A quest þan wild he take of þe monke þat bare þe coroune,
His abite he gan forsake, his ordre lete alle doune.
& ȝit a noþer sawe of behoues be spoken,
Ageyn þe comon lawe, þe prison has he broken.
Som chesons þei cast, & som for him said,
Bot here now at þe last, what dome was on him laid.
SAID Sir Roberd, "monk þou was whilom, [De mona|cho rege suspenso.]
"For wirschip of þe werld forsoke þou alle & som.
"To God þou mad a vow in þi professioun.
"His traitour ert þou now, þou did him a tresoun.
"For þe worlde's blisse þou left þin habite,
"& now þou wost for wisse of boþe ert þou quite.
"We toke þe als robboure in þis ilk cuntre,
"þou reft þe kyng his honour, þat felle not vnto þe.
"To Cheryn þat ilk toun, þider was þou led,
"& þer þou brak prisoun, & away þou fled.
"Eft we did þe take, in prison we þe bond,
"þat lawe I salle þe make, þat is Richard lond.
"Galwes do ȝe reise, & hyng þis cheitefe.
"Better him wer with eise in clostre haf led his life,
"þe seruise of his song recorded & lered,
"þan chalange with wrong þat kyng R. conquered,
"& þi messe songen, & serued God alle myght,
"þan to be hongen in þi frendis sight.
NOW of þis olde monk & þis new kyng,
þat was not worth a fonk, don has his endyng.
