The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 132]

[The Proem]

incipit fabula /

O Hateful harm condicion of pouert [on] [folio 72a] Line 99 wiþ þurst wiþ cold wiþ honger so confoundyd To asken help it schameþ in þin hert If þou non aske wiþ neede so art þou woundyd That verray neede vnwrappeþ al þy woundes hyd Maugre þyn heed þou most for Indigence Or stele or begge or borwe þy dispence Line 105

Thow blamest crist and seyst ful bitterly Line 106 he mys departeþ riches temporal And þyn neyhebour þou wytes synfully And seyst þou hast to litel and he haþ al Line 109 Parfay seystow som tyme he rekne schal whan þat his tayl schal brennen in þe gleede For he nought helpeþ þe needful in his neede Line 112

HErkneþ what is þe sentens of þe wyse Line 113 Bet is to dye þan haue indigence Thy selue neyghebour wol þe despyse [folio 72b] If þou be pore far wel þy reuerence Line 116 Ȝet of þe wyse man tak þis sentence Alle þe dayes of pore men be wikke / Be war þerfore or þou come to þat prikke / Line 119

Ȝif þou be pore þy broþer hateþ þe Line 120 And alle þy frendes fleeþ fro þe allas O Riche marchaundȝ ful of wele be ȝe O noble prudent folk as in þis cas Line 123 Ȝoure bagges beþ nat fuld wiþ ambes aas But wiþ sys synk þat renneþ on ȝour chaunce At crystemasse wel mery may ȝe daunce Line 126

[6-text p 133] Line 126

Ȝe seeke land and see for ȝour wynnynges Line 127 As wyse folk as ȝe knowe alle þastates Of regnes / ȝe be fadres of tydynges Of tales boþe of pees and of debates / Line 130 I were right now of tales desolat Nere þat a marchaunt gon siþþen many a ȝere / Me taught a tale which ȝe schal after heere Line 133

[6-text p 134]

[The Tale]

IN Surrie dwelled whilom a companye [on] [folio 72b] Line 134 Of Chapmen riche and þerto sad and trewe That wyde where sent her spycere Cloþes of gold and satyn rich of hewe / Line 137 her chaffar was so þrifty and so newe That euery wight had deynte to chaffare wiþ hem and eek to selle hem of here ware / Line 140

Now fel it þat þe maystres of þat sort Line 141 han schapen hem to Rome for to wende were it for chapmanhode or for disport Non oþer message nolde þey þider sende / Line 144 But came hemself to Rome þis is þe ende And in such place / as þought hem auanntage For here entent þey tooke her herburgage Line 147

Soiourned naue þese marchauntȝ in þe toun Line 148 A certeyn tyme as fel to here plesaunce But so bifell þat þexcellent renoun Of þemperoures doughter dame Custaunce Line 151 Reported was with euery circumstaunce vnto þese surrienȝ marchauntȝ in such wyse [folio 73a] Fro day to day as I schal ȝou deuyse / Line 154

This was þe comyn voys of euery man Line 155 Oure emperour of Rome god him see A doughter haþ þat siþ þe world bygan To Rekne as wel hir goodnes as hir bewte / Line 158 Nas neuer such anoþer as was sche I prey to god hir saue and susteene And wolde sche were of al Europe þe queene Line 161

[6-text p 135] Line 161

In hire is hye bewte wiþoute pryde Line 162 Ȝowþe wiþoute grefhed or folye To alle here werkes vertu is hire gyde / humblesse haþ slayne in hir tyrrannye / Line 165 Sche is myrour of alle curtesye / hir herte is verrey chambre of holynesse hir hond mynistre of fredom and almesse Line 168

And al þis voys is soþ as god is trewe Line 169 But now to purpos let vs turne aȝein These marchantȝ haue don fraught here schippes newe / And whan þey haue þis blisful mayde seyn · Line 172 Home to Surrey be þey went aȝein / And doon here needes as þey haue don ȝore And lyuen in wele I can ȝou say no more / Line 175

Now fel it þat þese marchauntȝ stooden in grace / Line 176 Of him þat was þe Sowdan of Surrye For whan þey come fro eny straunge place / he wolde of his benigne curtesye Line 179 Make hem good chere and busily aspye Tydynges of sondry regnes for to lere/ The wordes þat þey mighte seen and heere / Line 182

Among oþer þinges specially Line 183 These marchauntȝ him told of dame Constaunce So gret noblesse in ernest so ryally That þis Sowdan haþ caught so gret plesaunce Line 186 To haue hir figure in his remembraunce And al his lust and al his besy cure was for to loue hir whiles his lyf may dure Line 189

Par auenture in þilke large booke / Line 190 which þat is cleped þe heuen I-write was [folio 73b] wiþ sterres whan þat he his burþe took That he for loue schulde haue his deþ allas / Line 193

[6-text p 136] Line 193 For in þe sterres clerere þen is glas / Is wryten god woot who-so cowþe it rede The deþ of euery man wiþouten drede Line 196

IN sterres many a wynter þer byfore Line 197 was write þe deþ of Ector and Achilles / Of Pompe Iulius er þey were I-bore / The stryf of Thebes and of Ercules / Line 200 Of Sampson Turnus and of Socrates The deþ but mennes wittes ben so dulle / That no wight can wel rede it at þe fulle Line 203

This sowdan for his pryue counseil sent Line 204 And schortly of þis mater for to pace / he haþ to hem declared his entent And seyd hem certeyn but he might haue grace / Line 207 To haue Constance wiþinne a litel space he nas but deed and charged hem in hyȝe To schapen for his lyf som remedye Line 210

Dyuerse men dyuers þinges seyde Line 211 The argumentes casten vp and doun Many a subtyl resoun forþ þey leyden They spekyn of magike and of ambusioun Line 214 But finally as in conclusioun They can nought seen in þat non auauntage Ne in non oþer wey saue in mariage Line 217

Than sawgh þey þer in such difficulte Line 218 By wey of resoun to speke it al playn · By cause þat þer was such dyuersite / Bitwen here boþe lawes as þey sayn Line 221 They trowe þat no cristen prince wold fayn wedden his child vnder our lawe swete / That vs was taught by mahoun oure prophete / Line 224

[6-text p 137] Line 224

And he answerde raþer þan I lese Line 225 Constance I wol be cristen douteles / I moot be heres I may non oþer cheese / I pray ȝou haldeth ȝour arguments in pees / Line 228 Saueþ my lyf and beþ nat recheles / [folio 74a] Goþ geteþ hire þat haþ my lyf in cure / For in þis wo I may no lenger dure / Line 231

What needeþ gretter dilatacioun Line 232 I say by tretys and ambassatrye And by þe popes mediacioun And al þe chirche and al þe chyualrye / Line 235 That in destruccioun of mawmetrye And in encresse of cristes lawe deere / They ben acordid as ȝe schal after heere/ Line 238

How þat þe Soudan and his baronage Line 239 And alle his lieges schuld I-crystned be / And he schal haue Constance in mariage/ And certeyn gold I not what quantite Line 242 And þerfore founden þey suffisant seurte This same acord was sworn on euery syde/ Now fair Constance almighty god þe guyde / Line 245

Now wolde som men wayten as I gesse Line 246 That I schulde tellen al þe puruyaunce / That þemperour of his gret noblesse / Haþ schapen for his doughter dame Constaunce / Line 249 wel may men knowe þat so gret ordynaunce May no man telle in so litel a clause / As was arrayed for so high a cause / Line 252

Bisschops ben schapen with hir for to wende Line 253 lordes ladyes and knightes of renoun And oþer folk ynowe þis þis is þe ende And notefied is þurgh out þe toun Line 256

[6-text p 138] Line 256 That euery wight wiþ gret deuocioun Schulde preye crist þat he þis mariage Receyue in gree and spede þis viage Line 259

The day is come of hire departyng Line 260 I say þe woful day þat þan is come That þer may be no lenger tarryyng But forþeward þey dresse hem alle & some / Line 263 Constance þat with sorwe is ouercome Ful pale arist and dresseþ hir to wende / For wel sche saugh þer nas non oþer ende Line 266

Allas what wonder is it/ þough sche wepte [folio 74b] Line 267 That schal be sent to straunge nacioun Fro freendes þat so tenderly hir kepte / And to be bounde vndur subieccioun Line 270 Of oon sche knew nat his condicioun Housbondes ben al goode and han be ȝore That knowen wyfes I dar say no more / Line 273

Fader sche seid þy wrecched child Costaunce Line 274 Thy ȝonge doughter fostred vp so softe / And ȝe my mooder my souerayn plesaunce Ouer al þing outaken crist on lofte / Line 277 Constaunce ȝour child hir recomaundeth ofte Vnto ȝour grace / for I schal in to Surrye Ne schal I neuer see ȝou more wiþ ye Line 280

Allas vnto þe barbre nacioun Line 281 I most anoon / seþens it is ȝour wille But crist þat starf for our redempcioun So ȝeue me grace his hestes to fulfille / Line 284 I wrecched womman no fors þey I spille / wommen ben born to þraldam and penaunce And to ben vnder mannes gouernaunce Line 287

[6-text p 139] Line 287

I trowe at Troye whan Pirrus brak þe wal Line 288 Or yleon þat brend Thebes þe Citee Ne at Rome for þe harme þurgh hanibal That Romayns han venquysshed tymes þre Line 291 Nas herd such tender wepyng for pite As in þe Chambur was for hir partyng But forþ sche moot wheþer sche weep or syng Line 294

O firste meuyng cruel firmament Line 295 with þi diurnal swough þat crowdest ay And hurlest al fro Est to Occident That naturelly wold hold anoþer way Line 298 Thyn crowdyng sette þe heuen in such array At þe bygynnyng of þis fiers viage That cruel marcȝ haþ slayn þis marriage Line 301

Infortunat ascendent tortuous Line 302 Of which þe lordes helples falle allas Out of his angle in to þe derkest hous O . Mariȝ atteȝere as in þis caas [folio 75a] Line 305 O feble moone vnhappy been þi paas / Thou knettest þe þer þou art nat receyued Ther þou were wel fro þennes artow weyued Line 308

Inprudent Emperour of Rome allas Line 309 was þer no philosopher in al þy toun Is no tyme bet þan oþer in such caas Of viage is þer noon eleccioun Line 312 Namly to folk of heigh condicioun Nought whan a roote is of a birthe I-knowe Allas we ben to lewed and eek to slowe / Line 315

[ [[In a later hand.]] To Shipe] is brought þis woful faire mayde / Solempnely with euery circumstaunce / Now Ihū crist so be wiþ ȝou sche sayde / Ther nys nomor but far wel fair Custaunce Line 319

[6-text p 140] Line 319 She peyneth hire to make good contienaunce And forþ I lete hire sayle in þis manere / And torne I wol aȝein to my matiere / Line 322

The moder of þe Sawdan ful of vices Line 323 Aspyed haþ hir sones playn entent/ how he wol lete his olde sacrifices And right anoon sche for hir counseil sent Line 326 And þey ben come to knowe what sche ment And whan assembled was þis folk in fere Sche sette hir doun and sayd as ȝe schal heere / Line 329

Lordes quod sche ȝe knowen euerichon Line 330 how þat my sone in poynt is for to lete The holy lawes of our alkaron Ȝe ben goddes messangere makamete / Line 333 But oon avow to grete god I hete The lyf schuld raþer out of my body stert Or makametes law go out of myn hert Line 336

What schal vs tyden of þis newe lawe Line 337 But þraldam to oure body and penaunce And afterward in helle to be drawe / For we reneyed mahound oure creaunce Line 340 But lordes wol ȝe maken assuraunce As I schal say assentyng to my lore And I schal make vs sauf for euermore [folio 75b] Line 343

They sworen and assenten euery man Line 344 To lyf wiþ hir and dye and by hir stonde And euerich in þe beste wise he can To strengþen hir schal al his frendes fonde Line 347 And sche haþ Emperise take on honde which ȝe schul heere þat I schal deuyse / And to hem alle sche spak in þis wyse / Line 350

[6-text p 141] Line 350

We schul first feyne ous cristendom to take Line 351 Cold watir schal nat greue vs but a lite / And I schal such a fest and Reuel make / That as I trow I schal þe Sowdan quyte Line 354 For þough his wyf be cristned neuer so white Sche schal haue need to waissche away þe rede They sche a font of watir wiþ hir lede Line 357

O Sowdones root of iniquite Line 358 Virago þou Semyram þe secounde O serpent vnder feminite Lyk to þe serpent deep in helle I-bounde Line 361 O feyned womman alle þat may confounde Vertu and Innocence þurgh þy malice / Is bred in þe as nest of euery vice Line 364

O Satan enuyous syn þilke day Line 365 That þou were chased fro oure heritage wel knewest þou to wommen þe olde way Thou madest Eue to bryng vs in seruage Line 368 Thou wolt fordoon þis cristen mariage Thyn instrument so weylaway þe while Makestow of wommen whan þou wolt bygile Line 371

This Sawdones whom I þus blame and wary Line 372 let pryuely hir counseil gon his way what schuld I in þis tale lenger tary Sche rideþ to þe Soudan on a day Line 375 And seyd him þat sche wold reney hir lay And cristendam of prestes handes fonge Repentyng hir sche hethen was so longe Line 378

Bysechyng him to doon hir þat honour Line 379 That sche most haue þe cristen men to feste / To plesen hem I wil do my labour [folio 76a] The sawdan seith I wol do at ȝour heste Line 382

[6-text p 142] Line 382 And knelyng þankeþ hir of þat requeste So glad he was he nyst nat what to seye Sche kyst hir sone and hom sche goþ hir weye Line 385

[PART II.]

Arryued ben þe cristen folk to londe / Line 386 In Surry with a gret solempne route And hastily þis soudan sent his sonde First to his moder and al þe regne aboute Line 389 And seyd his wyf was comen out of doute And preyeþ hir for to ride aȝein þe queene The honour of his regne to susteene / Line 392

Gret was þe prees and riche was tharray Line 393 Of Surriens and Romayns mette in feere The moodur of þe Sowdan riche and gay Receyued hir with al so glad a cheere Line 396 As eny modir might hir doughter deere And to þe nexte Citee þer bysyde A softe paas solempnely þay ryde Line 399

Nought trow I þe triumphe of Iulius Line 400 Of which þat lukan makeþ moche bost was ryaller ne more curious Than was thassemble of þis blisful oost Line 403 But þis Scorpioun þis wikked goost This Sowdones for al hir flateryng Cast vnder þis ful mortally to styng Line 406

The Sawdan comþ himself sone after þis Line 407 So really þat wonder is to telle And welcomeþ hir wiþ ioy and blys And þus with myrth and ioy I let hem dwelle Line 410

[6-text p 143] Line 410 The fruyt of þis matier is þat I telle whan tyme com men þought it for þe best That reuel stynt and men goon to her rest Line 413

The tyme com þe olde Sowdonesse Line 414 Ordeyned haþ þis fest of which I told And to þe feste cristen folk hem dresse . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 417 Ther men may fest and realte byholde And deyntes mo / þan I can of deuyse But al to deere þey bought it ar þey ryse [folio 76b] Line 420

O sodeyn wo þat euer art successour Line 421 ¶ To worldly blis spreynd is wiþ bitternesse / The ende of oure ioye of oure worldly labour wo occupieth þe fyn of oure gladnesse Line 424 herken þis counseil for thyn sikernesse vpon þyn glade dayes haue in þi mynde The vnwar woo þat cometh ay bihynde Line 427

For schortly for to tellen at o word Line 428 The Sawdan and þe cristen euerichone Ben al to-hewe and stiked atte bord But it were Dame Constaunce allone Line 431 This olde Sowdones þis cursed crone haþ wiþ hir frendes doon þis cursed dede For sche hir self wold al þe contre lede Line 434

Ne þer was surrien noon / þat was conuerted Line 435 That of þe counseil of þe Sawdon woot That he nas alto-hewe or he asterted And Constaunce haue þey take anon foot-hoot Line 438 And in a schippe / steleres god it woot They haue hir set. and bad hir lerne to sayle Out of Surry aȝeinward to ytaile Line 441

[6-text p 144] Line 441

A certein tresour þat sche þider ladde Line 442 And soþ to sayn vitaile gret plente They haue hir ȝeuen and cloþes eek sche hadde And forþ sche sayleþ to þe salte see Line 445 O my Constaunce ful of benignite O Emperoures ȝonge doughter deere he þat is Lord of fortun be þi steere Line 448

Sche blesseþ hir and with ful pitous voys Line 449 Vnto þe croys of crist þan seyde sche O cler o welful auter holy croys Rood of þe lambes blood ful of pite Line 452 That wissh þe world fro old iniquite Me fro þe feend and fro his clowes keepe That day þat I schal drenchen in þe deepe Line 455

Victorious tre proteccioun of trewe Line 456 That oonly were worthy for to bere That kyng of heuen with his woundes newe [folio 77a] The white lamb þat hurt was with a spere Line 459 Flemer of feendes out of him and here / On which þy lymes feithfully extenden Me kepe and ȝif me might my lyf to menden Line 462

Ȝeres and dayes flette þis creature Line 463 Thurghout þe see of Grece in to þe strayte Of Marrok as it was hir aduenture / O many a sory mele may sche bayte Line 466 After hir deth ful / ofte may sche wayte Or þat þe wilde wawe wol hir dryue Vnto þe place þer as sche schal arryue Line 469

Men mighten aske why sche was nouȝt slayn Line 470 Ek at þe fest. who might hir body saue And I answered that demaunde agayn who saued Daniel / in thorrible Caue Line 473

[6-text p 145] Line 473 That euery wight sauf he mayster or knaue was wiþ þe lioun frete or he asterte No wight but god þat he bar in his herte Line 476

God lust to schewe his wondurful miracle Line 477 In hir for sche schuld seen his mighty werkes Crist which þat is to euery harm triacle By certeyn menes ofte as knowen clerkes Line 480 Doth þing for certeyn ende þat ful derk is // To mannes witt / þat for our ignoraunce Ne can nought knowe his prudent puruyaunce Line 483

Now sith sche was nat at þe fest I-slawe / Line 484 who kepte hir fro drenching in þe see / who kepte Ionas in þe fisches mawe Til he was spouted vp at Niniue Line 487 wel may men knowe it was no wight but he That kept þe pepul Ebrayk fro her drenchyng wiþ drye feet / þurghout þe see passyng Line 490

Who hadde foure spiritȝ of tempest Line 491 That power han to noyen land and see Boþe norþ and souþ and also west and Est Anoyeþ neyþer londe / see ne tree / Line 494 Soþly þe comaunder of þat was he That fro þe tempest ay þis womman kepte [folio 77b] As wel when sche awok as when sche slepte Line 497

Wher might þis womman mete and drinke haue / Line 498 Thre ȝer and more / how lasteþ hir vitaille who fedde þe Egipcien marie in þe Caue Or in desert no wight but crist saunȝ faile Line 501 Fyf þousand folk / it was a gret meruaile/ wiþ loues fyf and fissches tuo to feede God sent his foysoun at her grete neede Line 504

[6-text p 146] Line 504

Sche dryueþ forþ in to oure Occean Line 505 Thurghout oure wilde see til atte last vnder an holte þat men nempne can Fer in Northumberland þe wawe hir cast Line 508 And in þe sand þe schip styked so fast That þennes wold it nouȝt in al a tyde The wille of crist was þat sche schold abyde Line 511

The Constabil of / þe castel doun is fare / Line 512 To se þis wrak / and al þe schip he sought And fond þis wery womman ful of care And fand also þe tresour þat sche brought Line 515 In hir langage mercy sche bisought The lif out of her body for to wynne hir to delyuer of woo þat sche was Inne / Line 518

A maner latyn corupt was hir speche Line 519 But algates / þer by sche was vnderstonde The constabil whan him lust no lenger seche This woful womman broughte he to londe / Line 522 Sche kneleþ doun and thanketh goddes sonde But what sche was sche wolde no man seye For foul ne faire / þough sche scholde deye Line 525

Sche was sche seyd so mased in þe see Line 526 That sche forgat hir mynde by hire trowþe / The constable had of hir so gret pitee And eek his wyf þey wepeden for routhe Line 529 Sche was so diligent wiþouten slouþe / To serue and plese euer in þat place That alle hir louen þat loken on hir face Line 532

The Constable and dame hermegyld his wyf Line 533 To telle ȝou playne in peynes boþe were [folio 78a] But hermegyld loued constance as hir lyf And Constance haþ so long herberwed þere Line 536

[6-text p 147] Line 536 In orisoun wiþ many a bitter teere / Til ihū haþ conuerted þurgh his grace Dame hermegyld þe Constables wif of þe place Line 539

In al þe lond no cristen men durst route Line 540 Al cristen men ben fled from þat contre Thurgh payens þat conquered al a-boute / The places of þe north by land and see Line 543 To wales fled þe cristianite Of olde britouns dwellyng in þis yle / Ther was hir refut for þe mene while Line 546

But/ ȝit nere cristen britouns so exiled Line 547 That þer / nere some in here pryuite / honoured crist and heþen men bygiled And neigh þe Castel such þer dwellid þre Line 550 That oon of hem was blynd and might nat se / But if it were wiþ eyen of his mynde wiþ which men seen after þat þey ben blynde Line 553

Bright was þe sonne as in someres day Line 554 For which þe constable and his wif also And Constaunce had take þe righte way Toward þe see a forlong wey or two Line 557 To pleyen and to Romen to and fro And in þat/ walk the blynde men þey mette Croked and olde with eyen fast y-schette Line 560

In name of crist / cryed þis old britoun Line 561 Dame hermegyld ȝif me my sight aȝeyn This lady wax affrayed of þe soun lest þat hir houseband schortly to sayn Line 564 wold hir for ihū cristes loue haue slayn Til Constaunce made hir bold and bad hir werche The wil of crist as douȝter of holy chirche Line 567

[6-text p 148] Line 567

The Constable wax abaisshed of þat sight Line 568 And sayde what amounteþ al þis fare Constaunce answered / sir it is cristes might That helpeth folk out of þe feendes snare / Line 571 And so ferforþ sche gan hir lay declare/ [folio 78b] That sche þe Constable er þat it was Eue Conuerted and on crist made him bileue Line 574

This Constable was no þing lord of þe place Line 575 Of which I speke þer he Constance fond But kept it strongly many a wynter space vnder alla kyng of Northumberlond Line 578 That was ful wys and worþy of his hond Aȝein þe scottes as men may wel heere But tourne aȝein I wil to my mateere Line 581

Satan þat euer vs wayteþ to begile / Line 582 Sawe of Constaunce þe persecucioun And cast anoon how he might quyt hir while / And made a ȝong knight þat dwelt in þe toun Line 585 Loue hir so hoot of foul affeccioun That verrayly him þouȝt he schulde spille But he of hire / oones had his wille Line 588

He wowith hir but it avayleþ nought Line 589 Sche wolde do no synne by no weye And for despyt / he compassed in his þought To maken hir a schamful deþ to deye Line 592 he wayteth whan þe Constable was aweye And pryuyly vpon a nyght he crepte In hermyngyldes chambre whil sche slepte / Line 595

Wery forwaked in here Orisoun Line 596 Slepeþ Constaunce and hermyngyld also This knight þurgh Satanas temptacioun Al softely is to þe bed y-go Line 599

[6-text p 149] Line 599 And kutte þe þrote of hermegild a two / And leyd þe bloody knyf/ by dame Constaunce And went his way þat god ȝeue him meschaunce Line 602

Sone after comþ þis Constable hom agayn Line 603 And eek alla þat was kyng of þat lond And say his wyf dispitously I-slayn For which ful oft / he wept and wrong his hond Line 606 And in þe bed þe blody knyf he fond By Dame Custaunce allas what might he say For verray woo / hir witt was al a-way Line 609

To king Alla was told al þis meschaunce [folio 79a] Line 610 And eek/þe tyme and wher and eek þe wyse That in a schip was founden þis Constaunce As here bifore ȝe haue herd me deuyse / Line 613 The kinges hert of pite gan agrise whan he saugh so benigne a creature Falle in disese and in mysauenture Line 616

For as þe lomb toward his deþ is brought / Line 617 So stant þis Innocent bifore þe kyng This false knight þat haþ þis tresoun wrought Bereþ hir an hand þat sche hath don þis þing Line 620 But neuer þe les þer was gret mornyng Among þe people and seyn þey can not gesse That sche had doon so gret a wikkednesse Line 623

For þey han seyen hir so vertuous Line 624 And louyng hermegyld right as hir lyf Of þis bar witnesse euerich in þat hous Saue he þat slowȝ hermegyld with his knyf Line 627 This gentil kyng haþ caught a gret motyf Of his witnesse and þought/ he wold enquere Deppere in þis cas a trouþe to lere Line 630

[6-text p 150] Line 630

Allas Constaunce þou ne has no champioun Line 631 Ne fighte canstow nat so welaway But he þat for oure redempcioun Bonde Sathan and ȝit liþ þer he lay Line 634 So be þy stronge champioun þis day For but crist vpon þe miracle kythe withouten gilt þou schalt be slayn as swithe Line 637

Sche set hir doun on knees and þan sche sayde Line 638 Immortal god þat sauedest Susanne For false blame and þou mercyful mayde Mary I mene doughter of seint Anne Line 641 Bifore whos child aungeles syng Osanne If I be gultles of þis felonye My socour be for elles schal I dye Line 644

Haue ȝe not seye somtyme a pale face Line 645 Among a prees of him þat haþ be lad Toward his deþ wher him geyneþ no grace / And such a colour in his face haþ had [folio 79b] Line 648 Men mighte knowe his face was so bystad Among alle þe faces in þat route So stant Constance and lokeþ hire aboute / Line 651

O queenes lyuyng in prosperite Line 652 Duchesses and ȝe ladies euerychon haueþ som reuþe on hir aduersite An emperoures doughter stond allon Line 655 Sche nath no wight to whom to make hir moon O blod ryal þat stondest in þis drede / Ferre be þy frendes at þy grete neede / Line 658

This Alla kyng haþ such compassioun Line 659 As gentil hert/ is fulfild of pite That from his eyen ran þe water doun Now hastily do fech a book quod he / Line 662

[6-text p 151] Line 662 And if þis knight wil swere how þat sche / This womman slowȝ ȝet wol we us avyse whom þat we wille schal be oure iustise Line 665

A britoun book I-write wiþ euaungiles Line 666 was fette and on þis book/ he swor anoon Sche gultif was and in þe mene whiles An hond him smot vpon þe nekke boon Line 669 That doun he fel anon right at a stoon And boþe his yen brast out of his face In sight of euery body in þat place Line 672

A vois was herd in general audience Line 673 And seist þou hast disclaundred gulteles The doughter of holy chirche in hire presence Thus hastow doon & ȝit I holde my pees Line 676 Of þis meruaile agast was al þe prees As mased folk þey stooden euerychon For drede of wreche saue Custaunce allon Line 679

Gret was þe drede and eek þe repentaunce Line 680 Of hem þat hadden gret suspeccioun vpon þe sely Innocent Custaunce And for þis miracle in conclusioun Line 683 And by Custaunces mediacioun The kyng and many oþer in þe place Conuerted was / thanked be cristes grace [folio 80a] Line 686

This false knight was slayn for his vntrouþe / Line 687 By Iuggement of Alla hastyly And ȝit Custaunce haþ of his deþ gret rouþe And after þis ihus of his mercy Line 690 Made alla wedde ful solempnely This holy mayde þat is bright and schene / And þus haþ crist I-maad Constance a queene Line 693

[6-text p 152] Line 693

But who was woful if I schal not lye / Line 694 Of þis weddyng but Domegild and þo The kynges mooder ful of tyrannye hir þought hir cursed herte brast a-two Line 697 Sche wolde nat hir sone had I-do so hir þought despyte / þat he schulde take So straunge a creature vnto his make Line 700

Me lust not of þe caf ne of þe stree Line 701 Make so long a tale as of þe corn what schuld I telle of þe realte Of mariage / or which cours goþ biforn Line 704 who bloweth in a trompe or in an horn The fruyt of euery tale is for to seye They ete & drynk / and daunce / and synge & pleye Line 707

They gon to bed as it was skile & right Line 708 For þough þat wyfes ben ful holy þinges They moste take in pacience a night Such maner necessaries as ben plesynges Line 711 To folk that han I-wedded hem wiþ rynges And haluendel her holynesse ley a side And for þe tyme it may non oþer betyde Line 714

On hire he gat a knaue child anoon Line 715 And to a bisschope & a Constable eeke he took his wyf to kepe whan he is goon To scotlondward his foomen for to seeke Line 718 Now faire Custaunce þat is so humble & meeke So long is goon wiþ childe til þat stille Sche held hir chambre abidyng goddes wille Line 721

The tyme is come a knaue child sche bere Line 722 Maurius atte funstone men him calle This Constabil doþ come forþ a messager [folio 80b] And wrot to his kyng þat cleped was Alle Line 725

[6-text p 153] Line 725 how þat þis blisful tydyng is bifalle And oþer þinges spedful for to seye he takeþ þe lettre and forþ he goþ his weye Line 728

This messanger to doon his auauntage Line 729 vnto þe kynges moder he goþ ful swiþe And salueth hire / fair in his langage Ma dame quod he ȝe may be glad and bliþe Line 732 And þanke god an hundred þousand siþe My lady queen haþ child wiþouten doute To ioye and blis of al þe reame aboute Line 735

Lo heer þe lettres sealed of þis þing Line 736 That I mot bere with al þe hast I may If ȝe wole ought vnto ȝoure sone þe kyng I am ȝoure seruaunt boþe night and day Line 739 Doungyld answerde as now þis tyme nay But here al nyght I wol þou take þy rest To morwen I wil say þe what me lest Line 742

This messanger drank sadly ale and wyn Line 743 And stolen were his lettres pryuely Out of his box whil he sleep as a swyn And countrefeet þey were subtily Line 746 Anoþer sche him wroot ful synfully vnto þe kyng direct/ of þis matiere Fro his Constable as ȝe schul after heere Line 749

The lettre spak þe queen delyuered was Line 750 Of so orryble and feendly creature That in þe castel noon so hardy was That eny while dorste þerin endure / Line 753 The mooder was an Elf by auenture Bycome by charmes or by sorcerie And euery man hatiþ hir companyne Line 756

[6-text p 154] Line 756

Wo was þis kyng whan he þis letter had sein Line 757 But to no wight he told his sorwes sore But of his owen hand he wrot agayn. welcome þe sond of crist for eueremore Line 760 To me þat am now lerned in his lore lord welcome be þy lust and þy pleasaunce [folio 81a] My lust I putte al in þyn ordinaunce Line 763

Kepeth þis child al be it foul or fair Line 764 And eek my wyf vnto myn hom comyng Crist whan him lust may sende me an hair More agreable þan þis to my likyng Line 767 The lettre he seleth pryuyly wepyng which to þe messager he took ful sone And forþ he goth þer nys no more to done Line 770

O messager fulfild of dronkenesse Line 771 Strong is þy breþ þy lymes faltren ay And þou bywreyest alle sykernesse Thy mynde is lorn þou ianglest as a Iay Line 774 Thy face is torned al in a newe array Ther drunkenesse regneþ in eny route Ther is no counseil hid wiþouten doute Line 777

O Domegyld I haue non englisch digne Line 778 vnto þy malice and þy tyrannye And þerfor to þe feend I þe resigne let him endyten of þi treccherie Line 781 Fy mannyssch fy .o. nay by god I lye Fy feendly spirit for I dar wel telle Though þou here walke þy spirit is in helle Line 784

This messanger comþ fro þe kyng agayn Line 785 And at þe kinges modres court he light And sche was of þis messenger ful fayn And pleseþ him in al þat euer sche might Line 788

[6-text p 155] Line 788 he drank and wel his gurdel vnderpight he slepeþ and he fareþ in his gyse Al nyght vnto þe sonne gan arise Line 791

Eft were his lettres stolen euerichon Line 792 And countrefeted lettres in þis wise The kyng comaundeþ his constable anon vp peyne of hangyng of an heiȝ Iustise Line 795 That he schulde suffre in no maner wyse Constaunce in his regne for to abyde Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde Line 798

But in þe same schip as he hir fond Line 799 hire and hir ȝonge sone and al hire gere [folio 81b] he schulde putte and crowde fro þe londe And charge hire þat sche neuer eft come þere Line 802 ·O. my Constaunce wel may þy goost haue fere And slepyng in þy drem ben in penaunce whan Domegyl cast al þis ordynaunce / Line 805

This messanger a-morwe whan he awook Line 806 vnto þe castel held þe nexte way And to þe constable he þe lettre took And whan þat he þe pitous lettre say Line 809 Ful ofte he seyd allas and welaway Lord crist quod he how may þis world endure So ful of synne is many a creature Line 812

O mighty god if þat it be þy wille Line 813 Seþ þou art rightful iugge how may þis be / That þou wolt suffre Innocentȝ to spille / And wikked folk regne in prosperite Line 816 ·O good Constance allas so wo is me That I moot be þy tormentour or deye On schamful deþ þer is non oþer weye Line 819

[6-text p 156] Line 819

Wepyng boþe ȝong & olde in al þat place Line 820 whan þat þe kyng þis corsed lettre sent And Constance with a dedly pale face The fayre day toward hir schip sche went Line 823 But neuerþeles sche takeþ in good entent The wil of crist / and knelyng on þe grounde Sche sayde lord ay welcome be þy sonde Line 826

He þat me kepte fro þe false blame Line 827 whil I was on þe lond amonges ȝou He can me kepe from harm & eek fro schame In þe see al þough I se nat how Line 830 As strong as euer he was he is right now In him trust I. & in his mooder deere That is to me my sayl and eek my steere / Line 833

Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm Line 834 And knelyng pitously to him sche sayde / Pees litle sone I wol do þe noon harm wiþ þat hir kerchef of hir hed sche brayde Line 837 And ouer his litel yȝen sche it layde [folio 82a] And in hir arm sche lullith it wel faste And vnto heuen hir eyȝen vp sche caste Line 840

Moder quod sche and mayde bright marie Line 841 Soþ is þat þurgh wommannes eggement Mankynde was lorn and dampned ay to dye For which þy child was on a cros torent Line 844 Thyn blisful eyȝen sawh al þis torment Then nys þer noon comparisoun bitwene Thy wo and any woo may nat sustene Line 847

Thow saugh þy child I-slaw byfor þyn yen Line 848 And ȝit now lyueþ my litel child par fay Now lady bright to whom alle woful cryen Thou glory of wommanhod þou faire may Line 851

[6-text p 157] Line 851 Thou heuen of refute brighte sterre of day Rewe on my child þat of þyn gentilnesse / Rewest on euery synful in destresse Line 854

O litel child allas what is þi gilt Line 855 That neuer wroughtest synne as ȝet par de why wil þyn harde fader han þe spilt O. mercy deere and Constable seyde sche Line 858 And let my litel child here dwelle with þe And if þou darst not sauen him for blame / So kys him oones in his fadres name Line 861

Ther wiþ sche loked bakward to þe lond Line 862 And seyde far wel housbond rewþeles And vp sche rist and walkeþ doun þe stronde Toward þe schip hir folweþ al þe prees Line 865 And euer sche preyeþ hir child to hold his pees And took hir leue and wiþ an holy entent Sche blesseþ hire and to þe schip sche went Line 868

Vytailled was þe schip it is no drede Line 869 Abundauntly for hire ful longe space And oþer necessaries þat schulde nede Sche had ynowȝ heryed be cristeȝ grace Line 872 For wynd and water almighty god purchace And bryng hir hom I can no bettre say But in þe see sche dryueþ forþ hir way Line 875

[PART III.]

Alla þe kyng comþ hom soon after þis [folio 82b] Line 876 vnto þe Castel of þe which I tolde And askeþ wher his wyf and his child ys The Constable gan aboute his herte colde Line 879

[6-text p 158] Line 879 And playnly al þe maner he him tolde As ȝe han herd / I can telle it no better And schewed þe kynges seal and his letter Line 882

And seyde lord as ȝe comaunded me Line 883 vp peyne of deþ so haue I do certayn This messager tormented was til he Moste biknowe and telle it plat and playn · Line 886 Fro nyght to night in what place he had layn · And þus by witt/ and subtil enqueryng ymagined was by wham þis gan to spryng Line 889

The hand was knowen þat þe lettre wroot Line 890 And al þe venym of þis cursed dede But in what wyse certeynly I noot Theffect is þis þat alla out of drede Line 893 his moder slough as men may pleynly reede / For þat sche traytour was to hir ligeaunce Thus endeþ olde Domegild wiþ meschaunce Line 896

The sorwe þat/ þis alla night and day Line 897 Makþ for his wyf and for his child also Ther is no tonge þat it telle may But now I wol vnto Custaunce go Line 900 That fleetetþ in þe see in peyne and wo .V. ȝeer and more as likeþ cristes sonde Er þat hir schip approched vnto londe Line 903

Vnder an hethen castel atte last Line 904 Of which þe name in my text nouȝt I fynde Constaunce and eek hir child þe see vpcast Almighty god þat saueth al mankynde / Line 907 Haue on Constaunce and on hir child som mynde That fallen is in hethen hond eft sone In poynt to spille as I schal telle ȝou soone Line 910

[6-text p 159] Line 910

Doun fro þe Castel comþ þer many a wight Line 911 To gawren on þis schip and on Constaunce But schortly fro þe castel on a night The lordes styward God ȝiue him meschaunce [folio 83a] Line 914 A þeef þat had reneyed oure creaunce Com in to schip alone and seyd he scholde hir lemman be wheþir sche wold or nolde Line 917

Wo was þis wrecched womman þo bigoon Line 918 hire childe crieþ and sche pytously But blisful mary hilp hir right anoon For wiþ hir strengþe wel and mightily Line 921 The theef fel ouer boord al sodeinly And in þe see he drenched for vengaunce And þus haþ crist vnwemmed kept Constance Line 924

O foule lust/ O luxurie lo þin ende / Line 925 Nought oonly þat þou feyntest mannes mynde But verrayly þou wolt his body schende The ende of þyn werk or of þy lustes blynde Line 928 his compleynyng how many may men fynde That nought for werk som tyme but/ for þentent To doon his synne ben eyþer slayn or schent / Line 931

How may þis weyke womman han þe strengþe Line 932 hir to defende aȝein þe renegat O Golias vnmesurable of lengþe how mighte dauid make þe so mate Line 935 So ȝong and of armure so desolate how dorst he loke vpon þyn dredful face wel may men seyn it nas but goddes grace Line 938

Who ȝaf Iudith corage or hardynesse / Line 939 To slen him Olefernes in his tent And to delyueren out þe wrecchednes The peple of god I say in þis entent Line 942

[6-text p 160] Line 942 That right as good spiryte vigor sent To hem and saued hem out of meschaunce / So sent he might and vigor to Constaunce Line 945

Forth goþ hir schip þurghout þe narwe mouth Line 946 Of Iubalter and Septe dryuyng ay Somtyme west som tyme north and south And somtyme Est ful many a wery way Line 949 Til cristes mooder blessed be sche ay haþ schapen þurgh hir endeles goodnesse To make an ende of hir heuynesse [folio 83b] Line 952

Now let vs stynt of Constance but a þrowe Line 953 And speke we of / þe Romayn Emperour That out of Surrye haþ by lettres knowe The slaughter of cristen folk and deshonour Line 956 Doon to his douȝter by a fals traytour I mene þe cursed and wikked sowdenesse That at þe fest leet slee boþe more and lesse Line 959

For which þis Emperour haþ sent anoon Line 960 his senatours with real ordynaunce And oþer lordes got wot many oon On surriens to take high vengaunce Line 963 They brenne / sleen / and bringen hem to meschaunce Ful many a day but schortly þis is þende homward to Rome þey schapen hem to wende Line 966

This Senatour repayreþ wiþ victorie Line 967 To Romeward saylyng ful really And mette þe schip dryuyng as seiþ þe story In which Constance sitteþ ful pitously Line 970 No þing ne knew he what sche was ne why Sche was in such aray / sche nolde seye Of hire astaat al þough sche scholde deye Line 973

[6-text p 161] Line 973

He bryngeþ hir to Rome and to his wyf Line 974 he ȝaf hir and hir ȝonge sone also And wiþ þe Senatour lad sche hir lyf Thus can our lady. bryngen out of woo Line 977 woful Constance and many anoþer moo And longe tyme dwelled sche in þat place In holy werkes. as euer was hir grace / Line 980

The Senatoures wif hir aunte was Line 981 But for al þat sche knew hir neuer more I wol no lenger taryen in þis cas But to kyng Alla which I spak of ȝore / Line 984 That for his wyf wepeþ and sikeþ sore / I wol retorne / and lete I wol Constaunce vnder þe Senatoures gouernaunce Line 987

Kyng alla which þat had his mooder slayn Line 988 vpon a day fel in such repentaunce / That if I schortly telle schal and playn [folio 84a] To Rome he comeþ to receyue his penaunce Line 991 And putte him in þe popes ordynaunce In heigh and lowe and ihū crist bysought Forȝef his wikked werkes þat he wrought Line 994

The fame anon þurgh Rome toun is born Line 995 how alla kyng schal come in pilgrymage By herberiourȝ þat wenten him biforn For which þe Senatour as was vsage Line 998 Rood him aȝein and many of his lynage As wel to schewen his magnificence As to doon eny kyng a reuerence Line 1001

Gret cheere doþ þis noble Senatour Line 1002 To kyng Alla and he to him also Euerich of hem doþ oþer gret honour And so bifel þat on a day or two Line 1005

[6-text p 162] Line 1005 This Senatour is to kyng Alla go To fest and schortly if I schal not lye Constances sone / went in his companye Line 1008

Som men wold seyn at request of Custaunce Line 1009 This Senatour haþ lad þis child to feste I may not telle euery circumstaunce Be as be may þer was he atte leste Line 1012 But soth it is right at his modres heste Byforn hem alle duryng þe metes space The child stood lokyng in þe kynges face Line 1015

This alla kyng haþ of þe child gret wonder Line 1016 And to þe Senatour he seyd anoon whos is þat faire child þat stondeþ ȝonder I not quod he by god and by seynt Ion Line 1019 A moder he haþ but fader haþ he non That I of woot and schortly in a stounde he told Alla how þat þis child was founde / Line 1022

But god woot quod þis senatour also Line 1023 So vertuous a lyuer in my lyf Ne saugh I neuer such as sche nomo Of worldly womman mayden or of wyf Line 1026 I dar wel say sche hadde leuer a knyf Thurghout hir brest þan ben a womman wikke [folio 84b] Ther is no man can bryng hir to þat prikke Line 1029

Now was þis child as lik vnto Custaunce Line 1030 As possible is a creature to be This alla haþ þe face in remembraunce Of Dame Custaunce and þer on mused he Line 1033 If þat þe childes mooder were ought sche That is his wyf and pryuely he hight And sped him fro þe table þat he might Line 1036

[6-text p 163] Line 1036

Par fay þought he fantom is in myn heed Line 1037 I ought to deme of righful Iuggement That in þe salte see my wyf is deed And afterward he made þis argument Line 1040 what woot I wher crist haþ hider sent My wyf by see as wel as he hir sent To my contre fro þennes þat sche went Line 1043

And after noom home wiþ þe senatour Line 1044 Goth alla for to see þis wonder chaunce This Senatour doþ alla gret honour And hastely he sent after Custaunce Line 1047 But trusteþ wel hir luste nat to daunce / whan þat sche wiste wherfore was þat sonde vnnethes on hir feet/ sche mighte stonde / Line 1050

Whan alla saugh his wyf fayre he hir grette Line 1051 And wepte þat it was rewþe to se For at þe firste look he on hir sette he knew wel verrely þat it was sche Line 1054 And for sorwe as domb sche stant as tre So was hire herte schett in his distresse whan sche remembred his vnkyndenesse Line 1057

Twies sche swowned in his owen sight Line 1058 he wept and him excuseþ pitously Now god quod he and alle his halwes bright So wisly on my soule haue mercy Line 1061 That of ȝoure harm as gulteles am I As is maurice my sone so lyk ȝoure face Elles þe feend me fecche out of þis place / Line 1064

Long was þe sobbyng and þe bitter peyne Line 1065 Or þat here woful herte mighte cesse [folio 85a] Gret was þe pite for to here hem pleyne Thurgh whiche playntȝ gan here wo encresse Line 1068

[6-text p 164] Line 1068 I pray ȝou alle my labour to relesse I may not telle al here sorwe vnto morwe I am so wery for to speke of þe sorwe / Line 1071

But fynally whan þat the soþ is wist Line 1072 That alla gilteles was of hir woo I trowe an hundred tymes þey ben kist And such a blys is þer bitwix hem tuo Line 1075 That saue þe ioye þat lasteþ eueremo Ther is noon lyk þat eny creature haþ seyn or schal. whil þat þe world may dure Line 1078

Tho prayde sche hir housbond meekely Line 1079 In þe relees of hir pytous pyne The he wold preye hir fader specially That of his maieste he wold enclyne Line 1082 To vouche sauf som tyme with him to dyne Sche preyeþ him eek he schulde by no weye Vnto hir fader no word of hir seye Line 1085

Som men wold seye þat hir child Maurice Line 1086 Doþ his message vnto þe Emperour But as I gesse alla was nat so nyce To him þat is so souerayn of honour Line 1089 As he þat is of cristes folk þe flour Sent eny child but it is best to deeme he went himsilf and so it may wel seme / Line 1092

This Emperour haþ graunted gentilly Line 1093 To come to dyner as he him bysought As wel rede I he loked besily vpon þe child and on his douȝter þought Line 1096 Alla goþ to his In and as him ought Arrayed for þis fest in euery wyse As ferforth as his connyng may suffise Line 1099

[6-text p 165] Line 1099

The morwe cam and alla gan him dresse Line 1100 And eek his wyf þe Emperour for to meete And for þey ryde in ioye and in gladnesse / And whan sche saugh hir fader in þe streete Line 1103 Sche light a doun and falleþ him to feete [folio 85b] Fader quod sche ȝour ȝonge child Constance Is now ful clene ou of ȝour remembraunce Line 1106

I am ȝour doughter Custaunce quod sche Line 1107 That whilom ȝe haue sent vnto Surrye It am I fader þat in þe salte see was put alloon and dampned for to dye Line 1110 Now goode fader mercy I ȝou crye Send me no more vnto noon hethenesse But þanke my lord her of his kyndenesse Line 1113

Who can þe pytous Ioye telle al Line 1114 Bitwix hem þre siþ þey be þus I-mette But of my tale make an ende I schal The day goþ fast I wol no lenger lette Line 1117 This glade folk to dyner þey ben sette In ioye and blys at mete I let hem dwelle A þousand fold wel more þan I can telle. Line 1120

This child Maurice was siþþen Emperour Line 1121 I-maad by þe pope and lyued cristenly To cristes chirche dede he gret honour But I let al his story passen by Line 1124 Of Custaunce is my tale specially In olde Romayn gestes men may fynde Maurices lyf I bere it nought in mynde Line 1127

This kyng alla whan he his tyme say Line 1128 with his Constaunce his holy wyf so swete To Engelond þey com þe righte way wher as þey lyue in ioye and in quyete Line 1131

[6-text p 166] Line 1131 But litel whil it last I ȝou biheete; Ioy of þis world // for tyme wol not abyde Fro day to night it chaungeth as þe tyde Line 1134

Who lyued euer in such delyt a day Line 1135 That him ne meued eyþer his conscience Of Ire or talent / or som maner affray Enuy or pride or passioun or offence Line 1138 I ne say but for þis ende þis sentence But litel whil in ioye or in plesaunce lasteþ þe blis / of alla with Custaunce Line 1141

For deth þat takþ of heigh & low his rent [folio 86a] Line 1142 whan passed was a ȝeere as I gesse / Out of þis worlde / kyng alla he hent For whom Custauns. haþ ful gret heuynesse / Line 1145 Now let vs pray. þat god his soule blesse / And dame Custaunce fynally to say Toward þe toun of Rome goþ hir way Line 1148

To Rome is come þis nobil creature Line 1149 And fynt hir freendes þer boþe hool & sound Now is sche skaped al hir auenture And whanne sche hir fader had I-founde Line 1152 Doun on hir knees falleþ sche to grounde wepyng for tendirnes in herte blithe Sche heried god an hundred þousand sithe Line 1155

In vertu and in holy almesdede Line 1156 They lyuen alle. and neuer a sondre wende Til deþ departe hem þis lyf þey lede And far now wel my tale is at an ende Line 1159 Now ihū crist þat of his might may sende / Ioy after wo gouerne vs in his grace / And keep ous alle. þat ben in þis place / Line 1162

[6-text p 167] Line 1162

Our Ost vppon his styrops stood anoon· And seyde good men herkneth euerychoon· This was a þrifty tale for þe noones Sir parissh prest quod he for goodes boones Line 1166 Tel out a tale / as was þy forward ȝore I see wel þat ȝe lered men in lore Can moche good by goddes dignete The parsoun him answerde ben dicite Line 1170 what eyleþ þe man so synfully to swere Our Ost answerd. O Iankyn be ȝe þere I smel a loller in þe wynd quod he Now good men quod our Oste / herkneþ me Line 1174 [[A break of one line in the MS.]] For we schul haue a predicacioun This loller wolde prechen vs heer som what / Nay by my fader soule þat schal he nat/ Line 1178 Sayde the sompnour he schal heer nauȝt preche he schal no gospel preche here ne teche [folio 86b] we leuyn alle in þe grete god quod he He wolde schewen som difficulte Line 1182 Or springen cokkil in our clene corn And þerfor ost I warne þe byforn My ioly body schal a tale telle

¶ Here endith þe man of lawe his tale.