preier there rehercid in the ympne, Vexilla Regis prodeunt, is this: "O thou God, bi whom [The erasures on both sides of the leaf have produced holes in the MS.: between whom and the are traces of another letter, in the hand of the corrector, either p or possibly the Saxon th, having a trace of some contraction above, or perhaps a mark intended to cancel it. Pos|sibly we should read this the cros, but more probably the text, as edited, is correct. Much of this paragraph is re-written on an era|sure.] the cros is the prouocative meene of oure oon hope in tyme of this passioun, encrese riȝtwisnes to men hauyng pite, and [make] that God ȝeue forȝeuenes to gilti men;" and sotheli so the cros is therto prouocatijf meene. Forwhi God bi biholding to the cros is stirid and prouokid forto do alle maners of good to us, sithen a cros was the instrument wher yn Crist, in sum maner of deseruyng, deserued to us al oure good. And for as miche as if we desire and preie that the cros be such a prouocatijf meene into the seid ȝeuyng, thanne oure desijr therto schal encrece and be the gretter; and aftir that oure desijr schal therto be the grettir, God schal make that the crosse schal the more pro|uoke him or schal make him silf so that he the more be prouokid bi the cros into the seid forȝeuyng,—therfore it is not veyn but it is ful profitable that we desire and preie to God, that he ȝeue to us oure goodis in this now spokun vnderstonding, that the cros be meene into the ȝeuyng to be doon to vs fro God him silf as the verry doer and ȝeuer therof. Neuertheles, thouȝ this preier be mad as in voice or in inward speche to the cros, ȝit in the trewe vnder|stonding therof it is maad to God, as is now next bifore expowned.
And euen as it is now answerid bi the vije. and viije. rewlis for iustifiyng of the first there rehercid preier maad (as in voice thouȝ not in the vnder|stonding)
