(362)
¶ fful often sithë [sothe R.] it is wist and seen,
Line 2528
That for þe wrong and þe vnryghtwisnesse
Of kyngës mynistres, þat kyngës bene
Holden gilty, where-as in soothfastnesse
Thei knowen no þing of þe wikkednesse;
Line 2532
Vniust mynístres ofte hir kyng accusen,
And thei þat iust ben, óf wrong hem excusen.
(363)
¶ If þe ministres do naght but iustice
Line 2535
To poorë peple, in contre as þei go,
Thogh þe kyng be vniust, yit is his vice
Hid to þe peple; thei wene eueremo
The kyng be iust, for his men gye hem so.
Line 2539
But ministres to seelde hem wel gouerne;
Oppressïoun regneth in euery herne.
Line 2541
(364)
¶ A kyng, me thinkeþ, for þe seuerte
Line 2542
Of his good loos, by-houeþ it enquere
Of hem þat han his éstate in cheerte,
What famë þat his poore peple him bere;
He of iustice is bounden hem to were
Line 2546
And to diffende; and if þat þei be greued,
By him thei mot be holpen and releued.
Line 2548
(365)
¶ Excusë schal hym naght his ignorance; [folio 44a]
Line 2549
He mot enquere of wrong, and it redresse;
ffor þat he peple haþ in gouernance,
He clept is kyng: if his men peple oppresse,
Witynge hym, and noght rekke of the duresse,
Line 2553
He may, be ryght, be clept no gouernour,
But of his peple a wilful déstroyour.
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