L.7.21KD.7.21 And for þei swere by her soule · and so god moste hem helpe
M.7.21KD.7.21And for þei swere by hire soule and alsM.7.21: M's reading of als is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read so. god hem helpe .
Cr1.7.21KD.7.21 And for they swere by her soul , & so god must hem help
W.7.21KD.7.21 And for þei swere by hir soule . and so god moste hem helpe
Hm.7.21KD.7.21 and for þey swere by her sowle · & so god mote hem helpe
C.7.21KD.7.21 And for þey swere by hir saule · and so god moste hem helpe
G.8.21KD.7.21 & for they swareG.8.21: G's sware could be a preterite, but it is also a possible present tense form. See OED swear, v. Dobson suggests (English Pronunciation, 733, Note 1) that infinitive forms such as sware and tar for "swear" and "tear" may well be due to the analogical influence of the past tense, and that such forms were more likely
in the North and the East. For Northernisms in G, see Introduction III.4.1. by þer souvle & by god hym-seluve
O.7.21KD.7.21And for þei sweren bi her soule & so god muste hem helpe
R.7.21KD.7.21 And for þei swere ofteR.7.21:
In place of alpha's non-alliterating ofte, beta reads by her
soule, which agrees with the phrasing of both the A and C versions. so godR.7.21: Beta has and so god moste hem helpe. This is also the reading of the other two
versions.
hem helpe .
F.5.1005KD.7.21& for þey sweryn oftynF.5.1005: Alpha is responsible for erroneous oftyn for beta's "by hir soule and." / so grete godF.5.1005: Alpha is responsible for omitting Bx's moste before hem. hem helpe.