that in the feld felle.
Hou ferd the wreches thenne?
The devel I them bikenne
that ragged sit in helle.
In my transcript of the Cambridge MS. I had written wages in the third line, but, thinking it might be an error of my own, I ventured to change it to nages, in conformity with the readings of the other MSS. I have no doubt that nages, the French nages (see before, [p. 283], l. 156, and the note), the Latin nates, is the right word. The other reading of the line was perhaps substituted by some one who did not understand the word.
[P. 298], l. 380, For Scottes, etc.—Robert of Brunne agrees with the present text, in this song. In the Fairfax and Arundel MSS. it stands thus:—
(F.) For skiterande Skottes
Tell I for sottes,
of wrenches unwarre.
Hem to wrothere hele