The vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman, together with Vita de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest, secundum Wit et Resoun, by William Langland (about 1362-1393 A. D.)

PASSUS II.

[

Title; found in TH₂UD; H has Ter|cius Passus by mistake, as it also calls the next Passus by the same name.

OBS. The first 23 lines occur twice in U; readings from the fragment are distinguished by the italic letter U.

] [Passus secundus de visione.]

Yit kneled I on my knees · and cried hire of grace, [folio 395b:2] [cried] prayed H.] And seide, "Merci, Madame · for Maries loue of heuene [Merci, Madame] V has Madame Merci, with marks for transposition.] Þat Bar þe blisful Barn · þat bouȝt vs on þe Roode, [blisful] blisside TU; blessyd D. on þe Roode] wiþ his blood H.] Teche me þe kuynde craft · forte knowe þe false." [Teche—kuynde] kenne me be sum TU U H₂D; teche me by kynde H. forte knowe] to kenne TH₂; to knowe U U D.] Line 4 "Loke on þe lufthond," quod heo · "and seo wher [he] stondeþ! [lufthond] left U; left half TU. quod heo] TDU omit; quod sche U. seo] lo TH₂. [he TUH₂D] þei H U; V has heo.] Boþe Fals and Fauuel · and al his hole Meyne!" [his] her H. al—Meyne] hise feris manye TU U H₂D.] I lokede on þe luft half · as þe ladi me tauhte; Þenne was I war of a wommon · wonderliche cloþed, [

cloþed] atired U; clothid U.

OBS. After cloþed H inserts, In reed scarlet heo rode · rybande wiþ gold (see l. 13).

] Line 8 Purfylet with pelure · þe ricchest vppon eorþe, [

ricchest vppon] pureste on U U D; purest in H₂.

OBS. Here H inserts, pyȝte ful of perrye · & of preciouse stoones (see l. 12).

] I-Corouned with a Coroune · þe kyng haþ no bettre; Alle hir Fyue Fyngres · weore frettet with Rynges, [U omits this line; so also does U.] Of þe preciousest perre · þat prince wered euere; [

preciousest] pureste TU U H₂D. H reads.

Of reed gold so ryche · redilyche I-dyȝte

Wiþ preciouse stoones so stoute · stond|ynge þer-ynne.

] Line 12

Line 12 In Red Scarlet heo Rod · I-Rybaunt with gold; [H inserts above; see obs. on l. 8. heo rod] robid TU UD; robe H₂. I|Rybaunt] & ribande TH₂D; rybanyd U U.] Þer nis no Qweene qweyntore · þat quik is alyue. [nis] is HU U. qweyntore] koynter H. alyue] on lyue HU U DH₂; o lyue T.] ¶ "What is þis wommon," quod I · "þus wonderliche A-tyret?" [wonderliche] worþily TH₂D.] ¶ "Þat is Meede þe Mayden," quod heo · "þat haþ me marred ofte, [quod heo] TU U DH₂ omit. me marred] noiȝede me ful T U H₂; anoyȝed me H; noyed me wol U; noyed me wel D.] Line 16 A[n]d I-lakked my lore · to lordes aboute. In þe pope paleys heo is · as priue as my-seluen; And so schulde heo nouȝt · for wrong was hir syre; [heo nouȝt] it not be TD.] [Out of] wrong heo wox · to wroþerhele monye. [U omits this line. [Out of TH UH₂D] V has In-to; U reads, Out of wrong wente sche · wrotherhele manye.] Line 20 Ich ouhte ben herre þen heo · I com of a bettre. [herre] hiȝere T; heyȝer H; heyere U U D.] ¶ To-morwe worþ þe Mariage I-mad · Of Meede and of fals; Fauuel with feir speche · haþ brouȝt hem to-gedere, [brouȝt] forgid TU U DH₂.] And Gyle haþ bi-gon hire so · heo graunteþ al his wille; [U omits.] Line 24 And al is liȝeres ledynge · þat heo leuen to-gedere. [U omits.] [leuen] liȝen TH₂D; lyue so H.] ¶ To-Morwe worth þe Mariage I-mad · soþ as I þe telle, [To-Morwe—I-mad] To-morne schal þei make þe mariage H. soþ] TUH₂D omit; D also om. I-mad.] Þat þou miht [wyte] ȝif þou wolt · whuche þei ben alle [þat—wolt] þere miȝte þou wyte ȝif þou wilt (wolt H) THUH₂D; V has seo instead of wyte.] [Þat longith to þat lordschipe · þe lasse and þe more. [From U; also in TH₂D; V has only l. 30, running thus, Bote ȝif þow wilne to wone · with treuþe in his Blisse, with which H closely agrees.] Line 28 Know hem þere ȝif þou canst · and kepe þe fro hem alle, [From U; also in TH₂D; V has only l. 30, running thus, Bote ȝif þow wilne to wone · with treuþe in his Blisse, with which H closely agrees.] Ȝif þou wilnest to wone · with treuthe in his blisse;] [From U; also in TH₂D; V has only l. 30, running thus, Bote ȝif þow wilne to wone · with treuþe in his Blisse, with which H closely agrees.] [lerne his lawe þat is so lele · & siþþe teche it furþer.] [This occurs in H only.]

I may no lengore lette · vr lord Ich þe bi-kenne; [lette] lende H; dwelle D. vr] TD and U omit. bi-kenne] by-take H.] Line 32 And bi-come a good mon · for eny couetyse, ich rede." [And] Loke þou H. ich rede] H omits.] [When heo was me fro · I loked & byhelde] [Occurs in H only.]

Alle þis Riche [Retenaunce] · þat Regneden with Fals [[Retenaunce THUH₂D] Rete|nauntes V. þat—Fals] þat with false reigneth U.] Weoren bede to þe Bruyt-ale · on Bo two þe sydes. [Bruyt-ale] bedale T; bridale UHH₂D. Bo two þe] boþe two THUH₂D.] Line 36 Sir Simonye is of-sent · to asseale þe Chartres, [U omits. is of-sent] is assent T; is a-sent H₂; was aftur sent H; is A-sert D. asseale] a-sele T: seele H; ensele H₂; sele D.] Þat Fals oþur Fauuel · bi eny [fyn] heolden, [[fyn] THUH₂D; V has peyne.] And Feffe Meede þer-with · In Mariage for euere. ¶ Bote þer nas halle ne hous · þat miht herborwe þe peple, [þat miht] to THUH₂D.] Line 40 Þat vche feld nas ful · of Folk al a-boute. [nas] was D. ful] filled H.] ¶ In middes on a Mountayne · at Midmorwe tyde [on] of HD; T and U omit.] Was piht vp a Pauilon · A Proud for þe nones; [A proud] prow U; T and U omit A; was proud D.] And Ten þousend of Tentes · I-tilled be-sydes, [I-tilled] I-teldyde forþ H; teldit TH₂; tight þer U; teled D.] Line 44 For knihtes of Cuntre · and Comers aboute, [For] Of TUD. and Comers] of comeres TUH₂D.] ¶ For Sisours, for Sumnors, · for Sullers, for Buggers, [Buggers] biggeres UH; beggeris TH₂D.] For lewede, for lerede · for laborers of þropes, [lewede—lerede] lerid for lewid THUH₂D. þropes] þrepis U; þorpes D.] [& for the flaterynge freeris · alle þe foure orders], [Occurs in H only.] Line 48 Alle to witnesse wel · What þe writ wolde, In what manere þat Meede · In Mariage was [I-feffed], [manere] manere and howe H. In Mariage] H omits. [I-feffed H] feffid TUH₂D. V omits, evidently by mistake.] To beo fastnet with fals · þe fyn was arered. [fastnet] feffed U.] ¶ Þenne Fauuel fet hire forþ · and to fals takeþ, [takeþ] hir toke H; toket D.] Line 52

Line 52 In Forwarde þat Falsnesse · schal fynden hire for euere, [Falsnesse] falshed TH₂D; false U.] To be Boxum and Boun · his Biddyng to folfulle, [To—Boun] And he (she D) be bounde at his bode TH₂D; & be buxum at his bode U.] In Bedde and at Borde · Boxum and hende, And as sir Simonye wol sigge · [to suwen] his wille. [And—sigge] & at syre sy|monyes wille UD. to suwen] HTH₂; to suyen U; to sewen D; V has schewen.] Line 56 Now Simonye and Siuyle · stondeþ forþ boþe, [stondeþ] stoden H. forþ boþe] forþ in-fere H; vp boþe U.] Vn-Foldyng þe Feffement · þat Falsnes made, [Vn-Foldyng] & vn-foldeden H; And vnfolde TH₂D; And vnfoldith U. made] had made H; haþ ymakid TUH₂; haþ maked D.] [& þus bygonnen þe gomes · & gradden wel hyȝe]: [From H; also in TUH₂D.]

"HIt witen and witnessen · þat woneþ vppon eorþe, [In the margin of H is here written Carta; in the margin of D, Fauor.] Line 60 Þat I, Fauuel, Feffe Fals · to þat Mayden Meede, [Feffe—Meede] feffe falsnesse to mede TH D; haue [feffed?] fals|nesse to mede U.] To be present in pruyde · for Pore or for riche, Wiþ þe Erldam of Envye · euer forto laste, Wiþ alle þe lordschupe · of lengþe and of brede, [lordschup—brede] lordsshipe of leccherie · in lengþe and in brede TH₂; worschipe of lecherye in, &c. UD; H resembles T, but it is written in a later hand.] Line 64 Wiþ þe kingdom of Couetise · I Croune hem to-gedere; [hem] ȝow U.] Wiþ þe Yle of vsure · And Auarice þe False, [þe Yle] al þe Ile TD; al þe isle H₂; alle þe vices U. False] faste TU.] Glotonye and grete oþus · Ich ȝiue hem I-feere, [hem I-feere] hem togidere TH₂D; ȝow togidres U.] Wiþ alle delytes and lustes · þe deuel for to serue, [delytes—lustes] delites of lust TH₂D; þe delytes of deedly synne H; þe delices of lust U.] Line 68 In al þe seruyse of Slouþe · I sese hem to-gedere: [seruyse] seignourie UD. sese] ceese H; set TD.] ¶ To habben and to holden · and al heore heyres aftur, Wiþ þe purtinaunce of purgatorie · in-to þe pyne of helle: [wiþ] wiþ al H. in-to] & H.] Ȝeldynge for þis þing · at þe ȝeres ende, [þing] D omits. þe] oon H; o T; one UH₂.] Line 72 Heore soules to sathanas · to senden in-to pyne; [senden into] synken in TH₂D: synke into U.]

Þer to Wonen with Wrong · whil god is in heuene." [U omits.] ¶ In witnesse of whuche þing · wrong was þe furste, Pers þe pardoner · Paulynes [doctor], [Pers] And piers THH₂. Pauly|nes doctor] poulynes doctor TH₂; paulynes dottour (or doctour) U; paulynes doctoure D. V and H have douhter, douȝter; see l. 152.] Line 76 Bette þe Budul · of Bokynghames schire, Rondulf þe Reue · of Rotelondes sokene, [of—sokene] oute of Rotelonde H.] [Taberes & tomblers · & tapesters fele], [occurs in H and H₂ only; H₂ reads, Taylours, tapsters · and tauer|ners many.] Monde þe Mulnere · and moni mo oþure [Mulnere] myllere TH₂; mylnere UH; mellere D. and—oþure] of mal|wiche strete U.] Line 80 In þe Date of þe deuel · þe Deede was a-selet, [þe—aselet] þis dede I assele U; þis dede is seled D.] Be siht of sir Symoni · and Notaries signes. [and—signes] and signes of notories TUH₂; in seals of notoryes D.]

ÞEn teonede him Teologye · whon he þis tale herde, [teonede] tenide TH₂; tenyd U; tened D, which om. him.] And seide to Siuyle · "serwe on þi lokkes, [serwe] now sorewe THH₂D. lokkes] lockes H; bokes TUH₂D.] Line 84 Such Weddyng to worche · to [wraþþe] with truþe; [[wraþþe THUH₂D] teone V.] And ar þis weddyng beo wrouȝt · wo þe beo-tyde! For Meede is a Iuweler · A Mayden of goode, [folio 396a:1] [a Iuweler] molere T; muliere U; a medeler H; a medlere H₂; mulyer D. A—goode] of frendis engendrit TUH₂D.] God graunte vs to ȝiue hire · þer treuþe wol a-signe. [graunte—asigne] grauntide (graunt H₂, graunteþ UD) to gyue · mede to treuþe TUH₂D. asigne] assente H.] Line 88 And þou hast ȝiuen hire [to] a Gilour · God ȝiue þe serwe! [And] For H; D omits. [to THUD] V omits. God] oure lord H; now god TUH₂.] Þe Tixt telleþ not so · Treuþe wot þe soþe;

Dignus est operarius mercede sua;

[telleþ] telleþ þee H.] Worþi is þe Werkmon · his hure to haue; [hure] huyre H; mede TUH₂D.] And þou hast feffet hire with fals · fy on þi lawe! [feffet] festnyd U; fastnid TH₂D. lawe] lawes TU.] Line 92

For lechours and lyȝers · lihtliche þou leeuest, [

The readings are,

for lesyngis & lecheryes · suche warkes þou louest H;

For al be (by U) lesinges þou lyuest · & leccherous werkis TUD;

For al ben lesynges þou leuest · and lecherus workes H₂.

] Simonie and þi-self · Schenden holichirche;

[Ȝe schule abygge it boþe · by god þat me made, [From H; l. 95 occurs in TUH₂D after l. 97.] [it] TDUH₂ omit.] at oo ȝeris ende · whan ȝe reken schul]; [From H; l. 95 occurs in TUH₂D after l. 97.] Line 96 He and þeose [Notaries] · anuyȝen þe peple. [He and þeose] for ȝe and þese H; ȝe and þe TH₂D; ȝe and ȝe (by mistake for þe) U. [Notaries] See THUH₂D; V has the spelling Nataries, which looks wrong; for see l. 115.] For wel ȝe witen, wernardes! · but ȝif or wit fayle, [or] ȝoure TH₂; ȝour UD.] Þat fals is a faytur · a faylere of werkes, [a faylere] feyntles TH₂D; and feythles UH.] And a Bastard I-boren · of Belsabubbes kunne. [Belsabubbes] belsaboukis T.] Line 100 And Meede is a Iuweler · a Mayden ful gent; [a Iuweler] mulere T; moliere U; a medelar H; mulyer D; mened H₂. a—gent] of maides engendrit T; amonge men of goode H; a maiden of gode UH₂D.] Heo mihte Cusse þe kyng · for Cosyn ȝif heo schulde. [heo schulde] he wolde TH₂D; sche wolde U.] Worcheþ bi wisdam · and bi Wit aftur; [Worcheþ] þerfore worcheþ H. wisdam] wytte H. wit aftur] wysedam boþe H.] Ledeþ hire to londone · þer lawe is I-hondlet, Line 104 Ȝif eny leute wol loken · þat þei liggen to-gedere, [leute wol loken] leaute wile loke TH₂; lewte wil loke U. þat] TU om. liggen] lybbe H; D reads, yf ony liaunce wil loke · hem legge to-gidere.] And ȝif þe Iustise wol Iugge hire · to be Ioynet with Fals. [ȝif—hire] iustise iuggen here U; yf þe Iustice Iugge here DH₂.] Ȝit be-war of þe weddyng · for witti is treuþe; For Concience is of his [counseil] · and knoweþ ou vchone; [of his] of his counseil TUH₂D; his counseloure H. V reads, For Con|cience is on of his · and, &c.] Line 108 And ȝif he fynde such defaute · þat ȝe with Fals holden, [such—with] ȝow in defaute · & wiþ þe TUH₂D.] Hit schal bi-sitten oure soules · sore atte laste." [bisitten] sitt H; be set on U; be-set DT. sore atte] wel (ful H) sore at þe THUD. H₂ omits the line.] [herto assentid syuyle · but symonye ne wolde tyle he had syluer · for his sawes & his selynge. [his—selynge] his selis & signes TDH₂; selis & signes U.] Line 112

Line 112 Þen fet fauel forth · floreynes I-nowe, [fett] fecchide U.] & bad gyle go to · & ȝyue gold aboute, [go to &] go TUH₂D.] & namely to þis notaries · þat hem non lacked; [lacked] failede U; ne failiþ T; ne fayle H₂; fayle D.] & feffe false witnesse · with florens I-nowe, Line 116 For he may mede a-maysteren · & make hir at his wylle; [hir at his] at my T; here at our U; at his D.] For where falsenes is oft fownden · þere feiþ fayleþ [In H only.] Þoo þe gold was ȝouen · grete were þe thonkes [were þe thonkes] was þe þonk|ing TUH₂D.] to false & to fauel · for her feyre ȝyftus. Line 120 many comen, from care · to counforte þe false, [many—counforte] And comen to counforte fro care TUH₂D.] & sworen on þe hoolydom · þat "cesse schul we neuere [sworen—hoolydom] seide certis TUH₂D.] or mede be þi weddud wyf · þorouȝ witte of vs alle. [or] Til TUH₂D.] for we han mede a-maysterd · wiþ oure myri wordis [myri wordis] mery speche TH₂D; faire speche U.] Line 124 Þat heo graunteþ to goo · wiþ a good wille, to london to loke · if þe lawe wole [þe lawe] þat lawe TH₂D; þat þe lawe U.] Iugge ȝou Ioyntely · to be Ioyned for euer"]. [111—127. From H. Also in TUD and H₂, except line 118, which they omit.] [Iugge] Ioyne U. to—euer] in ioye for euere TH₂D; in lawe for euere U.] ¶ Þenne was Fals fayn · and Fauuel also bliþe, Line 128 And lette sompne alle men · In Cuntre a-boute, [lette] bad H. men] þe segges TUH₂; þe pepul H. cuntre] schyres HTUH₂. D reads, And let Symonye seche · al about in shires.] To Arayen hem redi · Boþe Burgeys and Schirreues, [

The other readings are, þat alle þei myȝten be bowne · beggers & oþer H;

And alle [to H₂] be boun · beggeris & oþere TUH₂D.

] To weende with hem to westmunster · to Witnesse þe deede. ¶ Þenne careden heo for Caples · to carien hem þider; [careden heo] cariede hy T; caareden þei H; cared þei UD. caples] cables D.] Line 132 Bote Fauuel fette forþ · Foles of þe beste, [Bote—fette] þanne fette fauel TUH₂D]

And sette Meede on a Schirreues Bak · I-schood al newe, [Schirreues bak] shirreue TUH₂D.] [& fals on a sysoures backe · þat softly trotted; (for falsnes aȝeyn þe feiþ · sisoures he defouleþ, Line 136 þoruȝ comburance of couetyse · clymben aȝeyn truþe, Þat þe feiþ is defouled · & falsly defamed, & falsnes is a lord I-woxe · & lyueþ as hym lykeþ): Fauel on a feyre speche · ful feyntly a-tyred; Line 140 (For feire speche þat is feiþles · is falsnes broþer; & þus sysoures ben sompned · þe false to serue, & feire-speche fauel · þat moche folke desceyueth)]. [

135—143. These lines are quoted from H; and those in parentheses occur in H only. V has only the one line,

And Fauuel on a Feir speche · Feynt|liche atyret.

T and D have only the two lines,

And fals sat on a sisour · þat softe|liche trottide,

And fauel vpon fair speche · fetis|liche atirid.

U has the same, omitting sat; H₂ has also two similar lines;

] ¶ Þenne Notaries none Hors hedden · anuyed þei weore, [Notaries — hedden] hadde notories none TUD; Notaries had noo horses H; þer hadde notories non hors H₂.] Line 144 Þat Symonie and Siuile · schulden go on foote. [Symonie—siuile] siuile and symonie H. go on foote] on here fet gange TUD; on fote gange H₂.] ¶ Þenne seide Siuile · and swor bi þe Roode, [

seide] swor TH₂D. swor] seide TH₂D.

OBS, H² has been closely collated only thus far; see the Preface.

] Þat Sompnors schulde ben sadelet · and seruen hem vchone; [seruen] beren U.] "And lette apparayle prouisours · on Palfreis wyse, [prouisours] þise prouisours THD; þe prouisours U. on] in THD.] Line 148 [Sire symonye hym-selfe · shal sitte on here bakkis], [From T; also in HUD and H₂. here backes] hym oone H.] And alle Denes and Sodenes · as Destreres dihten, [Denes—Sodenes] þe denis & southdenis TH₂; þe denes and sudenes U; þise officyales & deenys H; the denys sodenys D. Destreres] palfreyes H (in later hand). dihten] hem diȝte THUH₂D.] For þei schullen beren Bisschops · and bringen hem to reste. ¶ Paulines peple · for playntes in Constorie [Constorie] þe constrye H.] Line 152 Schal seruen my-self · þat Siuile hette;

Let Cart-sadele vr Commissarie · vr Cart he schal drawe, [Cart-sadele] sadele U; carte|sadil T. commissarie] comysaries H. vr—drawe] oure long carte þei schul drawe H.] And fetten vr vitayles · of þe Fornicatours; [of þe] at H; fro T; of UD.] And make liȝere a long cart · to leden alle þis oþure [make] makiþ of TUD.] Line 156 Fabulers and Faytours · þat on Fote rennen." [Fabulers] flaterers H; As folis TUD. rennen] iotten T.]

NOw Fals and Fauuel · fareþ forþ to-gedere, [Now] TUD omit. fareþ] goþ U.] And Meede in þe Middel · and al þe Meyne aftur. [middel] myddes U; myddis TD.] I haue no [tome] to telle · þe Tayl þat hem folweþ, [[tome T] tyme for H; tunge UD; V has while.] Line 160 Of so mony Maner Men · þat on Molde liuen. [Of—men] Of many maner of men TD; of alle manere of men U. Molde] þis molde TUD.] ¶ Bote gyle was for-goere · and [gyede] hem alle. [[gyede TUD] bygyed H (with by partly erased). V has gilede, a mistake evidently due to the word gyle preceding.] Soþnesse sauh hem wel · and seide bote luyte, [wel] D omits. luyte] a lytel HU; litel TD.] Bote prikede on his palfrey · and passede hem alle, [prikede] prikede forþ TU.] Line 164 And com to þe kynges Court · and Concience tolde, And Concience to þe kyng · Carpede hit aftur.

"NOw be crist," quod þe kyng · "ȝif I mihte Chacche [ȝif] And THD. mihte] mowe U.] Fals oþur Fauwel · or eny of his Feeres, [his] her H.] Line 168 I wolde be wreken on þis wrecches · þat worchen so ille, [on þis] on þoo H; of þise T; on þo UD. wrecches] U omits. worchen] wroughten U.] And don hem hongen bi þe hals · and al þat hem Meyntenen; [H omits this line. al] þey D.] Schal neuer [mon] vppon Molde · Meyntene þe leste, [neuer—vppon] neuer man of þis T; no man on H; neuer [man] on þis UD; where man is (in U) omitted; for mon V has non. meyn|tene þe leste] meynprise þe lest H; meynprise þe beste TUD.] But riht as þe lawe lokeþ · let fallen of hem alle. [lokeþ] wola loke H; wele D. of] on TUD.] Line 172 ¶ And Comaunde þe Cunstable · þat Com at þe furste, [Comaunde] comaunded HTUD. þe] a THUD. þat com] he com U.] To a-Tache þe Traytours · for eny Tresour, [a-Tache] take U. þe Tray|tours] þis tiraunt T; þese tirauntes U; þese tyrans D. Tresour] tresour, I hote TUD.]

Ich hote, ȝe Fetere Fals faste · for eny kunnes ȝiftus, [Ich hote ȝe] THUD omit. eny kunnes] ony kynne U; any skynes T; eny kynnes D; ony kynnes H. 176. gurdeþ] gederith T; gadereth U; gurde D.] And gurdeþ of gyles hed · let him go no forþer; Line 176 And bringeþ Meede to me · Maugre hem alle. [

to me] forth U.

OBS. In the margin of D is here written, Falsitas Deceptura Merces Simonia Mendax.

] ¶ Symonye and Siuile · I seende hem to warne, [seende] sente TD. warne] seye H.] Þat holichirche for hem · worþ harmet for euere. And ȝif ȝe chacche lyȝere · let him not a-skape, [chacche] take H; lacche TUD.] Line 180 To ben set on þe pillori · for eny preyere; [To ben set] Er he be put TD; Sette him H; Til he be set U. preyere] preyour, I hote TD; tresour, y hote U.] [I bydde þee awayte hem wele · let non of hem ascape]." [Occurs in H only.]

Dreede at þe dore stood · and þe [dume] herde, [stood] stant U. [dume] V has dune, clearly by mistake for dume; þis dome H; þat doom TD; þe dome U.] And wihtliche wente · to Warne þe False, [wente] wente he þo H] Line 184 And bad him faste to fle · and his feeres eke. [faste to fle] fleo fast H; fle for fere UTD. eke] alle TUD.] Þenne Fals for fere · fleih to þe Freeres, [fals] falsnesse TUD.] And gyle doþ him to go · a-gast for to dyȝe; [doþ] dide H. to go] awey U. a-gast for] and gast D.] Bote Marchaundes Metten with him · and maaden him to abyden, Line 188 Bi-souȝten him in heore schoppes · to sullen heore ware, [Bi-souȝten] & busscheden H; besshette TD; By-schytten U. sullen] shewen TD.] Apparayleden him as a prentis · þe Peple for to serue. Liȝtliche Lyȝere · leop a-wey þennes, Lurkede þorw lones · to-logged of Monye; [Lurkede] lurkynge TUD; H om. lones] hyrnes & lanus H; lanes TUD. to-logged] to-luggid THUD.] Line 192 He nas nouȝwher wel-come · for his mony tales, Bote ouur al I-hunted · and hote to trusse. [Bote] TUD omit. ouur al I-hunted] honsched as an hounde H. hote to] y-hote T; yhote go U.] Pardoners hedden pite · and putten him to house, [folio 396a:2] [pite] pytee of him H. putten] pulden TD; pullid UH.]

Wosschen him and wrongen him · and wounden him in cloutes, [Wosschen] wysshen TD; was|chid U. wrongen] wypide TUD. wounden] leyden H. cloutes] cloþis TUD.] Line 196 And senden him on sonendayes · with seales to churches, [senden] senten T; sent U. churches] þe churche H; chirche TUD.] And ȝaf pardun for pons · poundmele a-boute. [pons] pans H; panis T; pens UD.] ¶ Þis leornden þis leches · and lettres him senden [þis—leches] þanne louride lechis TUD; þerof herden leches H. him senden] besente T; he sente U; ben sent D.] For to [wone] with [hem] · watres to loke. [[wone THUD] ben V. For—wone] þat he schuld wone H. [hem THD] hym U. V has him, but the i is over an erasure.] Line 200 Spicers speeken with him · to a-spien heore ware, [

In H this line follows l. 208; and the lines answering to ll. 201, 202 run differently, viz. as follows:—

Spicers aspieden him · & speken wiþ him feyre,

& preyeden him priuely · to putte forþ her ware,

& he asured hem forsoþe · to serue hem for euer.

] For he kennede him in heore craft · and kneuȝ mony gummes. [kennede—craft] knewe her craft H; coude on here craft TUD. kneuȝ—gummes] couþe many Iapes H; knowith many gommes D.] ¶ Munstrals and Messagers · metten with him ones, [Munstrals, &c.] Messangers and mynstrels, &c. H.] And with-heo[l]de him half a ȝer · and elleuene wykes. [with-heo(l)de] wiþ-helden H; of-heeld U; withheld T; helden D. half a ȝer] an half ȝer H; half ȝer TU. wykes] dayes TUD.] ¶ Freres with feir speches · fetten him þennes; [Freres, &c.] wiþ faire speche freres, &c. U] Line 205 For knowynge of Comers · kepten him as a Frere; [kepten] copide TUD; copeden H.] Bote he haþ leue to lepen out · as ofte as him lykeþ, [lykeþ] luste H.] Line 207 And is wel-come whon he wole · and woneþ with hem ofte. [wole] cometh HU.] And alle fledden for fere · and flowen in-to huirnes; [And—fere] Alle oþur fledde for ferd H. huirnes] hernis T; hyrnes HU; hernes D.] Saue Meede þe Mayden · no mon dorste abyde; [no mon] no mo TUD; none H.] But trewely to telle · heo tremblede for fere, [fere] drede HU.] And eke wepte and wrong hire hondes · whon heo was a-tachet. [wepte] wep T; wepe HD; weep U. hire hondes] TUD omit.] Line 212