have (F), Has (C), and Haþ (B). þe same absoluc iou n  þat sent was to peers Begg ers ne bidders  ne been not in þe bulle But if þe suggestiou n be soþ  þ at schapiþ hem to begge For he þat beggyþ or bit  but if he haue nede He is fals wiþ þe feend  & defraudiþ þe nedy And also he bigyleþ þe gyuer  aȝeynys his wille For if he wiste he were not nedy  he wolde it gyue an -oþ er Þat were more nedy þan he  so þe nedyest schulde be holpen Catou n kenneþ me þus  & þe clerk of stories catou n of almes -dedis O.7.78: The rubric is divided after of, so that it appears as two lines. Cui des videto  is catounys techyng e And in þe stories he techiþ  to bestowe þin almes Siþ Si[t] elemosina tua in manu tua don ec studes cui des Ac gregori was a good man  & bade vs ȝyuen O.7.81: OC 2 alone have the form ȝyuen in place of gyuen. alle Þat asken for his loue  þat vs alle leneþ No n eligas cui miserearis ne forte p retereas illu m q ui m eret ur accip ere / Quia Incertu m est p ro quo deu m magis placeas For ȝe woten neu ere who is worþi  ac god woot who haþ nede In hym þat takeþ is þe trecherie  if any tresou n walke For he þat ȝyueþ ȝeldiþ  & ȝarkeþ hym to rest And he þat biddiþ borweþ  & bryngeþ hym -self in dette For begg ers borwen eu ere -moo  & her boruȝ is god almyȝti To ȝelden hem þat ȝyuen hem  & ȝit vsure more Q uare no n dedisti p ecunia m mea m ad mensa m vt ege O.7.91: OC 2 alone have ege in place of ego . venie ns cu m vsuris exig ere & c etera Of false O.7.92: The <l> and <s> in false are connected by a ligature because of a cut in the vellum. beg geris O.7.92: The rubric is divided after beg-, so that it appears as two lines. For -þi biddeþ not ȝe begg ers  but if ȝe han nede For who -so may bigge hym breed  þe book beriþ witnesse He haþ ynow þat haþ breed ynow  þow ȝ he haue not ellis Satis dyues est qui non indiget pane Latte vsage be ȝoure be ȝoure solace  of seyntis lyues redyng Þe book banneþ beggrie  & blameþ in þis man ere Iunior fui eteni m senui & no n vidi iustu m derelictu m n ec seme n ei us q uere ns pane m & c etera For ȝe lyuen in no loue  ne no lawe holden Many of ȝow ne wedden O.7.100: OC 2 alone have ne wedden; most B manuscripts have ne wedde. not  þe womman ȝe wiþ delen But as wylde beestis wiþ we -he  & O.7.101: OC 2 alone include this ampersand, which weakens the sense of the line. worþ vp & worchen And bryngen forþ barnes  þat basterdis men callen Or þe bak or sum boon  he brekiþ in his ȝouþe And siþþen goon faiten wiþ her O.7.104: OC 2 alone have her; most B manuscripts have youre. fauntis  for eu ere -more after Þ er is moo mysschappid peple  among ys þeise beggers Þan of alle man ere men  þat on þis moolde walken And þei þat lyuen þus her lijf  mowen loþe þe tyme Þ at eu ere he was man wrouȝt  wha nne he schal hennys fare Ac olde men & hore  þat helples been of strengþe Þe p ardoun of peris Plowman . O.7.110: The rubric is divided after p ardoun and peris, so that it appears on three lines. And wommen wiþ childe  þat worche ne mowen Blynde & bedrede  & broken her membres Þat taken þeise mescheues mekeliche  as meseles & oþ ere Han a O.7.113: OC 2F alone have a; most B manuscripts have as. pleyn p ardou n  as þe plowman hym -seluen For loue of her lowe hertis  oure lord haþ hem grauntid  Her penaunce & her p urgatorie  heer on þis erþe Peers quod a pr eest þoo  þi p ardou n muste I rede For I wole construe ich a clause  & kenne it þee on englisch And peers at his preyer  þe p ardou n vnfoldiþ And I bihynde hem boþe  bihelde al þe bulle Al in two lynes it lay  & not a leef more And was writen riȝt þus  in witnesse of truþe Et qui bona eg eru nt ibu nt i n vita m et erna m . q ui v ero mala in ignem et ernu m Peter quod þe preest þoo  I can no p ardou n fynde But do wel & haue wel  & god schal haue þi soule And do yuele & haue yuele  hope þ ou noon oþ er But after þi deþ day  þe deuel schal haue þi soule And peers for pure tene  pullede it atweyne And seide . si ambulau ero in medio vmbro mortis no n timebo O.7.128: OC 2 alone lack mala or malum following timebo . q uoniam tu mecu m es O.7.128: Line 128 is divided after tu , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text. I schal cecen of my sowyng q uod peers  & swynke not so harde O.7.129: Line 129 is divided after not, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text. Ne be aboute my beli ioye  so bisili no more Of preyeris & pen . aunce my plow  schal be her -after And wepe whan I schulde slepe  þouȝ whete breed me fayle d 2 Þe p rophete his payn eete  in penaunce & in sorwe Bi þat þe sauter seiþ  so diden many oþ ere Þat loueþ god lelly  his lijflode is ful esye Fueru nt m ichi lac rime mee panes die ac nocte And but if luke lye  he lereþ vs bi foulis We schulde n not be to bisye  aboute þe werldis blis Ne soliciti sitis  he seiþ in þe gospel And schewiþ vs bi ensau mples  oure -seluen to wisse Þe foules in þe feeld  who fynt hem mete at wynter Haue þei no gerner to go to  but god fynt hem alle What quod þe preest to p erkyn  peter as me þinkeþ Þ ou art letterid a litil  who lernede þee on booke Abstynence þe abbesse quod peers  myn a b c me tauȝte And concience come afterward  & kende me myche more Were þ ou a preest peers quod he  þ ou myȝtist p reche wh ere þ ou schuldist As dyuyno ur in dyuynyte  wiþ dixit insipiens to þi teme Lewid lorel quod peers  litil lokest þ ou on þe bible Or O.7.150: OC 2 alone include Or. on salomons sawes  selden þ ou biholdist Eice derisores & iurgia cu m eis ne crescant & c etera Þe preest & p erkyn  apposede eyþ er oþer And I þoruȝ her wordis  a -woke & waytede aboute And seyȝ þe sunne in þe souþ  sate þat tyme Meteles & monyles  on maluerne hilles Musynge on þeise metelis  & my weye ich ȝede Many tyme þeise metelis  han maad me studie Of þat I seyȝ slepynge  if it so be myȝte And also for peers þe plowman  ful pensyf in herte And whych a p ardou n peers hadde  alle þe peple to cou nforte And how þe preest impugnede it  wiþ two p ropre wordis Ac I haue no sauour in sompnewarie O.7.162: OC 2F alone have the form sompnewarie in place of songewarie.  for I see it ofte fayle Catou n & canonystres  cou nceylen vs to leue To sette sadnesse in sompnewarie  for sompnia ne cures Ac for þe book of þe bible  bereþ wittenesse How danyel dyuynede  þe dremes of a kyng Þat was Nabugodonosor  nempned of clerkis Danyel seyde sire kynge  þi dremelis bitokenen Þ at vnkouþ e knyȝtis schul come  þi kyngdam to cleue Amongys lower lordis  þi loond schal be dep artid And as danyel dyuynede  in dede it fel after Þe kyng lees his lordschip  & lower me n it hadde And Ioseph mette m erueylouslich  how þe mone & O.7.173: OC 2F alone lack þe before sunne. sunne And þe elleuene sterres  haylesede hem alle Þa nne iacob iuggede  iosephs sweuene Bew fitz quod his fadir  for defaute we schullen  I my -self & my sones  seche þee for nede It bifel as his fadir seyde  in pharaoes tyme Þ at ioseph was iustise  egypt to loken It bifel as ahis fadir tolde  hise frendis þ ere hym souȝten And al þis makiþ me  on þeise meteles to þenke And how þe preest preuede  no p ardou n to do -wel And demede þ at . do -wel  indulgences passede Byennalis & tryennalis  & bischoppis lettres And how do -wel at þe day of doom  is dignelich vndirfonge And passeþ al þe p ardou n  of seynt peteris chirche O.7.186: OC 2 alone lack the following nine lines attested by all other B manuscripts: "Now haþ þe pope power pardon to graunte [Th]e peple wiþouten penaunce to passen [to ioye] This is [a leef of] oure bileue, as lettred men vs techeþ Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis & And so I leue lelly, lor[d] forb[e]de ellis, That pardon and penaunce and preieres doon saue Soules þat haue synned seuen siþes dedly. Ac to trust [on] þise triennals, trewely, me þynkeþ It is noȝt so siker for þe soule, certes, as is dowel." now haþ þe p er . O.7.187: The marginal addition is divided after þe, so that it appears as two lines. Any text that may have followed has been lost to cropping; it would have appeared as a continuation of the first marginal line, since p er appears alone on the second with blank space following it. It would seem to have been a version of the first missing line following l. 186, "Now haþ þe pope power pardon to graunte." For -þi I rede ȝow renkes  þat riche been on þis erþe Vp -on trist of ȝoure tresore  triennalis to haue Be ȝe neu ere þe balder  to breke þe ten hestis And namelich ȝe mayst ris  meyres & iugges Þat han þe welþe of þis werld  & wise men been holden To p urchace ȝow p ardou n  at O.7.192: OC 2 alone have at; all other beta witnesses have and. þe popes bulles At þe dredeful doom  wha nne dede schul arise And come O.7.194: OC 2 alone have the form come in place of comen. al bifore crist  acountis to ȝelde How þ ou laddist þi lijf heer  & hise lawes keptest And how þ ou didist day bi day  þe doom wole reherce Of p ardou n . A poke -ful of p ardou n þ ere  ne p rouyncialis lettres Þouȝ ȝe be founden in þe frat ernyte of alle þe foure ordris And haue indulgences double -foold  but if do -wel ȝow helpe I sette ȝoure patentes & ȝoure p ardou n  at a pies hele For -þi I cou nceyle alle cristen  to crye god m ercy And marie his modir  be oure mene bitwene Þ at god gyue vs g race heer  er we goon hennys Swiche werkis to wirche  whyle we been heer Þ at after oure deþ -day  do -wel reherce At þe day of doom  we diden O.7.206: OC 2 alone have the form diden in place of dide. as he hyȝte Passus octauus O.8.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines. Flourishes consisting of two rays with a central tick, arranged vertically, appear at the left and right of the heading. Þ vs yrobed in russet  I romede aboute Al a som er sesou n  for to seke do -wel And fraynede ful oft  of folk þat I mette If any wiȝt wiste where  do -wel . was at Inne And what man he myȝte be  of many man I axede Was neu ere wiȝt as I wente  þat me wisse kouþe O.8.6: OC 2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Where þis leode lenged lasse ne moore." Til it be -fel on a fryday  two freris I mette Mayst ris of þe menouris  men of greet witte I haylesede hem heendeli  as I hadde lerned And preyede hem p ur charite  er þei passeden ferþ er If þei knewen any cuntre  or coostes as þei wenten O.8.11: OC 2 alone have as þei wenten; all other beta witnesses have as þei wente. Where þat . do -wel . dwelliþ  doþ me to witen For þei been men of þis moold  þat moost wijlde walken And knowen cuntrees & courtis  & many kyns places Boþe p rinces paleycis  & pore me nnys cotes And do -wel & do -yuele  where þei dwellen boþe Among ys vs quod þe menouris  þat man is dwellynge And eu ere haþ as I hope  & eu ere schal her -after Cont ra Cont ra quod I as a clerk  & comsede to dispute Sepcies in die cadit iusti O.8.20: The rubric is divided after sepcies , die , and cadit , so that it appears as four vertical lines in the right margin opposite ll. 8.20-8.23. And seyde hem soþeli  sepcies in die cadit iust us Seuene siþes seiþ þe book  synneþ þe riȝtful And who -so synneþ he seyde O.8.22: OC 2C alone have he seyde; variants include I say (Cr), I seide (WGYLMR), as y seyde (Hm), seide he (B), and in doynge he (F).  doþ yuele as me þinkeþ O.8.22: OC 2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "[That] dowel and do yuele mowe noȝt dwelle togideres." Ergo he is not alwey  among ys ȝow freris He is oþ er -whyle ellis -where  to wisse þe peple I schal seye þee my sone  seyde þe frere þanne How seuene siþes þe sadman  on a day synneþ Bi aforbisen a forbisen quod þe frere  I schal þe fayre schewe Latte brynge a man in a boot  a -myd þe brode water Þe wijnd & þe water  & þe boot waggynge Makeþ a man many tyme  to falle & to stumble O.8.30: OC 2 alone have stumble; all other beta witnesses have stonde. For stonde he neu ere so stiffe  he stumbleþ if he meueþ Ac ȝit is he saaf & sound  & so hym bihoueþ For if he ne arise þe raþ er  & rauȝte to þe stere Þe wijnd wolde wiþ þe water  þe boot ou erþrowe And þa nne were his lijf lost  þoruȝ laccheyse of hym -seluen And þus it falliþ quod þe frere  bi folk heer on erþe Þe water is likned to þe werld  þat wanyeþ & waxeþ Þe goodes of þis ground arn lijk  to þe grete wawes Þat as wyndes & wederes  walken aboute Þe boot is likned to oure body  þat brotel is of kynde Þat þoruȝ þe feend & þe flesch  & þe frele werld Synneþ þe sadman  a day seuene siþes Ac dedli synne doþ he not  for do -wel hym kepeþ And þat is charite þe champiou n  cheef help aȝens synne For he strengþede O.8.45: OYCr 1 alone have the preterite form. man to stonde  & steriþ mannys soule And þouȝ þi body bowe  as boot doþ in þe water Ay is þi soule saaf  but if þi -self wole  Do a dedli synne  & drenche þi soule God wole suffre wel þi slouþe  if þi -self likeþ For he ȝaf þee to ȝersȝyue  to ȝeme wel þiselue And þat is witt & fre wille  to eu ery wiȝt a porciou n To fleynge foules to fischis  & also to beestis Ac man haþ moost þ erof  & moost is to blame But if he wirche wel þ erwiþ  as do -wel hym techeþ I haue no kynde knowyng quod I  to conceyue alle ȝoure wordis Ac if I may lyue & loke  I schal go lerne better I bikenne þee crist  þat on þe crosse dyede And I seyde . þe same  saue ȝow fro meschaunce And gyue ȝow g race on þis ground  goode men to worþe And þus I wente wyde -where  walkynge myn oone Bi a wylde wildernesse  & bi a wode -syde Blis of þe bryddis  brouȝte me a -slepe And vndir a lynde vp -on a launde  lenede I a stounde To lyþe þe layes  þoo loueli foules maden Mirþe of her mouþes  made me þ ere to slepe Þe m eruelousest meteles  mette I O.8.66: YOC 2 alone include I. me þa nne Þat eu ere dremede wiȝt  in werld as I wene A myche man as me þouȝte  & lijk to me -selue Come & callede me  bi my kynde name What art þ ou quod I þoo  þat þ ou my name knowist Þat þ ou wost wel quod he  & no man O.8.71: OC 2 alone have man in place of correctly alliterating wiȝt. better Woot I what þ ou art  þouȝt . seyde he þa nne I haue sued þee þis seuene ȝer  seyȝ þ ou me no raþ er Art þ ou þouȝt . quod I þoo  þ ou koudest me wisse Where þ at do -wel dwelliþ  & do me þat to knowe Do -wel & do -bette & do -best  O.8.76: OC 2 alone lack þe before þridde. þridde quod he Arn þre fayre v ertues  & been not feer to fynde Who -so is trewe of his tunge  & of hise two handis And þoruȝ his labour or hise londes  his lijflode wynneþ And is tristi of O.8.80: GOC 2 alone lack his before taylyng. taylyng  takiþ but his owne And is not drunklew ne dedeynous  do -wel hym folewiþ Do -bette doþ riȝt þus  & he doþ mych more He is as lowe as a lombe  & louelich of speche And helpiþ alle men  after þat hem nediþ Þe baggys & þe bigyrdeles  he haþ to -broke hem alle Þat þe erle auar ous  helde . & hise eyris And þus wiþ ma mmonaes money  he haþ maad hym free ndis And is runne to religiou n  & haþ rendrid þe bible And prechede to þe peple seynt poulis wordis Libent er suffert is insipie ntes cu m sitis ip si sapientes And suffren O.7.91: OC 2 alone have the form suffren; most other B manuscripts have suffreþ. þe vnwyse  wiþ ȝow for to libbe And wiþ glad wille doon he m good  for so god ȝow hotiþ Do -best Do -best is aboue hem O.8.93: OC 2F alone include hem. boþe  & bereþ a bischoppis croos Is hoked on þat oon eende  to hale men fro helle A pyke is on þe potent  to pilte O.8.95: OC 2 alone have pilte. Variants include pulte (L), pelte (R), pul (Cr), pulle (Y), pytten (F), putte (WHmBM), pute (C), and put (G); Kane and Donaldson emend to punge. The form pilte is defined by the MED as "to thrust, push, strike"; pulte and pelte are listed as variants. The form pungen is listed as a variant of pingen, "to push (a door), batter; shove," "to pierce or stab." Skeat (Vol. II, 419) notes that the word's literal meaning is "goad." adou n þe wikkide Þat wayten any wikkidnesse  do -wel to tene And do -wel & do -bette  among ys hem ordeyneden O.8.97: O alone has ordeyneden; variants include han ordeyned (WHmCr), ordeyned (YGC 2CLMR), and ordeyneþ (B). To crowne oon to be kyng  to rulen hem boþe Þ at if do -wel or do -bette  doþ O.8.99: A solidus/punctus above the word and a caret/punctus in the left margin indicate deletion of doþ, but no substitute is supplied. OC 2 alone have doþ; most B manuscripts have the preterite. aȝens do -best Þa nne schal þe kyng come  & casten hem in Irnes And but if do -best bidde for hem  þei be þere for eu ere Þus do -wel & do -bette  & do -best þe þridde Crowneden O.8.103: O alone has the form crowneden; all other beta witnesses have crouned. oon to be kyng  to kepen hem alle And to rule þi O.8.104: OC 2 alone have þi in place of (al) þe. rewme  bi her þre wittis And noon oþ er -wyse but as þei þre assenteden O.8.105: O alone has assenteden; most B manuscripts have assented. I þankede þouȝt þoo  þ at he me þus tauȝte Ac ȝit saueriþ me not þi seggyng  I coueyte to lerne How do -wel . do -bette & do -best  doon among ys þe peple But witt kun wisse þee quod þouȝt  where þoo þre dwellen Ellis woot I noon þat can  þat now is a -lyue Þouȝt & I þus  þre dayes ȝeden Disputynge vp -on do -wel  day after oþer And er we weren ywar O.8.113: O alone has weren ywar; most B manuscripts have were war.  wiþ witt gonne I O.8.113: OC 2 alone have I in place of we. mete He was longe & lene  liche to noon oþ er Was no pride on his app arayle  ne pouerte neyþ er Sad of his semblaunt  & of softe chere I durste meue no mat ere  to make hym to iangle But as I bade þouȝt þoo  be mene bitwene And putte forþ sum purpos  to prouen hise wittis What was do -wel fro do -bette  & do -best fram hem boþe Þa nne þouȝt in þat tyme  seyde þeise wordis Where do -wel . do -bette . & do -best  been in londe Heer is wille wolde wite  if witt kouþe teche hym And wheþ er he be man or wo mman  þis man wolde asspye And worche as þei þre wolden O.8.125: OC 2 alone have the form wolden in place of wolde.  þis is his entent Passus nonus O.9.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines. S Ire dowel dwelliþ quod witt  not a day hennys O.9.1: A small cross, in an unidentifiable hand, appears in the near left margin of this line. In a castel þat kynde made  of foure kyns þingys Of erþe & eyr it is maad  medelid to -gyderes Wiþ wynde & wiþ water  wittili O.9.4: OC 2 alone have wittili in place of witterly. enioyned Kynde haþ closid þ er -Inne  craftili wiþ -alle A lemman þat he loueþ  lyke to hym -selue Anima sche hatte  ac envye hir hatiþ A proude priker of fraunce  p rinceps hui us mundi And wolde wynne hir awey  wiþ wyles and he myȝte Ac kynde knowiþ þis wel  & kepiþ hir þe better And haþ doon hir wiþ sire do -wel  duke of þis marches Do -bette is hir damysel  sire do -welis douȝter To s erue þis lady lelly  boþe late & raþe Do -best is aboue boþe  a bisschopps pere Þat he bit mote be doon  he ruliþ hem alle Anima þat lady  is lad bi his leryng Ac þe cunstable of þat castel  þat kepiþ al þe wacche Is a wise knyȝt wiþ -al  sire Inwitt he hatte And haþ fyue fayre sones  bi his first wijf Sire . se wel . & seye wel  & here wel þe hende Sire . wirche wel . wiþ þin hand  a wiȝt man of strenkþe And . sire godfrey . go wel  grete lordis for -soþe Þeise fyue been set  to saue þis lady anima Til kynde come or sende  to sauen hir for eu ere What þing is kynde quod I  canst þ ou me telle Kynde quod witt is a creature  of alkyns þingys Fadir & formour of al  þat eu ere was maked And þat is þe greet god  þat gynnyng hadde neu ere Lord of lijf & of liȝt  of lisse & of peyne Aungelis & al þing  arn at his wille Ac man is hym moost lijke  of mark & of schaft For þoruȝ þe woord þat he spake  wexen forþ beestis Dixit & facta su nt & c etera O.9.33: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after Dixit , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text. And made man likkest  to hym -selue oone And eue of his ribbe -boon  wiþ -outen any mene For he was synguler hym -self  & seyde faciam us As who seyþ . more mut þ erto O.9.37: GOC 2 alone have þ er-to in place of herto.  þan my word oone My myȝt mut helpe now  wiþ my speche Riȝt as a lord schulde make lettres  & hym lakkede p archemyn Þouȝ he kouþe write neu ere so wel  if he hadde no penne Þe lettres O.9.41: OCr 23C 2 alone have the plural form. for al þe lordschip  I leue were neu ere ymaked And so it semeþ bi hym  as þe book telleþ Þ ere he seyþ . dixit & facta sunt He muste wirche wiþ his word  & his witt schewe And in þis man ere was man maad  þoruȝ myȝt of god almyȝti Wiþ his word & werkmanschip  & wiþ lijf to laste And þus god gaf hym a goost  of þe godheed of heuene And of his greet grace  grauntede hym blysse And þat is lijf þat ay schal laste  to alle lynages after And þat is þe castel þat kynde made  caro it hatte And þat O.9.51: OC 2 alone include þat. is as myche to mene  as man wiþ a soule And þat he wrouȝte wiþ werk  & wiþ word boþe Þoruȝ myȝt of þe mageste  man was ymaked Inwitt & alle wittis  closed been þ er -Inne Anima For loue of þe lady anima  þat lijf is ynempned Ou er -al in mannys body  he walkiþ & wandriþ Ac in þe herte is hir home  & hir moost rest Ac inwitt is in þe hed  & to þe herte he lokiþ What anima is leef & O.9.59: OC 2 alone have & in place of or. looþ  he latte hir at his wille For after þe grace of god  þe grettest is inwitt Mich woo worþ þat man  þat mysruliþ his inwitt And þat been glotou ns glubbers  her god is her wombe Quo rum d eus vent er e st O.9.63: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after d eus , so that it appears as two lines. For þei s eruen sathan  her soulis schal he haue Þat lyuen synful lijf heer  her soule is like þe deuelis O.9.65: OC 2 alone have the possessive form. And alle þat lyuen good lijf  arn like to god almyȝti Q ui man et i n cari tate in deo man et & c etera O.9.67: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after caritate , so that it appears as two lines. Allas þ at drynk schal fordo  þat god dere abouȝte And dooþ god forsaken hem  þat he schope to his liknesse Amen dico vob is . nesc io vos / & alibi / & dimisi eos s ecundum desid eria eo rum & c etera Foulesfooles O.9.71: A caret beside marginal fooles indicates that it was intended as a substitute for Foules. þat fauten Inwitt  I fynde þat holi chirche  Schulde fynde hem þat hem fauteþ  & fadirles children And wydwes þat han not wher -wiþ  to wynne hem hem her fode Madde men & maydenes  þat helples weren Alle þeise lakken Inwitt  & lore bihoueþ Of þis O.9.76: A solidus/punctus appears over the <s> in þis, for no apparent reason. mat ere I myȝte  make a longe tale And fynde fele witnesse  among ys þe foure doctouris And þ at I lye not of þat I lere þee  luke bereþ witnesse Godfadir & godmodir  þat seen her god -children  At mysese & meschef  & mowen hem amende Schul haue penaunce in purgatorie  but if þei hem helpe For more bilongeþ to þe litil barn  er he þe lawe knowe Þan nempnyng of a name  & he neu ere þe wyser . . . no ta . . . O.9.84: The word no ta is accompanied by flourishes at right, left, and bottom. Schulde no cristen creature  crye at þe ȝate Ne fayle payn ne potage & p relatis  diden as þei schulden A Iu wolde not seen a Iu  go iangelyng for defaute For alle þe mebles on þis moold  & he amende it myȝte Allas þ at a c risten creature  schal be so vnkynde to an -oþ er Siþen Iues þat we Iuggen  Iudas felawis Eyþ er of hem helpeþ oþ er  of þat þat hym nediþ Why nylen O.9.91: O alone has nylen; variants include ne woll (HmBR), nel (WGYC 2CLM), wyl not (Cr 23), and wil (Cr 1F). we c risten of cristis  good . be as kynde As Iues þat been oure lorismen  schame to vs alle Þe comune for her vnkyndenesse  I drede me schul abye Bisschopis schul be blamed  for begg ers sake He is wers þan Iudas  þat ȝyueþ iapers syluer And biddiþ þe begg er goo  for hise br oken cloþes Proditor e st p relat us cu m Iuda  q ui p atrimoniu m christi min us dist ribuit / Et alibi / P erni ciosus dispensator O.9.97: OC 2 alone lack est before qui .  q ui res paup eru m i nvtilit er consumit He dooþ not wel þat dooþ þus  ne drat not god almyȝti Ne loueþ not salomo ns sawes  þat sapience tauȝte Iniciu m sapi encie timor d omini & þ ou doost bette O.9.100: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after sapi encie and d omini , and red parasigns precede the last two lines of text. Drede god for loue & þ ou doost wel  but not for ve niaunce Þ ou doost best if þ ou wiþdrawe  bi day & bi nyȝt  To spille any speche  or any space of tyme Q ui offendit in vno  e st in o mnib us reus Leesyng of tyme  truþe woot þe soþe Is moost hatid vp -on erþe  of hem þat been in heuene And siþþe to spille speche  þat spire is of grace And goddis gleman  & a game of heuene Wolde neu ere þe feiþful fadir  his fiþele were vntempred Ne his gleman a gedelyng  a goer to tau ernes To alle trewe tydymen  þat trauayle desiren Oure lord loueþ O.9.112: OC 2 alone lack hem before &. & lent  loude eiþ er stille  Grace to goo to hem  & a -goon her lijflode Inq uire ntes a utem d ominum no n minue nt ur o mni bono O.9.114: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after no n , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text. Trewe weddid libbynge folk  in þis werld is do -wel For þei musten O.9.116: OC 2 alone have musten; most B manuscripts have mote. wirche & wynne  & þe werld susteyne For of her kynde þei camencame  þat confessouris been nempned Kyngys & knyȝtis  kayseris & cherlis Maydenes & martiris  out of a man come Þe wijf was maad þe weye  for to helpe worche And þus was wedlok ywrouȝt  wiþ a mene p ersoone First bi þe fad eris wille  & þe frendis counceyl And siþþe bi assent of hem -selue  as þei two myȝten a -corde And þus was wedlok ywrouȝt  & god hymself it made In erþe þe heuene is  hym -self was þe witnesse Ac false folk feiþles  þeues & lyeris Wastouris & wrecches  out of wedlok I trowe  Conceyued been in yuele tyme  as caym was of eue Of swiche synful schrewes  þe sauter makiþ mynde Co ncep it i n dolore & pep er it i niq uitate m & c etera O.9.130: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after dolore , so that it appears as two lines. And alle þat come of þat caym  come to yuele eende For god sente to sem  & seyde bi an aungel Þin issu in þin issu  I wole þ at þei be ioyned O.9.133: Cr 23OC 2 alone have ioyned in place of wedded. And not þi kynde wiþ caymes  ycouplid ne spousid Ȝit su mme aȝens O.9.135: The <e> in aȝens seems to have been written over an <o>. þe soonde  of oure saueour of heuene Kaymes kynde & his kynde  ycouplede O.9.136: OC 2 alone have ycouplede; all other beta witnesses have coupled. to -gyderis Til god wraþþede wiþ her werkis  & swich a word seyde Þ at I makede man  now me it aþinkiþ Penit et me fecisse ho mi nem O.9.139: This line is written in the right margin. And come to noe anoon  & bade hym not lette Swiþe go schape a schip  of schidis & of boordis Þi -self & þi þre sones  & siþþen ȝoure wyues Buske ȝow to þat boot  & bideþ ȝe þ er -Inne Til fourty dayes be fulfillid  þ at flood haue ywasschen  Clene awey þe cursid blood  þat caym haþ ymaked Beestis þat now been  schul banne þe tyme Þ at eu ere þat cursid caym  come on þis erþe Alle schul dye for hise dedis  bi dales & bi hilles And þe foule s þat flyen  forþ wiþ oþere beestis Except onelich of ich  a kynde & a couple O.9.150: YOC 2 weaken the sense of this line by adding a before kynde, and OC 2 destroy it by adding & before couple. Þat in þi schyngled schip  schul been ysaued Heer bouȝte þe barn  þe bele -sires gyltes And al for her forfadris  þei ferden þe wers Þe gospel is her -aȝeyn  in o degre I fynde Fili us no n p ortab it i niq uitate m p atris & p ater no n p ortab it & c etera O.9.155: OC 2 alone have p ortab it & c etera ; variants include & c etera (GYCB), portabit iniquitatem filij (RCrF), portabit iniquitatem filij & c etera (WHmL), and portabit iniquitatem & c etera (M). O.9.155: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after p atris , so that it appears as two lines. Ac I fynde if þe fadir  be fals & a schrewe Þ at sumdel þe sone  schal haue þe sires tacches Impe on an ellerne . & if  þin appil be swete Miche m erueyle me þinkiþ  & more of a schrewe Þat bryngeþ forþ any barn  but if he be þe same And haue a sauour after þe sire  selden seest þ ou oþ er Nu mq uam colligim us de spinis vuas n ec de t ribul is ficus O.9.162: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after vuas , and a red parasign precedes the second line. And þus þoruȝ cursid caym  cam care vp -on erþe And al for þei wrouȝten wedlok  aȝens goddis wille no ta . Of wedlok O.9.165: The word no ta is surrounded by red and black flourishes at top right and left and beneath. For -þi . haue þei maugre  þat so marien her children For su mme as I see now  soþe for to telle For coueytise of catel  vnkyndelich been weddid Ac careful concepc iou n  comeþ of swiche mariages As bifel of þe folk  þat I bifore of . tolde For goode schulden wedde good  þouȝ þei no good hadde I am via & v eritas O.9.171: OC 2 alone lack the phrase seiþ crist or seid crist before the second occurrence of I. I may auaunce alle It is an vncomeli couple  bi crist as me þinkiþ To ȝyue a ȝonge wenche  to an olde feble Or wedden any wydowe  for welþe of hir goodis Þat neu ere schal barn bere  but if it be in armes Many a peyre siþ þe pestilence  han pliȝt hem to -gyderis Þe fruyt þat þei bryngen forþ  arn foule wordis In ielousye ioyles  & ianglyng on bedde Haue þei no children but chest  & choppyng hem bitwene And þouȝ þei do hem to donmowe  but if þe deuel helpe To folewen after þe flicche  fecche þei it neu ere And but þei boþe be forsworen  þat bacou n þei tynen O.9.182: OC 2 alone have tynen in place of tyne. For -þi I counceyle alle cristen  coueyte not be weddid For coueytise of catel  ne of kynred riche Ac maydenes & maydenes  macche ȝow to -gyderis Widowes & widowers  wircheþ þe same For no londes but for loue  loke ȝe be weddid And þa nne geten O.9.188: O alone has geten in place of gete. ȝe þe g race of god  & good ynow to lyue wiþ And eu ery man ere seculer  þat may not contene Wiseli go wedde  & war hym fro synne For leccherie in lokyng  is lyme -ȝerd of helle Whiles þ ou art ȝong  & þi wepen kene Werke O.9.193: OC 2 alone have Werke in place of Wreke. þee wiþ wyuyng  if þ ou wilt been excusid Cu m sis vir fort is  ne des tua robora scort is Sc ribit ur in port is  m eret rix e st ianua mort is . Wha nne ȝe han wyued . beþ war  & wircheþ in tyme Not as adam & eue  wha nne caym was engendrid For in vntyme truli  bitwene man & womman Ne schulde no bourde on bedde be  but if þei boþe weren O.9.199: O alone has weren in place of were. clene Boþe of lijf & of soule  & in p arfiȝt charite Þat ilke derne dede do  no man ne schulde Ac O.9.201: YO alone have Ac; most B manuscripts have And. if þei leden þus her lijf  it likeþ god almyȝti For he made wedlok first  & hym -self it seyde Bonu m e st vt vn usq uis que vx orem sua m h abeat p rop ter fornicac io nem And þei þat oþ er -gates been geten  for gedelyng es been holden As fals folk fondelyng es  faytouris & lyeris Vng racious to gete good  or loue of þe peple Wandren & wasten  what þei cacche mowen Aȝens do -wel þei doon yuele  & þe deuel s eruen And after her deþ -day  schul dwelle wiþ þe same But god gyue hem g race heer  hem -self to amende Do -wel my freend . is to do  as þe lawe techiþ To loue þi freend & þi foo  leue me . þat is do - bette To ȝyuen & to ȝemen  boþe ȝonge & olde To helen & to helpen  is . do -best . of alle And . do -wel . is to drede god  & . do -bette . is to suffre And so comeþ . do -best . of boþe  & bryngeþ adou n þe mody And þat is wickid wille  þat many werk schendiþ And dryueþ awey . do -wel  þoruȝ dedly synne P assus . decimus . O.10.000: The heading is divided after P assus , so that it appears as two lines. þ Þ Anne hadde witt a wijf  was hoten . dame studye . Þat lene was of leere  & of liche boþe Sche was wondirlich wroþ  þ at witt me þus tauȝte And al staryng dame studie  sternelich seyde Wel art þ ou wijs quod sche to witt  any wisdams to telle To flatereris or to foolis  þat frenetyk been of wittis And blamede hym & bannede hym  & bade hym be stille Wiþ swiche wise wordis  to wisse any sottes And seyde . noli mittere . man  margerie perles Amongys hoggys . þat han  hawes at wille Þei doon but drauelen þ er -on  draf were hem leuere Þan al þe p recious perre  þat in p aradice waxeþ I seye it by swiche quod sche  þat schewen bi her werkis Þ at hem were leu ere lond  & lordschip on erþe Or richesse or rentis  & rest at her wille Þan alle þe soþe sawes  þat salomon seyde eu ere Wisdam & witt now  is not .... worþ a kerse But if it be carded wiþ coueytise  as cloþeris kemben wolle Who -so can contreue deceytis  & conspire wrongys And lede forþ a loueday  to lette wiþ truþe He þat swiche He þat swyche craftes can  to counceyl is clepid Þei leden lordys wiþ lesyng ys  & bilyeþ truþe Iob þe gentel in hise gestes  gretly witnessiþ Þ at wickide men welden  þe welþe of þis werld And þ at þei been lordis of ich loond  þat out of lawe libben Q uare impij viuu nt b en e e st ho minib us q ui p reuaricant ur & iniq ue agu nt Þe sauter seiþ þe same  bi swiche þat doon ille Ecce ip si peccatores & O.10.28: OC 2 alone include &. habu ndantes in s ec ulo obtinueru nt diuicias Lo seiþ þe O.10.29: OC 2 alone include þe. holi lettrure  whiche lordis been þeise schrewis Þilk þat god moost good gyueþ O.10.30: O alone has moost good gyueþ; variants include moost gyueth (YGBL), gyueþ moost (WHmCr), most good ȝeueþ (C 2), most greueth (CR), moost greve (F), and god yeueþ (M).  leeste good þei delen And moost vnkynde to þe comune  þat moost catel welden Que p erfecisti  destruxeru nt  iustus autem & c etera Harlottes for her harlotrie  mowen haue of her goodes And iaperis & iogelouris  & iangeleris of gestes no ta  how good carpyng is not loued O.10.35: This rubric is divided after good and not, so that it appears as three lines. Three ticks follow it. The word no ta is accompanied by flourishes at right and left. Ac he þat haþ holi writt  ay in his mouþe And can telle of tobye  & of þe twelue apostelis Or p rechen of penaunce  þat pilat wrouȝte To iesu þe ientil  þat Iues to -drowen Litil is he loued  þat swich a lessou n schewiþ Or dauntid or drawen forþ  I do it on god hym -selue Of mynystralis But þoo þat feynen hem folis  & wiþ faytyng libben A - O.10.42: A slash appears in this space; perhaps characters have been erased. ȝeyn þe lawe of oure lord  & lyen on hem -selue Spitten & spewen & speken foule wordis Drynken & drauelen  & doon men for to gape Likken men & lyen on hem  þat lenen hem no gyftis Þei ku nnen no more mynystralcye  ne musik men to glade Þan Munde þe myluer  of multa fecit deus Ne were her vile harlotrie  haue god my truþe Schulde neu ere kyng ne knyȝt  ne chanou n of seynt poulis Ȝyue hem to her ȝerisȝyue  þe value O.10.50: YGOC 2 alone have value; variants include worth (RF), ȝifte (WHmBLM), and gift (CrC). of a grote Ac myrþe & mynystralcie  amongys men is nouþe Leccherie & losengerie  & losellis talys Glotenye & grete oþis  þeise O.10.53: OC 2 alone have þeise; most B manuscripts have þis. Kane and Donaldson emend to þise arn. myrþes O.10.53: OC 2 alone have myrþes; most B manuscripts have murþe. Kane and Donaldson emend to games. þei louen Ac if þei carpen of crist  þeise clerkis & þeise lewede At mete in myrþes  wha nne mynystralis been stille Þa nne tellen þei of þe t rinyte  a tale oþ er tweyen And bryngen O.10.57: OC 2F alone lack forþ before a. a balled resou n  & taken bernard to witnesse And putten forþ a p resu mpciou n  to preue þe soþe Þus þei dryuelen at her deys  þe deyte to knowe And gnawen god wiþ þe goorge  wha nne her guttes been fulle Ac þe careful may crye  and carpen at þe ȝate Boþe an -hungred & a -þrist  & for chele quake Is noon to nymen hym neer  his noye to amende But howen on hym as an hound  & hoten hym go þennes Litil loueþ he þat lord  þat lente hym al þat blisse Þat þus parten O.10.66: OC 2 alone have the form parten in place of parteþ. wiþ þe pore  a p arcel wha nne hem O.10.66: OGC 2F alone have hem in place of hym. nediþ Ne were m ercy in mene men  more þan in riche Mendynauntis . meteles  myȝten go to bedde God is myche in þe goorge  of þeise grete maystris Ac among ys mene men  his mercy & hise werkis And so seiþ þe sauter  I haue seyn it ofte Ecce audiuim us ea m in effrata  i nuenim us ea m in campis silue Clerkis & oþ ere kyns men  carpen of god faste And han hym myche in þe mouþ  ac mene men in herte O.10.75: A cross composed of dots appears in the left margin, with red rays emanating from the dots; like others of this type, it appears to be in the main scribal hand. Freris & faytouris  han founden swiche questiou ns To plese wiþ . proude men  siþ þe pestilence tyme And p rechen at seynt poulis  for pure envie of clerkis Þ at folk been O.10.78: OC 2 alone have been; most B manuscripts have is. not fermed in þe feiþ  ne free of her goodis Ne sory for her synnes  so is pride waxen In religiou n & in al þe rewme  among ys riche & pore Þ at preyeris han no power  þe pestilence to lette And ȝit þe wrecchis of þis world  is noon ywar bi oþ er Ne for drede of þe deþ  wiþ -drawen not her pride Ne been plentyuouse to þe pore  as pure charite wolde But in gaynesse & glotenye  forglutten her good hem -selue And breken not to þe begg er  as þe book techiþ F range esurie nti pane m tuu m & c etera O.10.87: This line is written in the right margin. And þe more he wynneþ & welt  welþis & richessis  And lordiþ in londis  þe lesse good he deleþ Tobie telliþ ȝow not so  take heed ȝe riche How þe book of þe bible  of hym beriþ witnesse De elemosina Si t ibi copia sit  habu ndant er t ribue  si a utem exiguu m  imp ertirei stude libe nt er Who -so haþ myche . spende myche  so meneþ tobie no ta O.10.94: The word no ta is surrounded at right, left, and bottom with red and black punctuses and flourishes. And who -so litil weldiþ  rule hym þ er -after For we han no letter of oure lijf  how longe it schal dure Swiche lessou ns lordis  schulden louye to here And how he myȝte moost  meyne . manlich fynde Ac O.10.98: O alone has Ac in place of And or nothing at all. not to fare as a fiþeler or a frere  for to seke feestis Homelich at oþ er mennys housis  & haten her owne Elenge is þe halle  ich day in þe woke Þ ere þe lord & þe lady  liken O.10.101: OC 2 alone have the form liken; all other beta witnesses have likeþ. not O.10.101: O alone lacks to before sitte. sitte Now haþ ich riche a rule  to ete bi hym -selue pure In a pryuey p arlour  for pore O.10.103: Supralinear pure is apparently intended by the corrector as a substitution for pore. See also 11.243. mennys sake Or in a chaumbre wiþ a chymeney  & leue þe cheef halle Þat was O.10.105: OC 2 alone lack the first alliterating stave, maad, before for. for meles  men to eten Inne And O.10.106: OC 2 alone lack al before to. to spare to spille  þat spende schal an -oþ er I haue herd hye men  etynge at þe table  Carpen as þei clerkis weren O.10.108: OC 2 alone have the form weren in place of were.  of crist & of hise myȝtis And leyden fautes on þe fadir  þat formede vs alle And carpen aȝeyn clerkis  crabbede wordis Why wolde oure saueour suffre  swich a worme in his blisse Þat bigylede þe wo mman  & þe man after Þoruȝ whiche whyles O.10.113: OC 2 alone have whyles in place of wiles. & wordis  þei wenten to helle And al her seed for her synne  þe same deþ suffreden Heer lijþ ȝoure lore  þat O.10.115: OC 2F alone include þat. þeise lordis gynnen dispute Of þat ȝe clerkis O.10.116: An otiose flourish appears above the <s> in clerkis. vs kennen  of crist bi þe gospel Fili us no n portabit i niq uitate m p atris & c etera O.10.117: This line is written in the right margin. Why schulde n we þat now been  for þe werkis of adam Roten & renten O.10.119: OC 2 alone have renten; variants include rende (GYCBMF), torente (HmCr 23), toreue (R), to reade (Cr 1), and torende (WL).  resou n wolde it neu ere Vnusq uis que portabit on us suu m & c etera O.10.120: This line is written in the right margin. Swiche motyues þei meuen  þeise mayst ris in her glorie And maken men in mysbileue  þat musen myche on her wordis Ymagynatijf her -afterward  schal answere to ȝoure purpose Austyn to swiche argueris  telliþ his O.10.124: OC 2 alone have his in place of þis. teme No n pl us sap ere q uam oportet & c etera O.10.125: This line is written in the right margin. Wilneþ neu ere O.10.126: OC 2 alone lack to before wite. wite  why þ at god wolde  Suffre sathan  his seed to be -gyle Ac bileueþ lelli  in O.10.128: OC 2F alone lack þe before lore. lore of holi chirche And preyede hym of pardou n  & penaunce in þi lyue And for his myche m ercy  to amende ȝow heer For alle þat wilnen to wite  þe whyes O.10.131: GYOM alone have whyes in place of weyes. of god almyȝti I wolde his ye were in his ers  & his fynger after Þat eu ere wilneþ to wite  why þ at god wolde Suffre sathan  his seed to bigyle Or Iudas to þe Iues  iesu bitraye Al was as þ ou woldist lord  worschipid be þow And al worþ as þ ou wilt  what -so we disputen O.10.137: OC 2 alone have the form disputen in place of dispute. And þoo þat vsen þeise hauylounes  to blynde me nnes wittes What is . do -wel . fro . do -bette  now deef O.10.139: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original deef now. mote he worþe Siþ he wilneþ to wite  whiche þei been boþe But if he lyue in þe lijf  þat longeþ to do -wel For I dar be his bold boruȝ  þ at do bette wole he neu ere Þouȝ do -best drawe on hym  day after oþ er And wha nne þ at witt was ywar  what dame studie tolde He bicome so confuse  he couþe not loke And as doombe as deþ  & drowȝe hym arere And for no carpyng I couþe after  ne knelyng to þe ground I myȝte gete no greyn  of hise grete wittis But al lawȝhynge he loutede  & lokede vp -on studie In signe þ at I schulde  biseche hir of grace And wha nne I was war of his wille  to his wijf gan I loute And seyde m ercy ma -dame  ȝoure man schal I worþe As longe as I lyue  boþe late & raþe For to wirche ȝoure wille  þe whyle my lijf dureþ Wiþ þat ȝe kenne me kyndeli  to knowe what is do -wel For þi mekenesse man quod sche  & for þi mylde speche I schal kenne þee to my cosyn  þat clergye is hoten He haþ weddid a wijf  wiþ -Inne þis sixe moneþes Is sibbe to þe seuene artis  sc ripture is hir name Þei two as I hope  after my techyng Schul wisse þee to . do -wel  I dar it vndirtake Þa nne was I also fayn  as foul of fayre morwe And gladder þan þe gleman  þat gold haþ to ȝyfte no ta to lerne holi writ O.10.164: This rubric is divided after lerne, so that it appears as two lines. The word no ta is accompanied by flourishes at left and beneath. And axede hir þe hye weye  where þ at clergie dwelte And telle me su m tokene quod I  for tyme is þ at I wende Axe þe hye weye quod studie  hennys to suffre Boþe wel & woo  if þ at þ ou wilt lerne And ride forþ bi richesse  but O.10.168: OC 2F alone have but; most B manuscripts have and. reste not þ ere -inne For if þ ou couplist þee þ erwiþ  to clergie comest þ ou neu ere And also þe likerouse launde  þat leccherie hatte Leue it on þi left half  a large myle & more Til þ ou come to a court  kepe wel þi tunge Fro lesyngys & liþer speche  & likerouse drynkes Þa nne schalt þ ou see sobretee  & sympletee of speche Þ at ich wyȝt be in wille  his wite þee to schewe And þus schalt þ ou come to clergye  þat can many þingys Seye hym þis signe  I sette hym to scole And þ at I grette wel his wijf  for I wrote hir many bokes And sette hir to sapience  & to þe sauter glose Logyk I lernede hir  & many oþ ere lawes And alle þe musons of O.10.181: HmOC 2 alone have of in place of in. musyk  I made hir to knowe Plato þe poete  I putte hym first to boke Aristotle & oþ ere moo  to argue I tauȝte Gramer for gyrles  I garte first write And bette hem wiþ a baleys  but if þei wolden O.10.185: O alone has the form wolden in place of wolde. lerne Of alle kyns craftes  I contreuede tooles Of carpentrie of keruers  & compassede masou ns And ke nnede O.10.188: OC 2 alone have kennede in place of lerned. hem leuel & lyne  þouȝ I loke dymme Teologie haþ tened me  ten score tymes Þe mor I muse þ er -Inne  þe mystier it semeþ And þe depper I dyuyne  þe derker me it þinkeþ It is no science for -soþe  for to sutile Inne And O.10.193: OC 2 alone have And in place of A. ful leþi þing it were  if þat loue nere And for it let best bi loue  I loue it þe better For þ ere þat loue is leder  ne lakkeþ no grace Loke þ ou loue lelli  if þee likeþ do wel And O.10.197: OC 2F alone have And in place of For. do -bette & do -best  been of loues kyn In oþ ere science it seiþ  I seyȝ it in catou n Q ui sim ulat v erb is  n ec corde e st fid us amic us O.10.199: This line is written in the right margin. Tu q uo que fac si mile  cu m O.10.200: YOC 2 alone have cu m in place of sic . ars dillud itur arte O.10.200: This line is written in the right margin and connected with the preceding line by brackets at both sides; it is followed by the number 26, indicating the verse of the Disticha Catonis which is quoted. Who -so glosiþ as gylo urs doon  do he m þe same And so schalt þ ou false folk  & feiþles bigyle Þis is catou ns kennyng  to clerkis þat he leriþ Ac teologie techeþ not so  who -so takeþ ȝeem And ke nneþ vs þe cont rarie  aȝens catou ns wordis For he bit vs . be as breþ eren  & bidde for oure enemyes And loue hem þat lyen on vs  & lene hem wha nne hem nediþ And do good aȝens yuel  god hym -self it hotiþ Du m te mp us h abem us  op erem ur bonu m ad o mnes maxi me a utem ad domesticos fid ei Poule p rechede þe peple  þat p arfiȝtnesse louede To do good for goddis loue  & gyue men þat asken And namelich to swiche  þat suen oure bileue And al þat lakkiþ vs & lieþ vs  god techeþ vs to loue And not to greue hem þat greuen vs  god þat forbediþ Michi vi ndicta m & ego retribua m . O.10.215: This line is written in the right margin and followed by three ticks. It is divided after ego , and the second line is preceded by a red parasign. For -þi loke þ ou louye  as longe as þow durest For is no concience vndir sunne  so sou ereyn for þe soule Ac astronomye is an hard þing  & yuele for to knowe Geometrie & geomesye  is gynful of speche Who -so þenkiþ wirche wiþ þoo two  þryueþ ful late For sorcerie is þe sou ereyn book  þat to þe science longeþ Ȝit arn þ er fybicchis O.10.222: Fybicchis is a nonce-word. Skeat (Vol.II, 154) notes that he "cannot trace any such word in English, French, or Scandinavian," and elsewhere (Vol. II, 353) tentatively glosses it "contrivances." The MED repeats Quirk's suggestion that the word may derive from Pebichios, the name of an early alchemist, and tentatively defines it as "some kind of alchemical manipulations or tricks." in forceris  of fele me nnys makyng O.10.222: Two crosses, approximately two lines in height and apparently in hand 2, appear in the bottom margin under arn and þ er of this line. Exp erymentis of alkenemye  þe peple to disceyue If þou þenke to do -wel  dele þ er -wiþ neu ere Alle þeise science O.10.225: OC 2CL alone have the singular form. I my -self  sutilede & ordeynede And foundede hem formest  folk to deceyue Telle clergie þise tokenes  & sc ripture after I counceyle þee kyndeli  to knowe what is do -wel I seyde g raunt m ercy ma -dame  & mekeli heir grette And wente wyȝtlich awey  wiþ -oute more lettyng And til I come to clergye  I couþe neu ere stynte And grette þe good man wel  as studie me tauȝte And afterwardis þe wijf  & worschipede hem boþe And tolde hem þe tokenes  þat me tauȝt weren O.10.234: OC 2 alone have the form weren in place of were. Was neu ere goom vp -on þis ground  siþ god made þis O.10.235: OC 2 alone have þis; most B manuscripts have þe world Fayrer vndir -fongen  ne frendeleker at ese Þa nne my -self soþeli  soone so he wiste Þ at I was of wittes hous  & wiþ his wijf dame studie I seyde to hym soþeli  þ at sent was I þider Do -wel & do -bette  & do -best to lerne It is a comune lijf quod clergie  on holi chirche to beleue Wiþ alle þe articul es of þe feiþ  þat fallen to be knowen And þ at is to beleue lelli  boþe lered & lewid  On þe greet god  þat gynnyng hadde neu ere And on þe soþfast sone  þat sauede mankynde Fro þe dedli deþ  & þe deuelis power Þoruȝ þe help of þe holi goost  þe wich goost is of boþe Þre p ersoones . ac not  in plurel noumbre For al is but o god  & ech is god hym -selue De us p ater d eus fili us d eus sp iritus s anc tus O.10.250: This line is written in the right margin. God þe fadir . god þe sone  god holi goost of boþe Maker of mankynde  & of beestis boþe Austyn þe olde  her -of made bokis And hym -self ordeynede  to sadde vs in beleue Who was his autour  alle þe foure euangelistes And crist clepede hym -self so  þe euangelist bereþ witnesse Ego in p atre & p ater in me e st & q ui vid et me  vid et & p atrem meu m Alle þe clerkis vndir crist  ne couþen þis assoyle But þus it longeþ to beleue  to men þat wolen do -wel For hadde neu ere freek fyn witt  þe feiþ to dispute For