Som men out þe kast of lond was holden wrong,
Fals couenantz þei brast þorgh powere holden long,
& som gaf raunson after þer trespas,
Als þe dede was don, so þe amendes was.
Bot men did amend suilk folie openly knowen,
Non suld þam defend, ne dur wonne in þer owen.
A! Jhesu, whan þou wille how rightwis is þi mede? [De cap|cione Willelmi Waleys.]
þat of þe wrong has gilt, þe endyng may þei drede.
William Waleis is nomen, þat maister was of theues,
Tiþing to þe kyng is comen, þat robberie mischeues.
Sir Jon of Menetest sewed William so nehi,
He tok him whan he wend lest, on nyght his leman bi.
þat was þorght treson of Jak Schort his man,
He was þe encheson, þat Sir Jon so him nam.
Jak broþer had he slayn, þe Waleis þat is said,
þe more Jak was fayn, to do William þat braid.
Selcouthly he endis þe man þat is fals,
If he trest on his frendes, þei begile him als
Begiled is William, taken is & bondon.
To Inglond with him þei cam, & led him vnto London,
þe first dome he fanged, for treson was he drawen.
For robbrie was he hanged, & for he had men slawen,
& for he had brent abbeis, & men of religion,
Eft fro þe galweis quik þei lete him doun,
& bouweld him alle hote, & brent þam in þe fire,
His hede þan of smote, suilk was William hire;
& for he had mayntend þe werre at his myght,
On lordschip lended þore he had no right,
