<div1>
<milestone>fol. 1rI</milestone>
<foreign>Assit principio <del>Sancta</del><add>filius</add> Maria<add>e</add> meo</foreign><note>M.P.0: The heading is written in a similar ink to that of the text but in a much less formal style, and is probably later than the main scribe. Though rubbed, it appears originally to have read <hi>Assit principio Sancta Maria meo</hi> with <hi>Sancta</hi> then deleted by way of underlining and replaced by <hi>filius</hi>, and <hi>Maria</hi> altered to <hi>Mariae</hi>. Christopher de Hamel notes that "invocations such as 'assit principio meo ihesus maria'" were typical pen-trials "written in tiny script along the very upper margin of the first page" (<title>Medieval Craftsmen: Scribes and Illuminators</title> [London, 1992] p. 37).</note>
<head><supplied>Prologue</supplied></head>
<lg>
<l><hi><hi>I</hi></hi>N a somer seson  whanne softe was the s<del>.</del><add>o</add>nne</l>
<l>I sho<del>..</del><add>op</add> me in<add>to</add><note>M.P.2: M's original reading without <hi>to</hi> agreed with GYOC<hi>2</hi>CLH.</note> shroudes  as I a sheep were</l>
<l>In habit<del>e</del> as an hermite  vnholy of werkes</l>
M.P.4KD.P.4
<l>Went<add>e</add> wyde in þis world<del>e</del>  won<del>.....</del><add>dres<seg> —</seg></add> to here</l>
<l>Ac<note>M.P.5: Kane and Donaldson note that <hi>Ac</hi> is erased. But the word is simply worn—as are many places on this first leaf.</note> on a may mornynge  on maluerne hulles</l>
<l>Me byfel a ferly  of fair<del>.</del><add>y</add> me thouȝte</l>
<l>I was wery for<seg>-</seg>wandred  and went<add>e</add> me to reste</l>
M.P.8KD.P.8
<l>Vndur a brod<del>e</del> bank<del>e</del>  by a <del>..</del><add>bo</add><expan>ur</expan>nes syde</l>
<l>And as I la<del>i</del><add>y</add> and lened  and loked on þe wateres</l>
<l>I slombrede in a slepinge  it swey<del>..</del><add>ed</add> so merye . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>Thanne gan I to meten  a meru<del>......</del><add>eilous</add> sweuene</l>
M.P.12KD.P.12
<l>That I was in a wildernesse  wyste <add>I</add><note>M.P.12: M's original reading without <hi>I</hi> agreed with Cr.</note> neuere where</l>
<l><del>...?...</del><add>And as I bihelde</add> <add>in</add><seg>-</seg>to<note>M.P.13: It may be that the original reading was <hi>As I bihelde into</hi>, but the corrector miscalculated the space and so had to put <hi>in</hi> above the line.</note> þe est  an heiȝgh to þe s<del>u</del><add>o</add>nne</l>
<l>I sa<del>..</del><add>y</add> a tour on a tofte <del>.</del>rielyche<note>M.P.14: The erasure of what is probably a <t> is evidence of discomfort with the rare word <hi>trielyche</hi>. The same erasure is found in C, while H reads <hi>ryaly</hi> and HmCr<hi>12</hi> read <hi>rychely</hi>.</note> y<seg>-</seg>maked<del>e</del></l>
<l>A de<del>..</del><add>ep</add> dale bynethe  a doungeou<expan>n</expan> þere<seg>-</seg><del>...</del><add>I</add>nne</l>
M.P.16KD.P.16
<l>W<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> depe diches & derke  and dredeful of sighte</l>
<l>A fair<del>e</del> field<del>e</del> ful of folk<del>e</del>  fond<del>e</del> I there bitw<del>...</del><add>ene</add></l>
<l>Of alle man<expan>er</expan>e of men  þe mene and þe rych<add>e</add></l>
<l>Worchinge and wandrynge  as þe world askeþ . </l>
M.P.20KD.P.20
<l>Su<expan>m</expan>me put hem to þe plow  pleied ful selde</l>
<l>In settynge and sowynge  swonken ful harde</l>
<l>And wonnen that wastours  w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> glotonye destruyeth . </l>
<l>And summe putten hem to pr<del>u</del><add>y</add>de  apparailled he<expan>m</expan> <del>..</del><add>þ<expan>er</expan></add><seg>-</seg><orig>aft<del>..</del><add>r</add>r</orig><reg>aft<del>..</del><add>e</add>r</reg><note>M.P.23: The scribe usually wrote <hi>aftur</hi>, and the corrector occasionally alters to <hi>after</hi>, e.g. at M.1.70. Here he miscorrects.</note> . </l>
M.P.24KD.P.24
<l>In continaunce of clothynge  comen disgised<del>e</del> . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>In praiers and in penaunce  putten hem manye</l>
<l>Al for loue of oure lord<del>e</del>  lyueden ful streyte</l>
<l>In hope <del>...</del><add>for</add> to haue  heuenriche blisse . </l>
M.P.28KD.P.28
<l>As ancres and herm<del>.</del><add>y</add>tes  that holden hem in here selles . </l>
<l>And coue<del>....</del><add>iten</add> nouȝt<del>e</del> in contre  to kairen a<seg>-</seg>bouten</l>
<l>For no likerous l<del>.....</del><add>iflode</add>  her lykam<add>e</add> to plese</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>And so<expan>m</expan>me chosen chaffare  thei cheued the bettr<del>.</del><add>e</add></l>
M.P.32KD.P.32
<l>As it semeþ to oure siȝt  þat suche men thryueth</l>
<l>And so<expan>m</expan>me murthes to make  as mynstrales conneth</l>
<l>And geten gold with here glee  syn<del>.....</del><add>nelees</add> I leue<note>M.P.34: A wormhole has damaged half the <u>.</note></l>
<l>As<note>M.P.35: The <s> on <hi>As</hi> has an extra blot of ink, but it is the same hand and ink as the rest of the word, <foreign>pace</foreign> Kane and Donaldson.</note> iapers and iangelers  Iudas chyldren</l>
M.P.36KD.P.36
<l><add>Þ<expan>a</expan>t</add><note>M.P.36: The addition of <hi>Þ<expan>a</expan>t</hi> brings M into agreement with YOC<hi>2</hi>.</note> Faynen hem fantasies  and fooles hem maketh</l>
<l>And han h<del>.....</del><add>ir wyt</add> at will<add>e</add>  to worchen <del>ȝ</del>if þei sholde . </l>
<l>That poul<del>e</del> p<expan>re</expan>cheþ of hem  I nel no<del>...</del><add>ght</add> preue it heere . </l>
<milestone>fol. 1vI</milestone>
<l><hi><foreign>Qui <add>loquit<expan>ur</expan></add> turpiloquium & c<expan>etera</expan>. <add>e<expan>st</expan> seru<expan>us</expan> diaboli</add></foreign></hi><note>M.P.39: The abbreviated reading has been expanded by two different fifteenth-century hands. No other manuscript (in any version) lacks the supplied <hi>loquit<expan>ur</expan></hi>. The second half-line is lacking also in LCr<hi>1</hi>C; other manuscripts have <hi>is luciferes hyne</hi> or variants upon it, of which the added <hi>e<expan>st</expan> seru<expan>us</expan> diaboli</hi> in M is a translation. No direct source for the line has been found (see John Alford, <title>Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations</title> [Binghamton, 1992] p. 33), so that the additions presumably derive from another text of the poem.</note></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
M.P.40KD.P.40
<l>Bidders and beggers  faste aboute yede<del>n</del></l>
<l>Wyþ here bely and here bagge  of breed ful ycrammed . </l>
<l>Faiteden for here fode  fouȝten atte ale </l>
<l>In glotonye god it wot  goon <del>..</del><add>thei</add> to bedde</l>
M.P.44KD.P.44
<l>And rysen with rybaudie  þo Roberdes knaues . </l>
<l>Sleep and sory sleuthe  suweth hem eu<expan>er</expan>e . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l><sic>Pilg<del>ri</del><add>y</add>mes</sic><corr>Pilg<del>ri</del><add>[r]y</add>mes</corr><note>M.P.46: <hi>Pilgymes</hi> was formed inadvertently when the corrector combined the <r>and the <i> to form a <y>.</note> and palmers  pliȝted hem to<seg>-</seg>g<del>.</del><add>i</add>dre</l>
<l>To seke seint Iames  and saint<del>u</del><add>y</add>s in Rome . </l>
M.P.48KD.P.48
<l>Thei wenten forth in here way  w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> many wyse tales</l>
<l>And hadden leue for to lie  al hire l<del>..</del><add>y</add>f a<del>...</del><add>fter .</add></l>
<l>I seigh so<expan>m</expan>me that saiden  þei had ysouȝt<del>e</del> seint<del>.</del><add>e</add>s</l>
<l>To eche a tale that þei toold<add>e</add>  here <del>...</del><add>to</add>nge<note>M.P.51: The intent was to alter the <u> of <hi>tunge</hi> to <o>, but the result looks more like <a>.</note> was tempred to lie</l>
M.P.52KD.P.52
<l>More <del>....</del><add>than</add> to saie soth  it semed by here speche . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>Hermytes on a heep  with hokud staues</l>
<l>Wenten to walsingh<expan>a</expan>m  and here wenches aftur . </l>
<l>Grete lobyes and longe  þat loþe weren to swynke</l>
M.P.56KD.P.56
<l>Cloþ<del>.</del><add>e</add>den hem in Copus  to be knowen from othere</l>
<l>And shoopen hem heremytes  here ese to haue . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>I fo<del>..</del><add>ond</add> there frer<del>.</del><add>e</add>s  <add>off</add><note>M.P.58: The addition of <hi>off</hi> brings M into agreement with H.</note> alle the foure ordres</l>
<foreign><expan>con</expan><expan>tra</expan> Glosers eu<expan>au</expan>ngel<expan>i</expan></foreign>
<l>Precheden þe p<del>.</del><add>e</add>ple  for profit of hem<seg>-</seg>seluen</l>
M.P.60KD.P.60
<l>Glosud þe gospell  as hem good liked</l>
<l>For couetise of copus  construede it as þei wolde</l>
<l>Many of þise maystur freres  mowe clothen hem at likynge</l>
<l>For here money and marchaundise  marchen to<seg>-</seg>g<del>.</del><add>i</add>dre . </l>
M.P.64KD.P.64
<l>For sith charitee haþ be chapman  and chief to shryue lordus</l>
<l>Many ferlis han fallen  in a fewe <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>eeres . </l>
<l>But holy churche <del>and hij</del><note>M.P.66: <hi>And hij</hi> has been crossed through. Kane and Donaldson erroneously read <hi>hir</hi>, combining the top of the punctus elevatus with the <j>.</note> <add>amend it</add><note>M.P.66: This addition, along with the following <hi>and</hi>, is in a different hand and ink than the surrounding text. The alteration does not agree with any other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts.</note><add>and</add> holde bettur to<seg>-</seg>g<del>.</del><add>i</add>dres</l>
p<expan>ro</expan>v<expan>er</expan>b.
<l><hi>The mooste meschief on molde  is mountynge <del>wel faste</del>. <add>vpward<expan>is</expan> Fast</add></hi><note>M.P.67: The alteration is not supported by any other <hi>B</hi> manuscript. The same scribe is probably responsible for drawing the hand in the left margin and for the underlining, and perhaps also the alteration in M.P.66 above.</note></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
M.P.68KD.P.68
<l>Þere prechud a pardoner  a preest as he were . </l>
<l>Brouȝte forth a bulle  with bisshopus seales</l>
<l>And saide þat hym<seg>-</seg>selue myȝte  assoillen hem alle . </l>
<l>Of falshed of fastynge  of vowes y<seg>-</seg>brokun . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<foreign><expan>con</expan><expan>tra</expan> p<expan>ar</expan>doners</foreign>
M.P.72KD.P.72
<l>Lewede men leued hym wel  and lykede his wordus . </l>
<l>Comen vp knelynge  to kiss<del>..</del><add>en</add> his bulles </l>
<lb/>
a j
<milestone>fol. 2rI</milestone>
<l>He <del>bonched</del> <add>blessid</add><note>M.P.74: The substitution of <hi>blessid</hi> for <hi>bonched</hi> is much later than the main hand. The altered reading <hi>blessid</hi> agrees with FH.</note> hem with his breuet  and blered hire e<del>....</del><add>yes</add></l>
<l>And rauȝte with his raggeman  rynges and broches </l>
M.P.76KD.P.76
<l>Þus þei g<del>.</del><add>i</add>uen hire gold  glotones to kepe</l>
<l>And leneth <add>it</add><note>M.P.77: M's original reading without <hi>it</hi> agreed with OC<hi>2</hi>CLH.</note> such loselus  þat lecherie haunten</l>
<l>Were þe bisshop y<seg>-</seg>blessud<del>.</del>  or worth boþe his eres</l>
<l>His seel shulde not be sent  to desceyue þe p<del>.</del><add>e</add>ple . </l>
M.P.80KD.P.80
<l>Ac it is nouȝt by þe bysshop  þat þe boy precheth . </l>
<l>For þe parissh preest and þe pardoner  parten þe syluer . </l>
+
<l>That the pore <del>.....</del><add>poraile</add><note>M.P.82: The original word was shorter than <hi>poraile</hi>. F has <hi>men</hi> but most <hi>A</hi> manuscripts have <hi>peple</hi>, which may well be M's original reading.</note> of þe parissh  shul<del>.</del><add>de</add> haue if þei <del>...?...</del><add>ne were .</add></l>
</lg>
<lg>
<l>¶ Persones and parisch preestus  playned hem to þe bisshop</l>
M.P.84KD.P.84
<l>Þat here parisshes were pore  sith þe pestilence tyme . </l>
<foreign><expan>con</expan><expan>tra</expan> Ep<expan>iscopos</expan> & Curat<expan>os</expan></foreign>
<l>To haue a licence and leue . at london to dwelle</l>
<l>And syngen <add>þere</add><note>M.P.86: M's original reading without <hi>þere</hi> was shared by H.</note> for symonye  for siluer is swete . </l>
</lg>
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<lg>
<l>Bisshoppus and bachelers  boþe maistrus and doctours</l>
M.P.88KD.P.88
<l>Þat han cure vndur Crist  and crouned<del>e</del><note>M.P.88: M's reading is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which vary, though most read <hi>crownynge</hi>.</note> in tokene</l>
<l>And signe þat þei shulden  shryuen <add>here</add> paroschiens</l>
<l>Prechen and prayen for hem  and þe pore fede </l>
<l>Liggen in london  in lenten and elles</l>
M.P.92KD.P.92
<l>S<del>u</del><add>o</add><expan>m</expan>me seruen þe kyng<del>e</del>  and his syluer tellen</l>
<l>In chekker and in Chauncerye  chalengen his dettes</l>
<l>Of wardes and wardemotes  weyues and streyues</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>And so<expan>m</expan>me seruen as seruauntz  lordus and ladys</l>
M.P.96KD.P.96
<l>And in stede of stywardus  sitten and demen</l>
<l>Here messes<note>M.P.97: M shares the form <hi>messes</hi> with Cr. Other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>messe</hi>.</note> and hire matynes  and many of here houres</l>
<l>Arn don vndeuoutlich  drede is atte þe laste . </l>
<l>Lest Crist in Consistorie  acorse ful manye</l>
M.P.100KD.P.100
<l>I parceiuede of þe power  þat Petur had to kepe . </l>
<l>To bynde and to vnbynde  as þe book telleþ . </l>
<l>How he left<add>e</add> <del>.</del>it<note>M.P.102: The revised reading <hi>lefte it</hi> is shared with CrFH; OC<hi>2</hi> have <hi>it self</hi>; other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>it lefte</hi>.</note> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> loue  as oure lord hight<add>e</add></l>
<l>Amonges foure vertues  þe beste of alle vertues</l>
M.P.104KD.P.104
<l>Þat Cardinales ben called  and closynge <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>ates</l>
<l>Þere Crist is in kyngedome  to close and to shutte . </l>
<foreign>mistice loq<expan>ui</expan>t<expan>ur</expan></foreign>
<l>And to open it to hem  and heuene blisse shewe</l>
<l>Ac of þe Cardinales atte Court<del>e</del>  þat cauȝt of þat name</l>
M.P.108KD.P.108
<l>And power presumed in hem  a Pope to make</l>
<l>To han þat power þat Petur hadde  inpugnen I nelle</l>
<l>For in loue and lettrure  þe elecciou<expan>n</expan> bilongeth . </l>
<l>For<seg>-</seg>þi I can and can nouȝt<del>e</del>  of court<del>e</del> speke more .</l>
a ij<note>M.P.111: A mark resembling a large, drypoint <a> is found on the bottom of this leaf.</note>
<milestone>fol. 2vI</milestone>
M.P.112KD.P.112
<l>Þanne com<del>e</del> þere a kyng  knyȝthode hym ladde</l>
<l>Miȝt<del>e</del> of þe comunes  made hym to regne</l>
<l>And þanne com<del>e</del> kynde w<del>..</del><add>it & </add><note>M.P.114: It looks likely that the earlier reading was <hi>witte</hi> followed by <hi>and</hi> inserted above. The corrector makes the usual alteration to <hi>wit</hi> and that leaves space for <hi>&</hi>. No other manuscript omits <hi>and</hi>.</note> clerkus he made . </l>
<l>For to conseille þe kyng<del>.</del>  and þe comune saue . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
M.P.116KD.P.116
<l>The kyng<del>e</del> and þe knyȝthode<note>M.P.116: M shares the reading <hi>þe kniȝthode</hi> with Hm. Most other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts omit <hi>þe</hi>.</note>  and the <del>.</del><add>clergie</add><note>M.P.116: Above the rewritten <hi>clergie</hi> is an erasure, apparently of the same word written as a guide to the corrector. All other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts read <hi>clergie</hi>.</note> boþe</l>
<l>Kesten þat þe comune  shulde hem<seg>-</seg>selue fynde . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>Þe comune contreued  of kynde wit<del>..</del> craftus . </l>
<l>And for profit of þe p<del>.</del><add>e</add>ple  plowmen ordeine<del>.</del><add>de</add></l>
M.P.120KD.P.120
<l>To til<del>.</del><add>en</add><note>M.P.120: In place of the revised form <hi>tilen</hi> all other B manuscripts read <hi>tilie</hi>.</note> and to trauaille  as trewe lif asketh</l>
<l>Þe kyng<del>e</del> and þe comune  and kynde wit<del>..</del> þe þridde . </l>
<l>Shoop lawe and leaute  eche man to knowe his owne . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>Thanne lokud vp a lunatyk  a lene þing<del>e</del> w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan><seg>-</seg>alle</l>
M.P.124KD.P.124
<l>And knelynge to þe kyng<del>e</del>  clergealy he saide . </l>
<l>Crist kepe<del>.</del> þe sire kyng<del>e</del>  and þ<del>.</del><add>i</add><note>M.P.125: All <hi>B</hi> manuscripts share M's revision <hi>þi</hi>, except for G which reads <hi>the</hi>.</note> ky<del>n</del><add><expan>n</expan>g</add>ryche</l>
<l>And lene þe to lede þi lond <del>....</del><add>so  þ<expan>a</expan>t</add><note>M.P.126: M's inclusion of <hi>þ<expan>a</expan>t</hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts.</note> le<del>.</del><add>ute</add> þe louye . </l>
<l>And for þi riȝtful rewlyng  be rewardud in heuen<add>e</add></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
M.P.128KD.P.128
<l>And sithen in þe e<del>..</del><add>ir</add> an heiȝgh  an angel of heuene</l>
<l>Lowed to speke in latyn  for lewede men ne couþe . </l>
<l>Iangle ne iuge  þat iustice<note>M.P.130: M shares the reading <hi>iustice</hi> with C<hi>2</hi>. Other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts read <hi>Iustifie</hi>.</note> hem shulde . </l>
<l>But suffren and seruen  for<seg>-</seg>þ<del>..</del><add>i</add> saide þe angel . </l>
vox angeli
M.P.132KD.P.132
<l><hi><foreign>Sum rex . sum princeps  neutrum fortasse deinceps .</foreign></hi><note>M.P.132: In addition to the underlining, these Latin verses are bracketed with a curly bracket in the left margin. The same marginal hand, which is much later than the main text (perhaps 16th-17th century), has written <hi>vox angeli</hi> in the left margin.</note></l>
<l><hi><foreign>O qui iura regis . <del>.</del><expan>Cristi</expan><note>M.P.133: The first graph of this abbreviation is written over an erasure.</note> specialia regis .</foreign></hi></l>
<l><hi><foreign>Hoc quod agas melius  iustus es esto pius</foreign></hi></l>
<l><hi><foreign>Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate </foreign></hi></l>
M.P.136KD.P.136
<l><hi><foreign>Qualia vis metere  talia grana sere</foreign></hi></l>
<l><hi><foreign>Si ius nudat<expan>ur</expan> . nudo de iure metat<expan>ur</expan> .</foreign></hi></l>
<l><hi><foreign>Si seritur pietas  de pietate metas .</foreign></hi></l>
</lg>
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<lg>
<l>Thanne greuede hym a Goliardeys  a glotou<expan>n</expan> of wordus . </l>
M.P.140KD.P.140
<l>A<del>..</del><add>nd to</add> þe angel an heiȝh  a<expan>n</expan>swere<del>.</del><add>d</add><note>M.P.140: In place of M's revised form <hi>answered</hi> LR have the present tense. Hm also corrects.</note> aftur . </l>
<l><hi><foreign>Dum rex a regere . dicatur nomen habere</foreign></hi><note>M.P.141: Kane and Donaldson record this line as being written in the margin. This line, however, is written in the main text area, although the following three are added in the margin.</note></l>
<l><add><hi><foreign>Nome<expan>n</expan> h<expan>abe</expan>t sine re n<expan>isi</expan> studet iura tenere</foreign></hi></add><note>M.P.142: Underlining, in red ink, from the main text to the margin indicates the intended location of the inserted lines.</note></l>
<l><add>Tha<expan>n</expan>ne biga<expan>n</expan><note>M.P.143: M's reading of <hi>bigan</hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which, except for F, read <hi>gan</hi>.</note> al þe co<expan>mun</expan>e c<expan>ri</expan>e . i<expan>n</expan> vers of lat<supplied>in</supplied><note>M.P.143: The end of the word is lost in the binding.</note></add></l>
M.P.144KD.P.144
<l><add>To þe ky<expan>n</expan>g & his<note>M.P.144: M's reading of <hi>ky<expan>n</expan>g & his</hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which read <hi>kynges</hi>.</note> conseill  co<expan>n</expan>st<expan>ru</expan>e whoso wolde</add></l>
<l><hi><foreign><sic>Precipta</sic><corr>Prec[e]pta</corr> Regis sunt nobis vincula legis .</foreign></hi></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
The route off Ratons
<l>With þat ran þere a route  of ratones at ones </l>
<l>And smale mys wyth hem  mo þan<del>..</del><add><seg> —</seg></add> a þousand<del>e</del> . </l>
M.P.148KD.P.148
<l>And comen to a conseil<del>.</del>  for here comune profit<del>e</del></l>
<l>For a <del>...</del><add>Cat</add> of a <del>..</del><add>co</add>ntre  cam whanne hym lik<del>..e</del><add>ed</add> . </l>
<milestone>fol. 3rI</milestone>
<l>And ouerle<del>..</del><add>ep</add> hem liȝtly  and lauȝte hem atte his wille . </l>
<l>And pleyde with hem perillou<del>...</del><add>sly</add>  and possed he<expan>m</expan> aboute . </l>
M.P.152KD.P.152
<l>For doute of diuerse dredus  we dar nouȝt wel looke . </l>
<l>And <del>ȝ</del>if we grucchen . of his gamen  he wil<del>..</del> greue<expan>n</expan> vs alle . </l>
<l>Cracche vs and clawe<del>s</del><note>M.P.154: M's original reading <hi>clawes</hi> is shared by no other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, most of which read <hi>clawe vs</hi>, though in the b-verse Cr has <hi>clawes</hi> instead of <hi>clochus</hi>.</note> <add>vs <sic></sic><corr></corr></add>  and in his clochus holde</l>
<l>Þat vs lotheth þe lif  <del>o</del><add>e</add>r he lete vs passe</l>
M.P.156KD.P.156
<l>Miȝte we wiþ any wit<del>te</del>  his wille with<seg>-</seg>stonde</l>
<l>We myȝten be lordus a<seg>-</seg>lofte  and l<del>.</del><add>y</add>uen at oure ese . </l>
</lg>
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<lg>
<l>A Ratou<expan>n</expan> of renoun moost<del>e</del> renable of <del>..</del><add>to</add>nge . </l>
<l>Seide for a souerain  help to hym<seg>-</seg>selue . </l>
M.P.160KD.P.160
<l>I haue y<seg>-</seg>se<del>.</del><add>y</add>n segges quod he  in þe Cite of Londou<expan>n</expan></l>
<l>Beren biȝes ful briȝt  abouten here nekk<del>.</del><add>e</add>s . </l>
<l>And su<expan>m</expan>me Colers of crafty werk  vncoupled<del>e</del> þei wen<del>d</del><add>t</add>en<note>M.P.162: M's original reading agreed with YOC<hi>2</hi>CLR. The alteration brings M into agreement with WHmCrG.</note></l>
<l>Boþe in wareine and in waste  where hem leue like<del>.</del><add>d</add><note>M.P.163: M shares its revised form <hi>liked</hi> with WCr<hi>1</hi>GH. Other manuscripts have the present tense.</note></l>
M.P.164KD.P.164
<l>And oþerwyle þai arne ellus<seg>-</seg>where  as I here telle . </l>
<l>Were þere a belle on <del>...</del><add>hir<expan>e</expan></add><note>M.P.165: The original reading may have been <hi>his</hi>, as in G.</note> beiȝe  by Ih<expan>esu</expan> as me th<del>..</del><add>yn</add>keþ . </l>
<del>...?...</del><note>M.P.166: Something no longer legible is erased in the right margin. Likely it was a guide for alteration to <hi>renne</hi>.</note>
<l>Men myȝten witen wher þei wente  and away <del>.....</del><add>renne</add></l>
<l>And riȝt so quod þat Ratou<expan>n</expan>  resou<expan>n</expan> me sheweþ</l>
M.P.168KD.P.168
<l>To bugge a belle of bras  or of briȝt<del>e</del> siluer</l>
<l>And knytten <add>it</add><note>M.P.169: M's original reading without <hi>it</hi> was shared by Cr<hi>23</hi>GOC<hi>2</hi>CL. The alteration brings M into agreement with all other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts.</note> on a Coler  for oure comune profite . </l>
<l>And hangen it vpon þe Cattus hals  þanne heere we mowen . </l>
<l>Where he rit<del>..</del> or rest<del>e</del>  or renneth to playe</l>
M.P.172KD.P.172
<l>And <del>ȝ</del>if hym lust for to layke  þanne loke we mowen . </l>
<l>And peren in his presence  þere whyle hym plaie likeþ . </l>
<l>And <del>ȝ</del>if him wrattheth be war  and his wey<del>e</del> shonye . </l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>Al þis route of ratouns  to þis resoun assent<del>..e</del><add>ed</add></l>
M.P.176KD.P.176
<l>Ac þo þe belle was y<seg>-</seg>bouȝt<del>e</del>  and on þe <damage>b</damage>eiȝ<add>e</add> hanged . </l>
<l>Þere nas ratoun in þe route  for al<del>..</del> þe reume of Fraunce</l>
<l>Þat durst<add>e</add> haue bonden þe bie<del>ȝ</del><note>M.P.178: M shares <hi>bie</hi> with Hm. Other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>belle</hi>.</note>  a<seg>-</seg>boute þe cattus nekke . </l>
<l>Ne hangen <add>it</add><note>M.P.179: M's original reading without <hi>it</hi> agreed with GL.</note> aboute þe cattus hals  al Englon<del>...</del><add>d<seg> —</seg></add> to wynne . </l>
M.P.180KD.P.180
<l>And helden hem vn<seg>-</seg>hardy  and here conseill<del>e</del> feble</l>
<l>And leten here labour lo<del>...</del><add>st</add>  and here longe studye . </l>
</lg>
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<lg>
<l>A mous þat moche good<del>e</del>  couthe as me thouȝte</l>
<l>Stro<del>..</del><add>ok</add> forþ sternly  and stood<del>e</del> byforn hem alle . </l>
M.P.184KD.P.184
<l>And to þe route of Ratons  reherced þes wordus . </l>
<l>Thouȝgh we cullede þe cat  <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>et shulde þer<del>e</del> come a<seg>-</seg>noþur . </l>
<l>To c<del>r</del>acche<note>M.P.186: M's original reading <hi>cracche</hi> agreed with OYCLR.</note> vs and all<del>e</del> oure kynde  þouȝ we croupe vndur benches . </l>
<l>For<add>thi</add> <del>.</del><add>I</add> conseille <del>..</del> all<del>e</del> þe comune  to late þe cat<del>te</del> worþe . </l>
a iij
<milestone>fol. 3vI</milestone>
M.P.188KD.P.188
<l><del>..</del><add>And</add> be we neu<expan>er</expan>e so bolde  þe belle hym to shewe . </l>
<l>For I herde my sire sain  is seuen <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>ere y<seg>-</seg>passed . </l>
<l>Þere <add>þe</add> cat<del>te</del> is a kytou<expan>n</expan>  þe court<del>.</del> is ful elenge . </l>
#
<l>Þat w<del>..</del><add>y</add>tnesseþ holy writ<del>te</del>  whoso wol it rede . </l>
M.P.192KD.P.196
<l><hi><foreign>Ve terre vbi puer rex est & c<expan>etera</expan> .</foreign></hi></l>
<l>For may non renc þere reste haue  for ratones by nyȝte</l>
<l>Þe while he caccheþ conynges  he coue<add>i</add>teþ nouȝt oure caroine . </l>
<l>But fet hym wiþ venesoun  defame we hym neu<expan>er</expan>e</l>
M.P.196KD.P.191
<l>For bettur is a litul losse  <del>.....</del><add>than</add> a long<del>e</del> sorwe . </l>
<l>Þe mase among<del>e</del> vs alle  þouȝ we mysse a shrewe</l>
<l>For many ma<expan>n</expan>n<del>.</del><add>es</add> malt  we mys wolde destru<del>.</del><add>ye</add></l>
<l>And also <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>e route of ratouns  rende me<expan>n</expan>n<del>.</del><add>e</add>s clothes</l>
M.P.200KD.P.200
<l>Nere þe cat<del>..</del> of þat court<del>e</del> <add></add> þat can <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>ow ou<expan>er</expan><seg>-</seg>lepe . </l>
<l>For hadde <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>e rattes <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>oure wille  <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>e couthe not reule <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>oure<seg>-</seg>selue<del>.</del></l>
<l>I say for me quod þe mous  I see so mukel aftur . </l>
<l>Shal neu<expan>er</expan>e þe catt / ne þe kytou<expan>n</expan>  by my conseill be greued . </l>
M.P.204KD.P.204
<l>Ne carpinge of þis coler  þat costud me neuere . </l>
<l>And þouȝ it had costed me . catel  byknowen it I nolde . </l>
<l>But suffre as hym<seg>-</seg>self wolde  to do as hym likeþ . </l>
<l>Coupled<del>e</del> and vncoupled<del>e</del>  to cacche what þei mowe . </l>
M.P.208KD.P.208
<l>For<seg>-</seg>þi eche a wyse wiȝt<del>e</del> I warne  wite wel his owne . </l>
</lg>
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<lg>
<l>What þis meteles bemeneth  <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>e men þat ben merie</l>
<l>Dyuyne <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>e for I ne dar  by dere god in heuene . </l>
</lg>
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<lg>
<l><del>Ȝ</del><add>Y</add>et houed þere an hundred  in ho<del>....</del><add>vues</add> of silk<del>e</del></l>
M.P.212KD.P.212
<l>Sergeauntes it semed  þat serued atte þe barre</l>
# Mo<expan>m</expan>ming off Men off law For Mone
<l>Pleteden for penies  and poundes þe lawe</l>
<l>And nouȝt for loue of oure lord  vnlose here lippus onys . </l>
<l>Þow miȝtest<del>e</del> bettur mete þe myst<del>e</del>  on maluerne hulles</l>
M.P.216KD.P.216
<l><del>.....</del><add>Than</add> gete a mo<expan>m</expan>me of here mouth<del>e</del> <add></add> but monoye were shewed</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l>Barouns and burgeis  and bonde<seg>-</seg>men als . </l>
<l>I sa<del>.</del><add>y</add> in þis assemble  as <del>ȝ</del><add>y</add>e shul here aftur</l>
<l>Baxters and brewsters  and bochers manye</l>
M.P.220KD.P.220
<l>Wollenwebsters  and weuers . of lynnen</l>
<l>Taillours and tynkers  and tollers in marketes</l>
<l>Masouns and mynours  and many mo<note>M.P.222: M's reading of <hi>mo</hi> is not shared by other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, which read <hi>oþer</hi>.</note> craftes</l>
<l>Of alkyn libbyng laborers  lopun forþ su<expan>m</expan>me</l>
M.P.224KD.P.224
<l>As dikers & deluers  þat doth here dedes ille</l>
<l>And dryuen forþ þe <del>...</del><add>longe</add><note>M.P.225: M shares its revised adjective <hi>longe</hi> with the majority of <hi>B</hi> manuscripts, but L has <hi>dere</hi> and F <hi>fayre</hi>.</note> day  w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> <foreign>dieu vous saue dame Emme</foreign> . </l>
<milestone>fol. 4rI</milestone>
I<expan>us</expan> pass<expan>us</expan>
<l>Cokus and hire knaues  crieden hote pies hote</l>
<l>Gode grys and gees  <orig>gowe</orig><reg>go we</reg> dyne <orig>gowe</orig><reg>go we</reg> . </l>
</lg>
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<lg>
M.P.228KD.P.228
<l>Tauerners vn<seg>-</seg>til hem  toolde þe same</l>
<l>Whit<del>e</del> wyn of Oseye  and red<del>e</del> wyn of Gascoigne</l>
<l>Of þe ryne and of þe rochell  þe rost<del>e</del> to defie</l>
<l>Al þis seiȝ I slepinge  and seuen sythes more . </l>
</lg>
</div1>
MED