þe kyng it was herd, & chastised his meyne,
& oþer afterward left of þer nycete.
THER after half a ȝere þe clergie had gode pes,
þat noiþer wo no werre non on þam gan pres.
Bot Geffrey of Maundeuile þe kyng Steuen him reft
His baronie, þat while robberie with Job was left.
þe abbay of Rameseie bi nyght he robbed it,
þe tresore bare aweie with hand þei myght on hit.
Abbote & priour & monke þei did out chace,
Of holy kirke a toure to theft þei mad it place.
Roberd þe Marmion þe same wayes did he, [DeRoberto Marmyon.]
He robbed þorgh treson þe kirke of Couentre.
Here now of þeir schame, what chance bifelle.
þe story sais þe same, soth as þe gospelle.
¶ Roberd þe Marmyon he lepe vp on his stede,
þorgh Couentre þat toun vnto þe kirke he ȝede.
He comandid his men, to dryue out þe couent,
þe godes him biken, þat þei mot tak or hent.
Whan þei had inouh, als mykelle as þei mot lede
þat þei of herneis drouh, to go þei gan þam spede.
He turned his bridelle wiþ querte, he wend away haf gone,
þe dede him smote to þe herte, word spak he neuer none.
¶ Geffrey of Maundeuile to fele wrouh he wouh, [De G. Maunde|uile.]
þe deuelle ȝald him his while, with an arowe on him slouh.
þe gode bisshop of Chestre cursed þis ilk Geffray,
His lif out of þis estre in cursyng went away.
Arnulf his sonne was taken als thefe, & brouht in bond,
Befor þe kyng forsaken, & exiled out of þis lond.
