17. He here contemplates the possibility of yielding to persecution and threats.
50-1. The five wits are the five senses; P. Plowman, C. ii. 15, and the note.
60. aptes, natural tendencies; used here only; see New E. Dict.
64. terme of equivocas, terms of like signification; terme being an error for termes. Answering to Lat. uerba aequiuoca, words of like signification; Isidore, Orig. ii. 26 (Lewis and Short). Equivocas is formed by adding the Eng. pl. -s to the Lat. neuter plural (New E. Dict.).
Cf. the passage in P. Plowman, where Liberum-arbitrium recites
his names; C. xvii. 201. The first name, 'instrument of willing,' corresponds to animus: 'dum uult, animus est'; but the rest vary.
68. reson. Compare the same passage: 'dum iudicat, racio est.'
73. Compare the same: 'dum recolit, memoria est.'
77. affeccion: a disposition to wish for sleep.
90. that lambes, who scorn and despise lambs.