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 III.

[Passus, &c.; found in THUD.] [Passus Tercius de Visione.]

NOw is Meede þe Mayden I-nomen · and no mo of hem alle, [I-nomen and no mo] I-nomen H; and no mo TD; name U.] Wiþ Beodeles and Baylyfs · I-brouht to þe kyng. [wiþ] And with U. Baylyfs] with bayles H; baillys U. I-brouht] & brouȝt H.] Þe kyng clepet a Cler[ke] · (I knowe not his nome), [clepet] calliþ TD; called HU. cler(ke)] clerke THUD. knowe] con H; can TUD.] To take Meede þe Mayden · and Maken hire at ese. [To take] & bade him take H.] Line 4 "Ichulle assayen hire my-self · and soþliche aposen [Ichulle] I wolde U; I wile TD; I wole H. After my-self H inserts seyd þe kyng. soþliche] softly hir H.] What Mon in þis world · þat hire weore leouest. [in þis world] of þis moolde U.] And ȝif heo worche be my wit · and my wil folewe, [ȝif] H omits. my wit] wyt TD.] I schal for-ȝiue hire þe gult · so me god helpe!" [I schal] I wile TD; I wole HU. þe gult] þis gulte H; þis mysgilt D.] Line 8 ¶ Corteisliche þe Clerk þo · as þe kyng hihte, [þo] þanne TU; þen H; þan D. as þe king hihte] as his kynde wolde H.] Tok þe Mayden bi þe Middel · and brouhte hire to chaumbre. [þe mayden] mede TUD.] ¶ Þer was Murþe and Munstralsye · Meede with to plese; [with] TUD omit.] Heo þat woneþ at westmunstre · worschipeþ hire alle. [Heo] þei H; TUD omit. alle] ychoone H.] Line 12

Gentiliche with Ioye · þe Iustise soone [Iustise] Iustices THD. soone] wel soone H; to sowpen U.] Busked him in-to þe Bour · þer þe Buyrde was Inne, [him] hem THD. in-to] to TUD. Bour] chaumbur H. buyrde was Inne] burde dwelliþ TUD.]

Cumfortede hire kuyndely · and made hire good chere, [good cheere] at eese H. and—chere] be clergie leue TD. U reads, Curteisly confortide mede · by clergies leue.] And seide, "Mourne þou not, Meede, · ne make þou no serwe, [Mourne þou] ne mowrne þou H; mourne TUD.] Line 16 For we wolen wysen þe kyng · and þi wey schapen, [schapen] make TUD.] For alle Concience Craft · and Casten, as I trouwe, [

The readings are,

For al consiences cast · a craft as I trowe T.

For al concience caste · a crafte can we schewe H.

For al consciences cast · or craft as y trowe U.

For Al concience cast · a craft as I trowe D.

] [Þat þou schalt haue boþe myȝt & maystrye · & make what þe likeþ [In H only.] wiþ þe kynge & þe comyns · & þe courte boþe]." [In H only.] Line 20 ¶ Mildeliche þenne Meede · Merciede hem alle [Mildeliche] Mekely H. þenne Meede] mede þanne TD; mede U.] Of heore grete goodnesse · and ȝaf hem vchone [grete] U omits.] Coupes of clene Gold · and peces of seluer, Rynges with Rubyes · and Richesses I-nouwe, [I-nouwe] manye THUD.] Line 24 [Þe leste man of here mayne · a mutoun of gold]. [From T; occurs also in HUD.] ¶ Þenne [lauȝten] þei leue · þis lordynges, at Meede. [[lauȝten HD] lauȝte TU; tok V. leue] her leue H. lordynges] lordis TUD.] Wiþ þat þer come Clerkes · to Cumforte þe same: [þer] THUD omit. Cumforte] conforten hire TUD.] "We biddeþ þe be bliþe · for we beoþ þin owne, [We biddeþ þe] And bidden hire TD; & bade here U.] Line 28 Forte worche þi wil · while vr lyf dureþ." [vr] þi TD. dureþ] lastiþ THD.] ¶ Hendeliche þenne heo · be-hihte hem þe same, To louen hem lelly · and lordes to maken, [hem] ȝow U. lelly] truly H. to maken] hem make TH; ȝow make UD.] And in Constorie at Court · to tellen heore names. [at] at þe U. H reads, In courte & in constrye, &c. to tellen heore] callen here T; calle ȝour U; telleþ D.] Line 32 "Schal no lewednesse hem lette · þe lewedeste þat I loue [Schal] þer schal HU. lewedeste] lede TU; ladde D.] Þat he ne worþ avaunset; · for Icham I-knowe [he] þei H. worþ] worþ ferst TUD. I-knowe] beknowe TUD.]

Þer Cunnynge Clerkes · schul Couche be-hynde." [þer] þere as H. Couche] clokke TUD.]

ÞEnne com þer a Confessour · I-Copet as a Frere; Line 36 To Meede þe Mayden · ful Mekeliche he loutede, [ful] THUD omit.] And seide ful softely · in schrift as hit weore, [ful] wol U; wil D.] "Þauh lerede and lewede · hedden leyen bi þe alle, [alle] ichone T; boþe H; echone D.] And þauȝ Fals hedde folewed þe · þis Fiftene winter, [Fals] falsnesse UH; falshed TD. Fiftene] four score U.] Line 40 I schal asoyle þe my-self · for a summe of whete, [summe of] sem of T; seem U; seme of D.] And eke be þi Baude · and Bere wel þin ernde [Baude] baudekyn TU; bawd|strot H. ernde] arnede T; erande HD; arende U.] Among Clerkes and knihtes · Concience to falle." [falle] felle THUD.] Line 43

ÞEnne Meede For hire misdede · to þat Mon knelede, [knelede] lowtide U.] And schrof hire of hir sunnes · schomeliche, I trouwe. [sunnes] shrewidnesse THD. schomeliche] shameles THUD] Heo tolde him a tale · and tok him a noble, [Heo] TUD omit. tale] tokne U.] For to ben hire beode-mon · and hire Baude after. [beodeman—after] bawde · and bere wel hir erand H.] Line 47 ¶ Þene he asoylede hire soone · and [siþ] to hire seide, [V omits siþ; but H has siþ, TU siþen, D sethen.] "We han a wyndow in worching · wol stonden vs ful heiȝe: [in] of T. ful] wel T; wol U.] Woldustow Glase þe Gable · and graue þerinne þi nome, [Woldustow] woldist þou THUD. þerinne] þere TUD.] Siker schulde þi soule ben · for to dwellen in heuene." [for—heuene] heuen to haue TUD; heuen for to haue H.] ¶ "Wust I þat," quod þe wommon · "þer nis nouþur Wyndou ne Auter, [nouþur] THUD omit.] Line 52 Þat I ne schulde maken oþur mende · and my nome write, [þat—mende] þat I schulde mende or make H; þat I ne schulde graue and mende U. D omits ne.] Þat vche mon schulde seye · Ich were suster of house." [þat—seye] þat iche segge shal se T; þat men schulden sey H; þat eche segge schulde wite U; That eche man shal se D. Ich were] þat I were H; þat I am D; I am T. of] of ȝour TUD; of þe H.]

¶ Bote god to alle good folk · such grauynge defendet, And seiþ, Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextera. [to] and UD; T omits. defendet] defendiþ THUD. sinistra] sinister TD. dextera] dexter TD.] Lete not þi luft hond · late ne raþe, [hond] halfe U.] Line 56 Beo war what þi riht hond · worcheþ or deleþ; [Beo war] wite U. hond] half U. or] ne U.] Bote parte hit so priueli · þat pruide beo not seȝen [Bote—priueli] And (Ac D) so preuyliche parte it TUD; so priuely be it parted H.] Nouþer in siht, ne in soule · for god him-self knoweþ Ho is Corteis, or kuynde · Couetous, or elles. Line 60 ¶ For-þi I lere ȝou, lordynges · such writynge ȝe leue, [lere] rede HU. lordynges] lor|dis TUD. such—leue] leuiþ such wrytyng TD; such lernyngus to leue H; to leue swiche writynge U.] To writen in Wyndouwes · of ȝoure wel dedes, Or to greden aftur Godus folk · whon ȝe ȝiuen or doles; [folk] men TUD. or] THUD omit.] Parauenture ȝe han · oure hure þerfore here. [folio 396b:1] [Parauenture] An aunter TU; In auntur lest H; On Awnter D. oure] ȝoure THUD. þerfore] þerof TD. oure—here] ȝour mede for ȝour gode U.] Line 64 ¶ For vr saueour hit seiþ · and him-seluen precheþ,

Amen dico vobis, receperunt mercedem suam;

[seiþ] seide TUD. precheþ] prechid TUD. H reads,For of suche men oure sauyoure · seiþ in þe gospel. Amen] Amen, amen U.TD read, Amen, amen, recipiebant, &c.] [Here forsoþe þei fongen · her mede forþ-wiþ]. [Occurs in H only.] [

OBS.: ll. 67—77 comprise the passage of which readings from 29 MSS. are given in a pamphlet entitled "Par|allel extracts from 29 MSS. of Piers Plowman," &c.; by the Rev. W. W. Skeat (published for the E. E. T. S.).

] ¶ Meires and Maistres · and ȝe þat beoþ mene [Meires] ȝe meyres H. Maistres] macerys U. and—mene] hij þat ben mene T; þat beoþ ordeyned meenes H; þei þat ben mene UD; hij þat ben menene dwellyn H₂.] Bitwene þe kyng and þe Comuns · to kepe þe lawes; [þe] his U. to kepe þe lawes] þe lawe for to kepe H.] Line 68 As to punisschen on pillories · or on pynnyng stoles Brewesters, Bakers · Bochers and Cookes; [Brewesters] Breweris TUH₂D.] For þeose be Men vppon Molde · þat most harm worchen, [H omits these lines.] To þe pore people · þat [percel-mel] buggen. [H omits these lines.] [[percel-mel] TUD (and 14 other MSS.); V reads, þat al schal a-buggen.] Line 72

Line 72 ¶ Þei punisschen þe peple · priueliche and ofte, [punisschen] poisone TUH₂D; pylen H. peple] pore pepul H. and ofte] wel ofte TUH₂D.] And recheþ þorw Reg[r]atorie · and Rentes hem buggeþ, [recheþ] risen vp TH₂; richen UD. H reads, & waxen ryche regra|toures, &c.] With þat þe pore people · schulde puten in heore wombe. [With þat] Of þat TUH₂D. wombe] wombes HU.] ¶ For toke þei on trewely · þei timbrede not so hye, [toke—trewly] if þei token with trouthe H; ne toke þei so wrongwisly U; took he but trewly H₂.] Line 76 Ne bouȝte none Borgages · beo ȝe certeyne. [bouȝte none] schulde bye noo H. borgages] bargaynes U; bargages H₂. ȝe] ȝe wel TH₂; þou wol UD.]

BOte Meede þe Mayden · þe Meir heo bi-souȝte, Of alle suche sullers · seluer to taken, [suche sullers] selleris U. seluer to taken] for to take syluer H.] Or presentes withouten pons · as peces of seluer, [withouten pons] oþer pens U; withoute panis T. as] os H; or U.] Line 80 Rynges with Rubyes · þe Regratour to fauere. [with Rubyes] or oþer richesse T; or richesses U; or other richesses D. þe—fauere] þat regratour to meynteyne T; þese regratoures to fauoure H; þese regratours to meyn|tene U; Regratours to mayntene D.] "For my loue," quod þe ladi · "loue hem wel vchone [U omits this line. wel] THD omit.] And soffre hem to sulle · sumdel aȝeyn Resoun." ¶ Bote Salamon þe Sage · a Sarmoun he made, [Bote] TUD omit.] Line 84 To a-Mende Meires · and men þat kepeþ þe lawe; [To—meires] For to amende men TD; to amende wiþ þise meyres H. and men] TD omit.] And tolde hem þis teeme · þat I wol telle nouþe:

Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera.

[And—teeme] And tok hym þis teeme TUD; lo, þis was his teme H. wol—nouþe] telle þenke THUD.] Among þis lewede men · þis latin Amounteþ, [lewede men] lettride lordis TD; lettride men U.] Þat Fuir schal falle · and brenne atte laste [brenne] forbrenne TD; for|brenne right U.] Line 88 Þe houses and þe homes · of hem þat desyreþ For to haue ȝiftes · in ȝouþe or in elde. [For—ȝiftes] To haue ȝeftis for here seruice TD; to take ȝyftes amysse H; to haue mede for here seruyse U.] [Now beoþ ȝe war, if ȝe wole · ȝe maysturs of þe lawe;

for þe soþe schale be souȝte of ȝoure soules · so me god helpe, Line 92 Þe suffraunce þat ȝe suffre · such wrongus to be wrouȝt; While þe chaunce is in ȝoure choyse · cheose ȝe þe best]. [91—94. Occur in H only.]

ÞE king com from Counseyl · and cleped aftur Meede, [þe—counseyl] þe kinge fro coun|seil com T; þan þe kyng fro Counceil come D; Then cam þe kyng from þe counseyle H; þe king & his conseil com U. cleped] callide THUD.] And of-sente hire a-swiþe · Seriauns hire to fette, [

The readings are,

And ofsente hire as swiþe seriauntis hire fecche (fette D) TD;

And sent aftur hir asswiþe · seriawntis hir fette H;

& of-sente here swithe · wiþ seriauntes here fette U.

In the latter, fette is transferred by mistake to the beginning of the line following.

] Line 96 And brouȝte hire to boure · with Blisse and with Ioye; [boure] borugh T; þe boure H. with—Ioye] þere þe king was ynne H.] [wiþ myrþe & wiþ mynstrasye · þei pleseden hir ychoone]. [Occurs in H only.] Corteisliche þe kyng · Cumseþ to telle, [Corteisliche] Certis TD. cum|seþ to telle] þoo seyde to mede H.] To Meede þe Mayden · [meleþ þeose] Wordes: [H omits this line. [meleþ þeose] There is no doubt that such should be the reading; but in V the scribe has mis-written it melodyes, which is nonsense; in T and H₂ we find melis þise; in U it is moueþ þese; D corruptly has mekely þese.] Line 100 "[Unwittily, ywys,] · wrouht hastou ofte; [From T. V has the inferior reading, Qweynteliche, quaþ þe kyng; which makes the king begin to talk a third time. The other readings are, Certis unwysely H; Vnwittily wrought· hast þou wol ofte UD.] Bote worse wrouhtest þou neuere · þen whon þou fals toke. Ac I forȝiue þe þis gult · and graunte þe my grace; [H omits by mistake the last half of this line, and the first half of l. 104. my] TU omit.] Hennes to þi deþ day · do so no more. [do so] do þou so TUD; so þou do H.] Line 104 ¶ Ichaue a kniht hette Concience · com late from bi-ȝonde, [hette] U omits; D is here again corrupt.] Ȝif he wilne þe to wyf · wolt þou him haue?" [him haue] assente H.] ¶ "Ȝe, lord," quaþ þat ladi · "[Lord] for-beode hit elles! [ȝe] ȝa TU; ȝea H. [Lord TUD] V and H have God, which spoils the alliteration. hit] TH omit; U reads, lord it forbede elles.] Bote Ich holde me to oure heste · honge me sone!" [

TDH₂ omit this line. The others give,

Bote ich hoolly be at ȝoure heest · gurd off my nek H.

But y be holy at ȝour heste · hange me elles U.

] Line 108

Line 108 ¶ Þenne was Concience I-clepet · to comen and apeeren [I-clepet] callid THD; ycalled U. D omits concience.] To-fore þe kyng and his Counsel · Clerkes and oþure. [Tofore] Before THUD.] Kneolynge Concience · to þe kyng loutede, [to] þen to H.] [to wyte what his wille were · & what he do schulde]. [From H. What þat his wille were, &c. TD; What his wille were, &c. U. Omitted in V by mistake, for it leaves the sentence incomplete.] ¶ "Woltou wedde þis wommon," quod þe kyng · "ȝif I wol assente? [quod þe kyng] THUD omit. I] he D.] Line 113 Heo is fayn of þi felawschupe · for to beo þi make." [Heo] for sche UD; for heo TH.] ¶ "Nay," quaþ Concience to þe kyng · "Crist hit me forbeode! [Nay] TUD omit. me] T omits.] Er Ich wedde such a wyf · wo me bi-tyde! Line 116 ¶ Heo is frele of hire Flesch · Fikel of hire tonge; [Flesch] feiþ TUD. tonge] speche TUD; feiþ H.] Heo makeþ men misdo · moni score tymes; In trust of hire tresour · teoneþ ful monye. [teoneþ] she teniþ T; heo teoneþ H; sche troyteþ U; sche tenes D.] ¶ Wyues and widewes · wantounesse heo techeþ, [heo] TUD omit.] Line 120 Lereþ hem lecherie · þat loueþ hire ȝiftes; [Lereþ hem] leride hem TUD; lereþ hem to H. loueþ] louiden TD; louedyn U. þat—ȝiftes] & lecching of ȝeftis H.] Vr Fader Adam heo falde · wiþ Feire biheste; [

ȝoure fadir he fellide · þoruȝ false behest T;

fele men heo falliþ · wiþ faire behestis H;

ȝour fadir sche fellide · þurw false byhestes U;

ȝoure fader sche felde · with fals be-hestes D.

] Apoysende Popes · and peyreþ holy chirche. [Apoysende] Apoisonide TD; Apo[i]sowned U. H reads, & popes heo poiseneþ. and peyreþ] apeiride al TU; Apeyred D.] Þer nis no beter Baude · (bi him þat me made!) [þer nis no] I not a TD; Is noght a U.] Line 124 Bitwene heuene and helle · In eorþe þauȝ men souhte. [In] & TU.] ¶ Heo is Tikel of hire Tayl · Talewys of hire tonge, As Comuyn as þe Cart-wei · to knaues and to alle; [80—127. Transposed in D; see pre|face.] [knaues—alle] knaue & to monke TU; knaues & to monkes D.]

To Preostes, to Minstrals · to Mesels in hegges. [To—minstrals] To mynstrelis, to messangeris TUH₂; To monkis, to minstrals H. to mesels] many tyme U.] Line 128 Sisours and Sumpnours · suche men hire preisen; [sumpnours] schereues U.] Schirreues of schires · weore schent ȝif heo nere. [U omits this line. nere] ne were T.] ¶ Heo doþ men leosen heore lond · and heore lyues after, [lond] lyf U. lyues] lond U; life T. after] eke H; boþe T.] And leteþ passe prisons · and payeþ for hem ofte. [passe prisons] prisouns passe H; passe prisoners T; passe þe pri|soneres U.] Line 132 Heo ȝeueþ þe Iayler Gold · and grotes to-gedere, [Heo] And THU. Iayler] gaileris TU. to-gedere] among H.] To vn-Fetere þe False · and fleo where hem lykeþ. [And—lykeþ] fle where hym likeþ TU.] Heo takeþ þe trewe bi þe top · and tiȝeþ him faste, [þe trewe] treuþe HU. tiȝeþ him] teieþ hym vp U.] And hongeþ him for hate · þat harmede neuere. [hate] hattrede THU. harmede] harm dide H.] Line 136 Heo þat ben Curset in Constorie · counteþ hit not at a Russche; [Heo þat ben] þeiȝ heo be H; To be TU. counteþ] heo countiþ TH; sche ȝyueþ U. at] THU omit. Russche] cresse H.] For heo Copeþ þe Comissarie · and Coteþ þe Clerkes; [coteþ þe] cloþiþ hise TU.] Heo is asoyled as sone · as hire-self lykeþ.

Heo may as muche do · In a Mooneþ ones, [Heo may] She may neiȝ T; Sche may ny U. as muche do] do as myche H.] Line 140 As [ȝoure] secre seal · In Seuen score dayes. [[ȝoure TH] vre V; þe U. seuen—dayes] foure score wintris H.] Heo is priue with þe Pope · Prouisours hit knowen; [128—142. Omitted in D.] Sir Simonie and hire-self · asselen þe Bulles; [asselen] selen HU; seliþ TD.] Heo Blessede þe Bisschopes · þouȝ þat þei ben lewed. [Heo—þe] She blissiþ þise TUD; Heo examyneþ þe H. þouȝ—ben] ȝif þei be T; if þei beþ H; þo þat ben D.] Line 144 ¶ Prouendreres, persuns · Preostes heo meynteneþ, [

Prouendrours, prestis & per|sones · she maynteniþ to holde T; (D same, omitting prestis &);

Prouendrours, persones · pres|tes sche meynteneþ to holde U.

] To holde Lemmons and Lotebyes · al heor lyf-dayes, [TUD omit to holde here; see l. 145.]

And bringeþ forþ Barnes · aȝeyn forbodene lawes. [bringeþ] bringen TUD. for|bodene] forbode HU.] Þer heo is wel with þe kyng · wo is þe Reame! [wel] U omits.] Line 148 For heo is Fauerable to Fals · and fouleþ Treuþe ofte. [folio 396b:2] [fouleþ] falliþ H; foloweþ D.] ¶ Barouns and Burgeis · heo bringeþ to serwe, [Burgeis] bachelers H. to] in TD.] Heo Buggeþ with heore Iuweles; · vr Iustises heo schendeþ. [Be Ihesu, wiþ hire Iuelx · ȝoure Iustice she shendiþ TUD; where for Iuelx U has Ieweles, D Iuels. heo] & hem H.] Heo lihþ aȝeyn þe lawe · and letteþ so faste, [Heo lihþ] And leiþ TD; Sche leyth U; Makiþ hem liȝe H. letteþ so faste] lettiþ þe treuþe T; letteþ treuthe ofte U; letteþ it so fast H. D corrupt, here and in next line.] Line 152 Þat Feiþ may not han his forþ · hir Florins gon so þikke. [not—forþ] haue no forþ H.] Heo ledeþ þe lawe as hire luste · and loue-dayes makeþ, [Heo—þe] She let T. hire luste] heo wol H.] Þe Mase for a Mene mon · þauȝ he mote euere. [Mene] pore U. þauȝ—euere] þei he plede euere H.] Lawe is so lordlich · and loþ to maken eende, [so lordlich] now lordschipe D.] Line 156 With-outen presentes or pons · heo pleseþ ful fewe. [pons] panis T; penyes H; pens UD. ful] wel H.] Clergye an Couetise · heo Coupleþ to-gedere. [an] & THD; and U.] Þis is þe lyf of þe ladi · vr lord ȝif hire serwe! [þe] þat TUD; þy H.] Line 159 And alle þat Meynteneþ hire · [myschaunce hem bytide]! [Meynteneþ hire] hire meyn|teneþ H; meintene here men UT. [myschaunce hem bytide] From H; TUD have the same. V merely repeats, vr lord ȝif hem care.] For [þe] pore may haue no pouwer · to playne, þauȝ hem smerte, [V omits þe, but it is found in H. TUD have, For pouere men, &c. to—smerte] to pleyne hem þeiȝe þei smerte U.] Such a Mayster is Meede · A-Mong Men of goode."

ÞEnne Mornede Meede · and Menede hire to þe kyng [menede] pleyned HU.] To haue space to speken · spede ȝif heo mihte. Line 164 Þenne þe kyng graunted hire grace · with a good wille: [þenne] THUD omit.] "Excuse þe, ȝif þou const · I con no more seye; [no more seye] sey no more H.] For Concience haþ a-cuiset þe · to Congeye for euere." [haþ a-cuiset] acusiþ TUD. congeye] cunge T; conieye þe H; conge þe D; cunge þe U.]

"Nay, lord," quaþ þat ladi · "leef him þe worse Line 168 Whon ȝe witen witerliche · Wher þe wrong lihþ. [lihþ] liggeþ TD; liþ H; duel|lith U.] ¶ Þer Mischef is gret lord · Meede may helpe, [grete lord] gret TUD; most H. mede—helpe] mede it may amende H; mede mayde may helpe D.] And þou knowest, Concience · I com not to chyde, [And þou knowest] þou know|ist wel H. com not] can nouȝt for T.] Ne to depraue þi persone · with a proud herte. [depraue] dispise U.] Line 172 ¶ Wel þou wost, Concience · (But ȝif þou wolt lyȝe), Þow hast honged on my Nekke · Enleue tymes; [Nekke] half TUD (one would expect to find half (= hals, a neck) but it is plainly half). Enleue] en|leuene TU; elleuen DH.] And eke I-gripen of my gold · and ȝiuen þer þe lykede. [I-gripen of] grepe TD; gripen U. ȝyuen þer] gyue it where TD. lykede] list H; likiþ TD.] Whi þou wraþþest þe now · wonder me þinkeþ! Line 176 For ȝit I may as I mihte · menske þe wiþ ȝiftes, [For] THUD omit. menske] mylde U; auaunce TD.] And Meyntene þi Monhede · more þen þou knowest, And þou hast famed me foule · bifore the kyng heere. [And] But H. heere] nowþe H.] ¶ For Culde I neuere no kyng · ne counseilede þer-after; [

Culde] kilde TU; kelled D. H reads,

& I agult hym neuer · ne his counsel neþer.

] Ne dude i neuere as þou dust · I do hit on þe kyng! [Ne—dust] Ne dide as þou demist TUD; for I dede neuer as þou didest H. þe kyng] þy-silue H.] Line 181 ¶ In Normandie nas he not · a-nuyȝed for my sake; [anuyȝed—sake] noied for me U.] Ac þou þi-self soþliche · schomedest him þere, [schomedest] asshamidest T; aschamyd H; schamed D. þere] ofte TD. U reads, Ac þou self sikerly · conseiledest hym þennes: see l. 199.] Creptest in-to a Caban · for Colde of þi nayles, [Creptest] þou creptest H; Crope TD; creep U.] Line 184 Wendest þat wynter · wolde haue last euere, [Wendest] þou wendest H. haue] UD omit. last] y-last H.] And dreddest to haue ben ded · for a dim Cloude, [to—ded] þe to be deed U; to be ded T; for to be ded D.] And hastedest hamward · for hunger of þi wombe! [And hastedest] And hastide þe TD; þou hastedest þee H; & hasti|dest þe U.] ¶ Withouten pite, pilour! · pore Men þou robbedest, [pite] riȝt H. pilour] þou pilour HU.]

And beere heor bras on þi Bac · to Caleys to sulle. Line 189 Þer I lafte with my lord · his lyf forto saue, [lafte] lefte TU.] Maade him murþe ful muche · Mournynge to lete, [

& made him merie · morn|ynge to lete H;

And made hym murþe · mourn|yng to leue TD;

And made hym mirthes · fro morwe til eue U.

] Battede hem on þe Bakkes · to bolden heore hertes, [Battede—Bakkes] And bater|ide hym on þe bak T; & batrid men on here backis H; I batride on þe bak UD. to—hertes] boldite his herte TUD.] Dude hem hoppe for hope · to haue me at wille. [Dude hem] Dede hym TD; & dide hym U; I made hem H. hoppe] D omits. hope] ioiȝe H. wille] here wille H; his wille U.] Line 193 Hedde I be Marchal of his Men · (bi Marie of heuene)! [Marchal] marchaunt (!) TD. Men] oost H. Marie] maries loue H; mary loue U.] I durste haue I-leid my lyf · and no lasse wed, [lyf] heed U. lasse] wors D.] He hedde beo lord of þat lond · in lenkþe and in brede; [hedde be] schuld haue be THUD.] And eke kyng of þat cuþþe · his cun for to helpe; [cuþþe] kiþ TH₂; kytthe U; cuntrey H; kyth D. cun] kyn THUD.] Line 197 Þe leeste barn of his blod · a Barouns pere. [barn] brol TUD.] ¶ Soþliche, þou Concience · þou counseildest him þennes, [Soþliche] but soþely H; Cowardliche UD. T omits this very necessary line.] To leue þat lordschupe · for a luitel seluer, [þat] his TUD. seluer] disese H.] Line 200 Þat is þe Riccheste reame · þat Reyn ouer houeþ! [þat—houeþ] þat regniþ ouer on T; þat regneþ ouer one D.]

Hit bicomeþ For a kyng · þat kepeþ a Reame [for] to H; TUD omit.] To ȝiue meede to men · þat mekeliche him seruen; [mede—men] hise men mede TUD. mekeliche] menskly H.] To Aliens, to alle Men · to honoure hem with ȝiftes. [To] And U. hem] U omits.] Line 204 Meede makeþ him beo bilouet · and for a Mon I-holden. [him] U omits. beo] H omits.] Emperours and Eorles · and alle maner lordes [Emperours] dukis H.] Þorw ȝiftes han ȝonge men · to renne and to ride. ¶ Þe pope and his prelates · presentes vnderfongen, [and] wiþ TUD.] Line 208 And Meedeþ men hem-seluen · to meyntene heore lawes. [men hemseluen] men hymselfe T; gretly men H; hem hym-selue U; men here-self D. heore] here THD; his U.]

¶ Seruauns for heore seruise · (ȝe seon wel þe soþe), [Seruauns] seruauntis THUD. ȝe—soþe] we se wel þe soþe TUD; wite ȝe for soþe H.] Takeþ Meede of heore Maystres · as þei mowen a-corde. Beggers for heore biddyng · Biddeþ Men [meede]; [U omits this line. biddyng] bedis H. [mede THH₂D] V has mete, which is out of place entirely.] Line 212 Munstrals for heor Murþe · Meede þei asken. ¶ Þe kyng Meedeþ his Men · to maken pees in londe; [Meedeþ] haþ mede of U; haþ nede (sic) of TD.] Men þat knoweþ Clerkes · Meede hem craueþ. [Men þat ben clerkis · crauen of hym mede TUD; & þese kunnynge clerkis · crauen vpon mede H.] ¶ Prestes þat precheþ · þe peple to goode Line 216 Askeþ Meede and Masse-pons · and heore Mete eke. [Masse-pons] messe-penis TUD; maspenyes H. eke] alse TUD.] Alle kunne craftes men · craueþ Meede for heore prentys; [Alle—craftes] Of alle kyn crafty T; Alle kynne crafty U; & alle manere craftis H; alle kende crafty D. for] to H.] Meede and Marchaundie · mot [nede] go to-gedere. [[nede] V has not, which is contrary to the sense; the others have these half-lines: mote nede go to|gidere TH₂D; most nede holde to|gedris H; mot nede mete to-gidres U.] Line 219 Þer may no wiht, as I wene · with-outen Meede libbe." [No wiȝt as I wene · wiþoute mede miȝte libbe TU. mede] mete D. libbe] lyue H.]

"NOW," quod þe kyng to Concience · "be crist, as me þinkeþ, [Now] þo H; TUD omit. as me þinkeþ] þat me made H.] Meede is Worþi · Muche Maystrie to haue!" [muche] þe TUD.] "Nay," quod Concience to þe kyng · and knelede to grounde; [grounde] þe grounde H; þe erþe TUD.] "Þer beoþ twey maner of Meedes · my lord, bi þi leue. [my] U omits. þi] ȝour THUD.] Þat on, good God of his grace · ȝiueþ, in his blisse, [þat on] þe ton U. good] THU omit. ȝiueþ] haþ grauntid H. D is corrupt.] Line 225 To hem þat wel worchen · whil þat þei ben here. [wel worchen] werchen wel TUD. þat] THUD omit.] ¶ Þe Prophete hit prechede · and put hit in þe psauter,

Qui peccuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram, & c.

[hit prechede] prechiþ it T; prechide it UD. and—psauter] and preued it in þe sauter H. non dedit] dat H; dedit TH₂D. ad] in H.]

Tak no Meede, mi lord · of Men þat beoþ trewe; [folio 397a:1] [men] hem T.] Line 228 Loue hem, and leeue hem · for vr lordes loue of heuene; Godes Meede and his Merci · þer-with þou maiht winne. [þou maiht] miȝte þou THD; myghtow U.] ¶ Bote þer is a Meede Mesureles · þat Maystrie desyret, [Bote] TUD omit. Maystrie desyret] maystrie desireþ H; maistris desiriþ TD; maistres desyren U.] To Meyntene Misdoers · Meede þei taken; Line 232 And þerof seiþ þe psauter · in þe psalmes eende,

In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt; dextera eorum repleta est muneribus;

[

And þerof seide þe sauter · in a salmis ende T;

And þat witnessiþ wel þe sauter · of wicked men H;

UD like T, but with seith for seide. In quorum] Inimicorum (!) H.

] [þat here riȝthond is hepid · ful of ȝeftis], [In H only.] And heo þat gripeþ heore ȝiftus · (so me God helpe!) [And—ȝiftus] But he þat grip|eþ siche ȝeftis H. ȝiftus] gold U.] Þei schullen a-Bugge bitterly · or þe Bok lyȝeþ! [þei] he H; TUD omit. þei—bitterly] he schal abigge it bitterly H; Schal abye ful bitere U.] Line 236 ¶ Preostes and Persones · þat plesyng desyreþ, [Preostes—Persones] Persouns & prestis H. þat — desyreþ] þat penyes desiren H; þat plesynges de|siren U.] And takeþ Meede and moneye · for Massen þat þei syngen, [And takeþ] to take H; Schal take U; þat take TD. D omits & moneye.] Schullen han Meede in þis Molde · þat Matheu haþ I-grauntet;

Amen dico vobis, receperunt mercedem suam.

[Schullen] þei H. Meede] þe mede U; here mede H. in] on THD; of U. þat—I-grauntet] with|outen eny more H. H omits the Latin quotation. Amen — vobis] Amen, amen TD. receperunt] recipie|bant TUD.] Þat laborers and louh folk · taken of heore Maystres, [louh folk] lewid men H; loud (or lond) folk U.] Line 240 Nis no Maner Meede · bote Mesurable huyre. [Nis] hit nis H; It is UD; Is T. Meede] of mede T. bote] but a TUD.] ¶ In Marchaundise nis no Meede · I may hit wel avoue; [nis] is TUD.] Hit is a permutacion · a peni for anoþer. [It is a permutacion apertly, &c. TD; but a-pert permytacion · as a, &c. H; It is apertly a permutacion, &c. U. peni] peny-worth UD.]

But Raddest þou neuer Regum · [þou] recreiȝede Meede, [[þou TUH₂D] þat VH.] Whi þat veniaunce fel · on Saul and his chi[l]dren? [whi] how H. and] and on TU; and eke on D.] Line 245

God sende to seie · Bi Samuels mouþe, [sende—seie] sente hym to segge TU; sende him to say H; sent hym to sayne D.] Þat Agag and Amalec · and al his peple aftur, [Agag] achar U. and Amalec] of amaleg TH; for Amalec D. al] TD omit.] Schulden dye for a dede · þat don hedde his eldren [his] here T.] Aȝeynes Israel and Aaron · and Moyses his broþer. [TUD omit this line.] Line 249 ¶ Samuel seide to Saul · God seendeþ þe and hoteþ [and hoteþ] to say H.] To beo boxum and boun · his biddyng to worche; [boun] bold U. worche] ful|fille TUD.] "Weend þider with þin host · wymmen to Culle, [Wend þou to amalek wiþ þine ost · þe cuntre to quelle H.] Line 252 Children and Cheorles · Chop hem to deþe, [chop] dryue H; schap D.] Loke þow culle þe kyng · Coueyte not his goodes [U omits this line, and also ll. 255, 256.] For Milions of Moneye; · Morþer hem vchone. [Milions] any mylionis THD. morþer] murdre T; molde H; morder H₂; muldre D.] Bernes and Beestes · Brenne hem al to askes." [burwes & bernes · & bestis þou brenne H. al to askes] to deþe TD.] Line 256 ¶ And for he culde not þe kyng · as crist him-self hihte, [him-self hihte] hymself sende H; hym selue bad U; bode sente T; hym boþe sente D.] Coueytede feir catel · and [culde] not his Beestes, [Coueytede] but coueyted UH. feir] here TU; þe H; his D. his] here H. and—Beestes] kilde not hire bestis TH₂UD; hence culde is the reading; V and H read slouh, slow.] Bote brouhte wiþ him þe Beestes · as þe Bible telleþ, [him—Beestes] hem here goodis H. telleþ] techiþ H; hym tolde (!) T; tolde D.] ¶ God sende to seye · þat [Saul] schulde dye, [God seide to samuel · þat saul shulde deiȝe TUD. [Saul] So in THUH₂D; V has Samuel, which is obviously wrong.] Line 260 And al his seed for þat Sunne · schendfulliche ende. [schendfulliche] senfully schulde T; schendfully schuld D.] Such a Mischef Meede · made þe kyng to haue, [Mischef] mysdede U.] Þat God hatede him euere · and his heires after. [hatede—euere] hatiþ þat kinge T; hateth þe kyng D; hatid hym for euer H; hatide þe kyng for euere U. his] alle hise THUD.]

Þe Culorum of þis [clause] · kepe I not to schewe, [culorum] coloure H. [clause] Inserted on the authority of T and H₂; not in VHU; D has the para|phrase, The ende of þis terme · y oute to schewe.] Line 264 In Auenture hit [nuyȝed] me · an ende wol I make: [Omitted in H.] [In—me] An Aunter it me noi|ȝide T; An aunter ȝif it noiede me U; On Aunter it noyed me now D. [nuyȝed] Such should be the reading; cf. l. 182. In V it is miswritten munged.] ¶ And riht as Agag hedde · hapne schulle summe; [Omitted in H.] [hapne—summe] happe shal somme T; hap men schul se som tyme U; happed ende schul somme D.] Samuel schal slen him · and Saul schal be blamet, [þen samuel slowe agag · and saul was y-blamyd H.] Dauid schal ben Dyademed · and daunten hem alle, [& dauid was diademyd · and daunted hem alle H. daunten] dam|nen D.] Line 268 And on cristene kyng · kepen vs vchone. [266—269. In TUD these four lines follow l. 271, ll. 270, 271 being made to follow l. 265.] [on] o T; one U. kepen vs] kept hem H; to kepen vs U.] Concience knoweþ þis; · for kuynde wit me tauȝte [Concience knoweþ] In con|sience knowe I TU; I consciens knew H. kuynde wit] kynde it TD; resoun it U.] Þat Resun schal regne · and Reames gouerne; Schal no more Meede · be Mayster vppon eorþe, Line 272 Bote loue and louhnesse · and leute to-gedere. [leute] leaute T; lyaunce D.] ¶ And heo þat trespasseþ to trouþe · or doþ aȝeyn his wille, [

And who-so trespassiþ trewely · & takiþ to þe wronge T;

And who trespaseth treuliche · and taketh aȝens right U;

And ho-so trespaced treuþe · & takeþ ony þyng D.

] Leute schal don him lawe · or leosen his lyf elles. [His wykkide leaute shal do hym lawe · or lese his lif ellis TU; D simi|lar, with liaunce for leaute, and and for or.] Schal no seriaunt for þat seruise · were a selk houue, [a—houue] no selk gowne U.] Ne no Ray Robe · wiþ Riche pelure. [wiþ] of HT; with no D.] Line 277 ¶ Meede of misdoers · makeþ men so riche, [Meede—misdoers] meede wiþ her mysdedis H. men] hem THUD.] Þat lawe is lord I-waxen · and leute is pore. [leute] lyaunce D.] Vnkuynde[n]esse is Comaundour · and kuyndenesse is Banescht. [Vnkuynde(n)esse] wickednes HU; vnkyndenesse TD.] Line 280 [Ac] kuynde wit schal come ȝit · and Concience to-gedere, [[Ac] V has And; but Ac (TUD) gives far better sense, and H has but.] And make of lawe a laborer · such loue schal aryse!"