The _Traitié_ has been twice printed: first by the Roxburghe Club from the Trentham MS.[L], and then by Dr. Stengel, in both cases with the _Cinkante Balades_. The German editor unfortunately took as the basis of his text the copy in B, which is much inferior in correctness to those of several other MSS. which were within his reach[M]. He has also in many cases failed to give a correct representation of the MS. which he follows, and his collation of other copies is incomplete. The text of the present edition is based upon that of F, which is at least as good as any of the three other copies which I have called contemporary, and has the advantage over two of them that it is perfect, whereas they have each lost a leaf. These four are so nearly on the same level of correctness that it matters little on other grounds which of them we follow. A full collation is here given of T, S and G, and the readings of B are occasionally mentioned. H and K are probably dependent on F. Tr. is a moderately good copy, closely connected with B, but in view of the excellence of the other materials it is not worth collating; A is a manuscript of the same class, but rather less correct. Finally the text of W, which is late and full of blunders, may be set down as worthless. MIROUR DE L’OMME OR SPECULUM HOMINIS Cy apres comence le livre François q’est apellé Mirour de l’om_m_e, le quel se divide en x parties, c’est assavoir: ¶ la primere p_ar_tie est coment de la malice du diable pecché fuit conceu, et de la maldite progenie des vices, qe puis de lui nasquirent, dont le frele hom_m_e a g_ra_nt p_er_il de noet et jour par forte guerre toutdys est assailli. ¶ la seconde partie est coment reso_u_n fuit conjoint al alme, dont les vertus morals por l’om_m_e defendre sont deinz la conscience par la divine grace inspirez et fraunchement engendrez. ¶ la tierce partie est por considerer p_ar_entre d’eux l’estat des hom_m_es s_ur_ t_er_re, especialment de les haltz prelatz, ovesq_ue_ lour archediaknes, officials, deans et autres, q’ont la governaunce de l’espiritiele cure, et sount lumere et essample de bien et d’onest vie. ¶ la quarte partie trete l’estat des Religious, si bien possessioners come mendiantz, q’ont lessé les vanités de cest present vie por contempler du ciel les joies perdurables. ¶ la quinte partie trete l’estat du temporiel governement selonc le corps, le quel app_ar_tient as Emperours, Rois et autres nobles Princes, qe devont maintenir la loy et doner justice a lour poeple liege. ¶ la sisme partie trete l’estat de la chivalerie et de les gentz d’armes, qui devont le droit de seint esglise et la fraunchise supporter et defendre, et qu’ils ne lesserount lour p_ro_pre paiis destitut por travaillier en est_ra_nges regions a cause de veine gloire q’ils ont de la renomée mondeine.