58. beestes, living things that cannot move; the very word used by Chaucer, Boeth. bk. v. pr. 5. 20; compare the passage.
64. There is something wrong; either discendeth should be discended, or we should understand and before to; and perhaps downe should be dewe; cf. l. 68. The reference seems to be to the Incarnation.
68. Here the Protean word Margaryte means 'the wisdom of god,' judging by the context; see note to l. 50 above.
78. This does not mean 'I would have explained it better,' but 'I should like to have it better explained.'
86. Margaryte here means the visible church, as before (l. 50); to the end of the chapter.
91. welde, possess; and all that he now possesses is his life.
108. yvel spekers; this seems to allude to the Lollards, who ought (he says) to be 'stopped and ashamed.'
114. This shews that Margarete does not mean a woman; for it is declared to be as precious as a woman, to whom it is likened.
121. deedly, mortal. Hence Margarete does not mean the church in general, but the visible church at the time of writing, the church militant.
Chap. XIII. 11. 'To be evil, is to be nothing.' The general argument follows Ch. Boeth. bk. iv. pr. 2. 143-94, and pr. 4.