The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 132]

[PROLOGUE OF THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.] ¶ Incipit ffabula. [[There are no breaks in the MS between stanzas or Parts.]]

O Hateful harm condicion of pouert With thurst with cold with hunger he confoundeth To asken helpe þe schameþ in þin hert If þou now axe wiþ neede art þou so wounded Line 102 That verray neede vnwrappeth al þi wounde hid Maugre þin heed þou most for Indigence Or stele or begge or borwe þi dispence Line 105

Thou blamest crist and seist ful bitterly he mys departeþ richesse temporal Thy neyghebour þou witest synfully And seist þou hast to litel and he haþ al Line 109 Par fey seistow somtyme he rekene schal Whan þat his tail schal brennen in þe gleede ffor he nought helpeþ needeful in here neede [folio 75b]

¶ Herkne what is þe menyng of þe wise Bet is to deyen þan haue Indigence This self neighebore wile þe dispise If þou be pouer far wel þi reuerence Line 116 yet of þe wise man tak þis sentence Alle þe dayes of pore men ben wikke Be war þerfore or þou come in þat prikke Line 119

¶ If þou be pouere þi broþer hateþ þe And alle þi freendes fleen fro þe allas O Riche marchantz ful of wele be O noble prudent folk as in þis cas Line 123 youre bagges ben nought filled with ambes aas But with Sis Cynk þat renneþ for ȝour chance At Cristes masse merye may ȝe daunce Line 126

[6-text p 133] Line 126

¶ ye seeken lond and see for ȝour wynnynges As wys folk þat knowen alle thestat Of regnes ȝe ben fadres of tyþinges And tales bothen of pees and of debat Line 130 I were right now of tales desolat Nere þat a marchant gon is many a yere Me taught a tale which as ye schal heere Line 133

[6-text p 134]

[PART I.] [[No break in the MS.]]

¶ In Surrye whilom dwelt a companye Of Chapmen riche and þer-to sad and trewe That wyde where sente here spicerie Cloþes of gold and Satyn riche of hewe Line 137 here chaffare was so thrifty and so newe That euery wight haþ deynte to chaffare With hem and eek to sellen hem here ware Line 140

¶ Now fil it þat þe maistres of þat sort han schapen hem to Rome for to wende Were it fo chapmanhode or for disport Non oþer message wolde þey þider sende Line 144 But comen hemself to Rome þis is þe ende And in swich place as þought hem auantage ffor here entente þei take here herbergage Line 147

Soiorned han þise marchantez in þat toun [folio 76a] A certein tyme as felle to hire plesance But so felle þat þe excellent renoun Of þe Emperour doughter dame Custance Line 151 Reported was with euery circumstance vnto þise Surrien marchantz in swich wise ffro day to day as I schal you deuyse/ Line 154

¶ This was þe comone voys of euery man Oure emperour of Rome god him see A doughter he haþ þat syn þe world bigan To rekne as wel hir goodnesse as beaute Line 158 Nas neuer such anoþer as is sche I pray to god in honour hir sustene And wolde sche were of alle Europe þe queene Line 161

[6-text p 135] Line 161

¶ In hire is heigh beaute wiþoute pride [Europia est tercia pars mundi.] youþe wiþoute greenehod of folye To alle hire werkes vertu is hire guyde humblesse haþ slayn in hire al tyrannye Line 165 Sche is a merour of alle curtesye hire herte is verray chambre of holynesse hire hand ministre of fredam for almesse Line 168

¶ And al þis voys is soþ as god is trewe But now to purpos lat vs turne again Thise marchantz han doon fraught here schippes newe And whan þay haue þis blisful mayde sain Line 172 hom to Surrey beþ þei went agayn And don here needes as þey han don yore And lyuen in wele I can seye yow nomore Line 175

Now fil it þat þis marchantz stoden in grace Of him þat was þe Sowdon of Surrie ffor whan þei came from eny strange place he wolde of his benigne curtesie/ Line 179 Make hem good chere and besily aspie Tythynges of sundy Remes for to leere The wondres þat þey mighte seen or heere Line 182

Amonges oþer þinges specially Thise marchantz han him told of Dame Custance [folio 76b] So gret noblesse in ernest ceriously That þis Sowdan haþ caught so gret/ plesance Line 186 To han hire figure in his remembrance And alle his lust and alle his besy cure Was for to loue hire whil his lijf may dure Line 189

Parauenture in þilke large book Which þat þei cleped þe heuen write was Wiþ sterres whan þat he his birþe took That he for loue schulde han his deþ allas Line 193

[6-text p 136] Line 193 ffor in þe sterres clerer þan is þe glas Is writen god wot / who so cowde it rede/ The deþ of euery man wiþouten drede Line 196

¶ In sterres many a wynter þer biforn Was write þe deth of Ector Achilles [¶ Ceptra pharonei fratrum discordia Thebe flamma pnetontis deucalionis aque in stellis priami species audacia turni sensus vlixeu herculeus que vigor.] Of Pompe Iulius or þei were born The stryf of Thebes and of hercules/ Line 200 Of Sampson Turnus and of Socrates The deth/ but mennes wittes ben so dulle That no wight can wel rede it atte fulle Line 203

This Sowdon for his priuey counseil sente And schortly of þis mater for to pace he haþ to hem declared his entente And seide hem certein but if he might haue grace Line 207 To haue Custance wiþinne a litel space he nas but ded and charged hem in hye To schapen for his lyf som remedye Line 210

¶ Diuerse men diuerse þinges seiden The argumentes casten vp and doun Many a sotil reson forþ þey leyden They speken of Magique and abusion Line 214 But fynally as in conclusion They can not seen in þat non auantage Ne in non oþer weye saf mariage Line 217

¶ Than saugh þey þer in such difficulte By way of reson for to speke al playn By cause þat þer was such diuersite [folio 77a] Bitwen here boþe lawes þat þei sayn Line 221 They trowe þat no cristne prince wolde fain Wedde his child vnder oure lawes so sweete That vs was taught by mahon oure prophete Line 224

[6-text p 137] Line 224

¶ And he answerde raþer þan I leese Custance I wol be cristned douteles I mot ben hires I may non oþer cheese I pray ȝow holdeþ ȝour argumentz in pees Line 228 Saueþ my lif and beþ nought Recheles To geten hire þat haþ my lif in cure ffor in this woo I may not longe endure Line 231

¶ What nedeþ grettere dilatacion I seie by tretys and embassadrie/ And by þe popes mediacion And alle þe chirche and alle þe chiualrie Line 235 That in distruction of mawmattrie And in encres of cristes lawe deere They ben accorded so as ȝe schal heere/ Line 238

¶ how þat þe Sowdan and his Baronage And alle his lieges schold y-cristened be/ And he schal han Custance in mariage And certein gold y not what quantite Line 242 And herto founden sufficeant seurte This same accord was sworn in either syde Now faire Custance almighty god þe gyde Line 245

Now wolde sommen waiten as I gesse/ That I schulde tellen al þe purueance That þe Emperour of his noblesse hath schapen for his doughter dame Custance Line 249 Wel may men knowe þat so gret ordinance May noman tellen in a litel clause As was arrayed for so heigh a cause Line 252

¶ Bisschoppes ben schapen wiþ hire for to wende lordes ladies knightes of renoun And oþer folk ynowe þis is þe ende And notified is þurgh out þe toun [folio 77b]

[6-text p 138] That euery wight wiþ gret deuocion Scholde preye crist þat he þis mariage Resceyue in gree. and speede þis viage Line 259

¶ The day is come of hir departyng I sey þe woful lady [[so]] fatal is come That þer may be no lenger tarying But forþward þey hem dressen alle & some Line 263 Custance þat with sorw is al ouercome fful pale arist and dresseþ hire to wende ffor wel sche seeth þer is non oþer ende Line 266

Allas what wonder is it þough sche wepte That schal be sent to strange nacion ffro freendes þat so tendrely hire kepte And to be bounden vnder subiection Line 270 Of oon sche knoweth not his condicion housbondes ben alle goode and han ben yore That knowen wyfes I dar say ȝou namore Line 273

¶ ffader sche sayde þi wrecchede child Custaunce Thy yonge doughter fostred vp so softe And ye my mooder my souereigne plesance Ouer alle þing out taken crist a lofte Line 277 Custance youre child hir recomandeþ ofte vnto your grace for I schal to Surrie Ne schal I neuer seen ȝou more with ye Line 280

Allas vnto þe Barbarie nacion I moste anon siþþen it is your wille But crist þat starf for oure Redempcion So yeue me grace his hestes to fulfille Line 284 I wrecche womman no fors þough I spille Wommen are born to thraldom and penance And to ben vnder mannes gouernance Line 287

[6-text p 139] Line 287

¶ I trowe at Troye whan Purrus brak þe walle Or ylion þat brende Thebes þat Citee Not Rome for the harme thurgh hanybal That Romayns haþ venquissed tymes þre Line 291 Nas herde such tendre weepyng for pite [folio 78a] As in þe Chambre for hire departyng But forþ sche moot wher so sche weepe or syng [¶ Vnde P[t]holomeus libro j^o, Capitulo g^o primi motus celi duo sunt quorum vnus est qui mouet totum semper ab oriente in occidentem vno modo super orbes & cetera. Item aliter vero motus est qui mouet orbem stellarum currencium. Contra motum primum videlicet ab occidente in orientem super alios duos polos & cetera. Omnes enim concordati sunt quod electiones sint debiles nisi in di|uitibus, habent enim isti licet debilitentur eorum electiones radicem .i. natiuitates eorum que confortat omnem planetam debilem in itinere. huc. philosophus.] Line 294

¶ O ferste moeuyng cruel firmament Wiþ þy diuinal sweigh that crowdest ay And hurlest alle fro Est to Occident That naturelly wolde holde anoþer way Line 298 Thy crowdyng sett þe heuen in such array Atte bygynnyng of þis fiers viage That cruel mars haþ slain þis mariage Line 301

¶ Infortunat ascendent tortuous Of which þe lord is helples falle allas Out of his angle in to þe derkest hous O. mars .o. ataȝir as in þis cas Line 305 O fieble moone vnhappy been þy paas Thou knettest þe þer þou nart nought receyued There þou were wel fro þens now art þou weyued Line 308

¶ Imprudent Emperour of Rome allas Was þer no Philosophre in al þi toun Is no tyme bet þan oþer in such caas Of viage is þer non election Line 312 Namly to folk of heigh condicion Nat whan a roote is of a burthe y-knowe Allas ȝe ben to lewed or to slowe Line 315

¶ The schip is brought þis woful faire mayde Solempnely wiþ euery circumstance Now Ihesu crist be with ȝou alle sche sayde Ther nys nomore but far wel faire Custance Line 319

[6-text p 140] Line 319 Sche peyneþ hire to make good contynance And forþ I lete hire saile in þis manere And torne I wille again to my matiere Line 322

The mooder of þe Sowdon welle of vices Espied haþ hir sones pleyne entent how he wol lete his olde Sacrifices And right anon sche for hire counseil sent Line 326 And þei ben come to knowe what sche ment And whan assembled was þis folk in feere [folio 78b] Sche sette hire doun and seide as ye schal heere Line 329

¶ lordes quoþ sche ȝe knowen euerych on how þat my sone in poynt is for to lete The holy lawes of oure alkaron yeuen by goddes messager Makomete Line 333 But oon avow to grete god I hete The lyf schal rather out of my body sterte Or makometis lawe out of myn herte Line 336

What scholde vs tyden of þis newe lawe But þraldam to oure bodyes and penance And afterward in helle to ben drawe ffor we reneyed mahon oure creance Line 340 But lordes wol ye maken assurance As I schal sein assentyng to my lore And I schal make vs sauf for eueremore Line 343

¶ They sworen and assenten euery man To lyue with hire and dye and by hire stonde And euerich in þe beste wise he can To strengþen hire schal alle his frendes fonde Line 347 And sche haþ þis emprise take on honde Which ȝe schal here þat I schal deuyse And to hem alle sche spak in þis wise Line 350

[6-text p 141] Line 350

¶ We schulle ferst feyne vs cristendom to take/ Cold water schal not greue vs but a lite And I schal swich a reuel and feste maken That as I trowe I schal þe soudon quite Line 354 ffor þough his wijf be cristened neuer so white Sche schal haue neede to waissche a-way þe reede Though sche a ffonte ful of water wiþ hire leede/ Line 357

¶ O soudanesse roote of Iniquite Virago þou Semyram þe secounde O. serpent vnder femeninete lik to þe serpent deepe in helle y-bounde Line 361 O feyned womman al þat may confounde Vertu and Innocence þorgh þy malice Is bredd in þe as nest of euery vice [folio 79a]

¶ O Sathan envious syn þilke day That þou were chased fro oure heritage Wel knewestow to wommen þe olde way Thow madest Eua to bringen in seruage Line 368 Thow wilt fordon cristene mariage Thin Instrument so weylowey þe while Makest þou of wommen whan þou wilt begile Line 371

¶ This Sowdanesse whom I þus blame and warie leet priuely hire counseil gon here way What schulde I in þis tale lenger tarye Sche rideth to þe Sowdan on a day Line 375 And seide him þat sche wolde reneye hir lay And cristendom of prestes handes fonge Repentynge sche heþene was so longe Line 378

¶ Besekyng him to doon hire þat honour That sche most han þe cristne folk to feste To plesen hem I wol do my labour The Sowdan seith I wil don at your heste Line 382

[6-text p 142] Line 382 And knelyng þanketh hire of þat requeste So glad he was he nyste what to seye Sche kiste hir sone and hom sche goþ hir weye Line 385

[PART II.]

¶ Arryued been þise cristene folk to londe In Surrie with a gret solempne route And hastiliche þis sowdan sent his sonde ffirst to his mooder and alle þe regne aboute Line 389 And saide his wijf was come out of doute And preyde hir for to ryde agein þe queene The honour of his regne to susteene Line 392

¶ Gret was þe prees and riche was þarray Of Surriens and Ramains met y feere The mooder of þe Soudan riche and gay Receyued hire with also glad a cheere Line 396 As any mooder might hir doughter deere And to þe nexte Citee þer bisyde A softe paas solempnely þei ryde Line 399

¶ Naught trowe I þe tryumphe of Iulius [folio 79b] Of which þat lukan makeþ such a bost Was riallere ne more curious Than was thassemble of þis blisful oost Line 403 But þis scorpion this wikkede goost The Sowdanesse for alle hir flateringe Caste vnder þis ful mortally to stynge Line 406

¶ The Sowdan comeþ himself sone after þis So really that wonder is to telle he welcomeþ hire with alle ioye and blis And þus in merthe and Ioye I lete hem dwelle Line 410

[6-text p 143] Line 410 The fruyt of þis matiere þat I telle Whan tyme come men þought it for þe best That Reuel stynte and men gon to here Rest Line 413

¶ The tyme com þis olde Sowdanesse Ordeyned haþ þis feeste of which I tolde And to þe feste cristene folk hem dresse In general boþe ȝonge and olde Line 417 here may men feste and rialte biholde And deyntees mo þan I can ȝou deuyse But all to deere þei bought it ar þey ryse Line 420

¶ O sodein woo þat euer art Successour [¶ Semper mundane leticie tristicia repentina succedit. Mundana ergo felicitas multis amaritudinibus est respersa. Extre|ma gaudij luctus occupat audi ergo salubre consilium in die bonorum ne immemor sis malorum.] To worldly blysse spreynd is with bitternesse The ende of þe ioye of oure worldly laboure Wo occupieth þe fyn of oure gladnesse Line 424 herk þis counseille for þi sikernesse vpon þi glade day haue in thy mynde The vnwar wo or harm þat comth behynde Line 427

ffor schortly for to tellen at oo word The Sowdan and þe cristene euerychone Ben al to-hewe and stiked atte bord But it were oonly dame Custance allone Line 431 This olde Sowdanesse cursede crone haþ with hire freendes doon þis cursede dede ffor sche hir self wolde alle þe contre lede Line 434

¶ Ne þer nas Surrian non þat was conuerted That of þe counseil of þe Sowdan wot [folio 80a] That he nas al to-hewe or he asterted And circumstance han þei take anon foot hoot Line 438 And in a Schippe al steereles god woot Thay han hire sette and bidden hire lerne sayle Out of Surrie agaynward to ytaile Line 441

[6-text p 144] Line 441

¶ A certein tresour þat sche þider ladde And soþ to sain vitaile gret plente They han hire yeuen and cloþes eek sche hadde And forþ sche saileþ in þe Salte see Line 445 O my Custance ful of benignite O emperoures yonge doughter deere he þat is lord ouer fortune be þy steere Line 448

¶ Sche blisseþ & with ful pitous vois vnto þe croys of crist þus seyde sche O cler o welful auter holy croys Rede of þi lambes blood ful of pite Line 452 That wisshe þe world fro þe olde iniquite Me fro þe feend and fro his clawes keepe That day þat I schal drenchen in þe deepe Line 455

¶ victorious tree proteccion of trewe That oonly worþi were for to bere The king of heuene with his woundes newe The white lambe þat hurt was with a spere Line 459 ffleemer of feendes out of him and here On whych þi lymes feithfully entenden Me keepe and yef me might my lijf tamenden Line 462

¶ yeeres and dayes fleet þis creature Thurgh out þe see of grece vnto þe strayte Of Marrok as it was hire auenture O many a sory meel now may sche bayte Line 466 After hire deþ fulofte may sche wayte Or þat þe wilde wawes wil hir dryue vnto þe place þer sche schal arryue Line 469

¶ Men mighten [aske] whi sche nas nat slayn Eke atte feste who might hir body saue I answere to þat demande agayn [folio 80b] he saued daniel in þe horrible caue Line 473

[6-text p 145] Line 473 Ther euery wight saue he maister or knaue Was wiþ þe leon frete or asterte No wight but god þat he bar in his herte Line 476

¶ God list to schewe his wonderful myracle In hire. for sche scholde seen his mighty werkes Crist which þat is to euery harm triacle By certein menes oft as knowen clerkes Line 480 Doþ þing for certein ende þat ful derk is To mannes wit þat for oure ignorance Ne konne nought knowe his prudent purueance Line 483

¶ Now siþ sche was not atte feste y-slawe Who kept hir fro þe drenching in þe see Who kepte Ionas in þe fisshes mawe Til he was spouted vp at Nyniue Line 487 Wel may men knowe it was no wight but he That kepte pepul ebraik from here drenchyng With drye feet þurgh out þe see passyng Line 490

¶ Who bad þe foure spiritz of tempest That power han boþe to annoyen lond and see Boþe north and south and also west and est Anoyeþ neyþer see ne lond ne tree Line 494 Soþly þe comandour of þat was he That fro þe tempest ay þis womman kepte As wel whan sche wook as whan sche slepte Line 497

¶ Wher might þis womman mete and drynke haue Three ȝeer and moore how lasteþ hire vitaille Who fedde þe Egipcien marie in the Caue Or in desert no wight but crist sanz faille Line 501 v. þousand folk it was a gret meruaille With loues fyue and fisshes tuo to feede God sent his foyson at hire grete neede Line 504

[6-text p 146] Line 504

¶ Sche driueþ forþ in to oure Occean þurghout oure wilde see til atte last vnder an hold þat nempnen I ne can ffor in Northumburland þe wawe hir cast [folio 81a] And in þe sond hir schippe stiked so fast That þennes wold it nought of alle a tyde The wille of crist was þat sche scholde abyde Line 511

¶ The Constable of þe castelle doun is fare To seen þis wrak and alle þe schippe he sought And fond þis wery womman ful of care he fond also þe tresow þat sche brought Line 515 In hire langage mercy sche bisought The lyf out of hir body for to twynne hire to deliuere of wo þat sche was Inne Line 518

¶ A maner latyn corupt was hire speche But algates þer by was sche vnderstonde The constable whan him list no lengere seche This woful womman brought he to þe londe Line 522 Sche kneeleth doun and þankeþ goddes sonde But what sche was sche wolde no man seye ffor foul ne fair þough þat sche scholde deye Line 525

¶ Sche seyde sche was so mased in þe see/ That sche foryat hire mynde by hire trouþe The constable of hire haþ so gret pite And eek his wyf þat þei weepen for rouþe Line 529 Sche was so diligent wiþouten slouþe To serue and plese euerich in þat place That alle hire louen þat loken on hire face Line 532

¶ The constable and dame hermengheld his wif Were payens and þat contray euery where But hermyngeld loued hir right as hire lijf And Custance haþ so longe soiorned þere Line 536

[6-text p 147] Line 536 In orisons wiþ many a bitter teere Til Ihesu haþ conuerted þurgh his grace Dame hermyngeld constablesse of þilke place Line 539

¶ In alle þat land durste no cristene route Alle cristene folk ben fled from þat contre Thurgh payens þat conquereden heer aboute The plages of þe north by land & see Line 543 To wales fledde þe cristianite/ [folio 81b] Of olde britons dwellyng in þis Isle/ There was hire refut / for þe meene while Line 546

¶ But yit nas neuer cristene britons so exiled That þer nas somme in here priuyte honourede crist/ and hethen folk bygiled And neygh þe castelle swich þer dwelden þre Line 550 That oon of hem was blynd and might not se But it were wiþ þilk eyen of his mynde With whiche men seen after þat þai ben blynde Line 553

¶ Bright was þe sonne as in þat Someres day ffor which þe Constable and his wyf also And Custance han y-take þe righte way Toward þe see a forlong weye or two Line 557 To pleyen and to Romen to and fro And in here walk þre blynde men þey mette Crokede and olde with fast eyen y-schette Line 560

¶ In the name of crist criede þis blynde breton dame hermyngild yeue me sight agayn This lady wax affrayed of þe soun lyst þat hir housbond schortly for to sein Line 564 Wolde hire for ihesu cristes loue haue slain Til Custance made hire bold and made hire werche The wille of crist as doughter of his cherch Line 567

[6-text p 148] Line 567

¶ The Constable wax abaisshed of þat sight And sayde what amounteþ al þis fare Custance answerde sire it is cristes might That helpeþ folk out of þe feendes snare Line 571 And so ferforth sche gan oure lay declare That sche þe Constable or þat it was eue Conuerteþ and on cryst made him bileeue Line 574

¶ This Constable was noþing lord of þis place Of which I speke þere he Custance fond But kepte it strongly many a wynter space vnder .alla. kyng of all Northumberlond Line 578 þat was ful wys and worþy of his hond Agayn þe Scottes as men may wel heere [folio 82a] But torne I wil again to my mateere/ Line 581

¶ Sathan þat euer vs wayteth to begile Saugh of Custance al hire perfection And cast anon how he might quite her while And made a yong knight þat dwelte in þe toun Line 585 loue hire so hoot of fowl affection That verraily him þought he schulde spill But he of hire might ones haue his wille Line 588

¶ he woweth hire but it auaileþ nought Sche wolde do no synne by no weye And for dispit he compassed in his þought To make hir on schameful deþ to deye Line 592 he wayteþ whan þe Constable was aweye And priuyly vpon a night he crept In hermyngildes chambre whil sche slept Line 595

¶ Wery for-waked in his orisons Slepeth Custance and hermenghild also This knight þurgh Sathanas temptacions Al softely is to þe bedde I-go Line 599

[6-text p 149] Line 599 And kutte þe þrote of hermengild a tuo And leyde þe blody knyf by dame Custance And wente his wey þer god yeue him meschance Line 602

¶ Sone after comth þis constable hom a gayn And eek Alla þat king was of þat lond And saugh his wyf dispitousliche slain ffor which ful ofte he wepte and wrong his hond Line 606 And in þe bed þe bloody knyf he fond By dame Custance allas what might sche seye ffo verray woo hir witte was alle aweye Line 609

¶ To king Alla was told al þis meschance And eek þe tyme and wher and in what wise That in a schip was founde þis Custance As heer biforn ȝe han herd eer deuise Line 613 The kinges herte of pite gan agrise Whan he seih so benigne a creature ffalle in disese and in mysauenture [folio 82b]

¶ ffor as þe lomb toward his deth is brought So stant þis Innocent bifore þe king This false knight þat haþ þis trayson wrought Bereþ hire an hand þat sche haþ do þis þing Line 620 But naþeles þer was gret mornyng Among þe poeple and seye þay can not gesse That sche hadde don so gret a wickednesse Line 623

¶ ffor þey han sein hir euer so vertuous And louyng hermynghild right as hire lif Of þis bar witnesse euerich in þat hous Sauf he þat hermegild slough wiþ his knif Line 627 This gentil king haþ caught a gret motyf Of þis witnesse and þought he wolde enquere Deppere in þis cas a trouthe for to lere Line 630

[6-text p 150] Line 630

¶ Allas Custance þou nast no champion Ne fighte canst þou nought so weyloway But he þat for oure redempcion And bond Sathan and lith yet þer he lay Line 634 So be þy stronge champion þis day ffor but vpon þe miracle kithe Wiþouten gilt þou schalt ben slayn as swithe Line 637

¶ Sche sitte hir doun on knees and þus sche sayde Immortal god þat sauedest Susanne ffro false blame and þou merciful mayde Marie I mene doughter to seint Anne Line 641 Biforn whos child aungelis synge Osanne If I be gilteles of þis felonie My socour be for elles schalt I dye Line 644

¶ haue ye not sein som tyme a pale face/ Among a prees of him þat haþ be lad Toward his deth wher as him get no grace/ And swich a colour in his face haþ had Line 648 Men mighte knowe his face þat was bystad Amonges alle þe faces in þat route So stant Custance and loketh hire aboute Line 651

¶ O queenes lyuynge in prosperite [folio 83a] Duchesses and ȝe ladies euerichone haue som routhe on hir aduersite An emperoures doughter stant allone Line 655 Sche haþ no wight to whom to make hir moone O blood real þat stondest in þis drede/ ffer been þi freendes at þy grete neede Line 658

¶ This alla king haþ such compassion As gentil herte is fulfild of pite That from his eyhen ran þe water don Now hastilich do fecche a book quod he Line 662

[6-text p 151] Line 662 And if þis knight wol swere how þat sche This womman slough ȝit wol we vs auyse / Whom þat we wolde þat schal be oure Iustise Line 665

¶ A briton book y-writen with euaungiles Was fette and on þis book he swor anon Sche giltif was in þe mene whiles An hand him smot vpon þe nekke bon Line 669 That doun he felle at ones as a stoon And boþe his eyen brust out of his face/ In sight of euery body in þat place Line 672

¶ A vois was herd in general audience And seyde þou hast disclandred gilteles The doughter of holy chirche in heigh presence Thus hast þou doon and ȝet I moot holde my pees Line 676 Of þis merueyle agast was alle þe prees As m[a]zed folk þei stooden euerychone ffor drede of wreche saue Custance allone Line 679

Gret was þe drede and eek þe repentance Of hem þat hadden wrong suspecion vpon þis seely Innocent Custance And for þis miracle in conclusion Line 683 And by Custance mediacion The king and many anoþer in þat place Conuerted was þanked be goddes grace Line 686

¶ This false knight was slain for his vntrouthe By Iuggement of. alla. hastily [folio 83b] And yet Custance haþ of his deth gret rouþe And after þis ihesus [[MS ihc]] of his mercy Made Alla wedden ful solempnely This holy mayden þat is so bright and scheene And þus haþ Crist made Custance a queene Line 693

[6-text p 152] Line 693

¶ But who was woful if I schul nat lye Of þis wedding but Donegilde and nomo The kinges mooder ful of tyrannye hir þought hir cursed herte barst/ a two Line 697 Sche wolde nought hir sone hadde don so hir þought a despit þat he schulde take So strange a creature vnto his make Line 700

¶ Me list nouȝt of þe chaf ne of þe stre Make so long a tale as of þe corn What schulde I tellen of þe realte Of mariage or which cours goþ biforn Line 704 Who bloweþ in a trompe or in an horn The fruyt of euery tale is for to seie/ Thei ete and drynke and daunce and synge and pleye Line 707

They gon to bedde as it was skile and right ffor þough þat wyfes ben ful holy þinges They moste take a pacience a night Such manere necessaries as ben plesynges Line 711 To folk þat han y-wedded hem wiþ rynges And leye a litel here holynesse asyde As for þe time it may non oþer betyde Line 714

¶ On hire he gat a knaue child anon And to a bisshope and his counseil eeke he took his wijf to kepe whan he is goon To Scotland ward his fomen for to seeke Line 718 Now faire Custance þat is so humble and meeke So longe is gon wiþ childe til þat stille Sche halt hir chambre abydyng at cristes wille Line 721

¶ The tyme is come a knaue child sche beer Mauricius atte font ston þei him calle This Constable doþ forþ come a messagere [folio 84a] And wrot to his king þat cleped was alle. Line 725

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

¶ This messager to don his auantage/ vnto þe kinges moder rideþ swiþe And salueth hire ful faire in his langage Ma dame quoþ he ȝe may be glad and bliþe Line 732 And thanke god an hundred þousand siþe My lady queen haþ child wiþouten doute To Ioye and blisse of alle þis regne aboute Line 735

¶ lo here þe lettres seled of þis þing That I mot bere with al þe haste I may If ye wole aught vnto your sone þe king I am your seruant boþe night and day Line 739 Dongyld answerd as now at þis tyme nay But heer al night I wole þou take þi rest Tomorwe wil I seie what me lest Line 742

¶ This messager drank sadly ale and wyn And stolen weren his lettres priuyly Out of his box whil he sleep as a swyn And counterfeted was ful subtilly Line 746 Anoþer lettre wrought ful synfully vnto þe king direct of þis matiere ffro his Conestable as ȝe schal after heere Line 749

The lettre spak þe queen deliuered was Of so horrible a feendlich creature That in þe Castelle non so hardy was That ony while dorste þerinne endure Line 753 The mooder was an elf by auenture ycome by charmes or by sorcerie And euery wight hateþ hire companye Line 756

[6-text p 154] Line 756

Wo was þis king whan he þis lettre hadde seyn But to no wight he tolde his sorwes sore But of his oughne hond he wrot ageyn Welcome þe sonde of crist for eueremore [folio 84b] To me þat am now lerned in his lore lord welcome be þi lust and þi plesance My lust is put al in þin ordinance Line 763

¶ kepeth þis child al be it foul or faire And eek my wif vnto myn hom comyng Crist whan him list may sende me an haire More agreable þan þis is to my liking Line 767 This lettre he seleþ priuyly wepyng Which to þe messager was take sone And forth he goþ þer is nomore to doone Line 770

¶ O messager fulfild of dronkenesse / [¶ Quid turpius ebrioso cui fetor in ore tremor in corpore qui promit stulta prodit occulta cui mens alienatur facies trans|formatur nullum enim latet secretum vbi regnat ebrietas.] Strong is þi breþ þi lymes faltren ay And þou biwreyest alle sikernesse / Thy mynde is lorn þou iangelest as a Iay Line 774 Thy face is torned in a newe aray Ther dronkenesse regneþ in ony route Ther nys no counseil hid wiþouten doute Line 777

¶ O donegild I haue non englissh digne vnto þy malice and þy tyrannye And þerfore to þe feend I þe resigne / lat him enditen of þi traiterie / Line 781 ffy mannyssh fy o nay by god I lye ffy feendlich spirit for I dar wel telle Though þou here walke þy spirit is in helle / Line 784

¶ This messager comþ fro þe king agayn And at þe kinges moodres court he light And sche was of þis messager ful fain And plesed him in al þat euer sche might Line 788

[6-text p 155] Line 788 he drank and wel his gerdel vnderpight he sleepeþ and he snorteþ [[MS fn . . .]] in his gyse Al night til þe sonne gan arise Line 791

¶ Eft were his lettres stolen euerich on And countrefeted lettres in þis wise The king comandeþ his constable anon vp peyne of hangyng on a heih Iuyse Line 795 That he ne schulde suffre in no wise/ [folio 85a] Custance in with his Regne for tabide Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde Line 798

¶ But in þe same schip as he hire fond hire and hire ȝonge sone and alle hir gere he schulde putte and croude fro þe londe And charge hire þat sche neuer eft come þere Line 802 O my Custance wel may þi goost haue feere/ And sleping in þi drem ben in penaunce/ Whan Donegild caste al þis ordinance Line 805

¶ This messager on morwe whan he wook Vnto þe castel halt þe nexte way And to þe Constable he þe lettre took And whan þat he þis pitous lettre say Line 809 fful ofte he seyde allas and weylaway ¶ lord crist quod he how may þis lettre endure So ful of synne is many a creature Line 812

¶ O mighty god if þat it be þi wille Sith þou art rightful Iuge how may it be That þou wolt suffren Innocentz to spille And wikke folk regnen in prosperite Line 816 ¶ O goode Custance allas so wo is me That I moot be þi tormentour or deye On schames deþ þer is non oþer weye Line 819

[6-text p 156] Line 819

¶ Wepen boþe ȝonge and olde in al þat place Whan þat þe king þis cursede lettre sente And Custance with a dedly pale face The ferþe day toward hir schip sche wente Line 823 But naþeles sche takeþ in good entente The wille of crist and knelyng in þe stronde Sche seyde lord ay welcome be þi sonde Line 826

he þat me kepte fro þe false blame Whil I was on þe lond amonges yow / he kan me kepe from harm and eek fro schame In salte see al þough I se not how Line 830 As strong as euer he was he is right now / In him trust I and in his mooder deere [folio 85b] That is to me my sail and eek my steere Line 833

hir litel child lay weepyng in hire arm And knelyng pitously to him sche seide Pees litel sone I wol do þe non harm Wiþ þat hir couerchef of hir heed sche breyde Line 837 And ouer his litel eyȝen sche it leyde/ And in hir arm sche lulleth it ful faste / And in to heuen hir yhen vp sche caste Line 840

¶ Moder quod sche and mayde bright marie Soth is þat þurgh wommannes eggement Mankynde was lorn and dampned ay to deye ffor which þi child was on a croys y-rent Line 844 Thy blisful eighen saugh al his torment Than is þer no comparison bitwene Thy wo and any wo man may sustene Line 847

¶ Thou saugh þi sone y-slayn biforn þin eyen And ȝit now lyueþ my litel child par fay Now lady bright to whom alle woful cryen Thow glorie of wommanhod þou faire may Line 851

[6-text p 157] Line 851 Thou hauen of refut brighte sterre of day Rewe on my child þat of þi gentilesse Rewest on euery rewful in distresse Line 854

¶ O litel child allas what is þi gilt That neuer wroughtest synne as ȝit par de Why wil þin harde fader haue þe spilt O mercy deere Conestable quod sche Line 858 As lat my litel child dwelle heer with þe And if þou darst nought sauen him for blame So kisse him ones in his fadres name Line 861

¶ Ther with sche lokeþ bakward to þe lond And sayde farewel housbonde routheles And vp sche rist and walketh doun þe stronde Toward þe schip hir folweþ alle þe prees Line 865 And euer sche preieþ hir child to holde his pees And takeþ hire leeue and with an holy entent Sche blisseþ hire and in to schip sche wente [folio 86a]

vitailled was þe schip it is no drede habundauntly for hire ful longe space And oþer necessaries þat scholden neede Sche hadde ynough heried be goddes grace Line 872 ffor wynd and weder almighty god purchace And brynge hir home I can no better sey But in þe see sche dryueþ forþ hir wey Line 875

[PART III.]

Alla þe king comþ hom sone after þis / vnto his castelle of þe which I tolde And axeþ wher his wyf and his child is The Constable gan aboute his herte colde Line 879

[6-text p 158] Line 879 And pleynly al þe maner he him tolde As ye han herd I can telle it no bettre And scheweth þe king his seal and his lettre Line 882

And seyde lord as ȝe comaunded me vp peyne of deth so haue I don certein This messager tormented was til he Moste biknowen and tellen plat and plein Line 886 ffrom night to night in what place he hadde leyn And þus by witt and subtil enqueryng ymagined was by whom þis harm gan spring Line 889

¶ The hond was knowe þat þe lettre wrot And alle þe venym of þe cursed dede But in what wise certeinly I not The effect is þis þat alla out of drede Line 893 his mooder slough þat many men pleynly reede ffor þat sche traitour was to hire ligeance / Thus endeþ olde Donegild wiþ meschance Line 896

The sorwe þat þis Alla night and day Makeþ for his wyf and for his child Ther is no tonge þat it telle may But now wol I vnto Custance go Line 900 That fleeteþ in þe see in peyne and wo .v. yeer and more as likede cristes sonde Ar þat hire schip approched vnto londe Line 903

¶ Vnder an heþen castelle atte laste [folio 86b] Of which þe name in my text nouȝt I fynde Custance and eek hir childe þe see vp caste Almighty god þat saueþ al mankynde Line 907 haue on Custance and hir child som mynde That fallen is in hethene hond eft sone In poynt to spille as I schal telle yow soone Line 910

[6-text p 159] Line 910

Doun fro þe Castelle comþ þer many a wight To gawren on þis schip and on Custance But schortly fro þe castel on a night The lordes styward god yeue him meschance Line 914 A theef þat hadde renyed oure creance / Com in to schip allone and seide he scholde hir lemman be wher so sche wolde or nolde/ Line 917

¶ Wo was þis wrecchede womman þo bigon hir child cryede and sche cried pitously But blisful marie halp hir right anoon ffor with hir strogelyn wel and mightily Line 921 The theef fel ouer bord al sodeinly And in þe see he dreynte for vengance And þus haþ crist / vnwemmed kept Custance Line 924

O foule lust of luxurie lo þin ende [¶ O extrema libidinis turpitudo que non solum mentem effeminat sed eciam corpus eneruat semper sequntur dolor & peni|tencia post & cetera.] Nought / oonly þat þou fayntest mannes mynde But verreyly þou wolt his body schende The ende of þi werk or of þi lustes blynde Line 928 Is compleynyng how many oon may men fynde That nought for werk somtyme but for þentent To don þis synne ben eyþer slayn or schent Line 931

¶ how may þis weyke womman han þe strengþe hire to defende ageyn þis renegat O. golyas vnmesurable of lengþe how mighte Dauid make þe so mat Line 935 So yonge and of armure so desolat how dorst he loke vpon þi dredful face Wel may men sen it was but goddes grace Line 938

Who yaf Iudith corage or hardynesse To slen him Olefernus in his tent [folio 87a] And to delyueren out of wrecchednesse The poeple of god. I sey for þis entent Line 942

[6-text p 160] Line 942 þat right as god spirit and vigor sent To hem and saued hem out of meschance So sent he might and vigor to Custance Line 945

fforþ goþ hir schip forþ on þe narwe mouth Of Iubaltar and Septe dryuyng ay Somtyme west and som tyme north and south And som tyme est ful many a wery day Line 949 Til cristes mooder blissed be sche ay haþ schapen þurgh hir endeles goodnesse To make an ende of alle hir heuynesse Line 952

¶ Now lat vs stynte of Custance but a þrowe And speke we of þe Romeyn Emperour That out of Surrie haþ þe lettres knowe The slaughtere of cristene folk and deshonour Line 956 Don to his doughter by a fals traytour I mene þe cursede wickede Sowdonesse That at þe feste let slen boþe more and lesse Line 959

¶ ffor which þis Emperour haþ sent anon his senatour wiþ real ordinance And oþer lordes god wot many on On Surriens to taken his vengance Line 963 They brennen sleen and bringen hem to meschānce fful many a day but schortly þis is þende homward to Rome þei schapen hem to wende Line 966

This Senatour repaireth with victorie To Romeward saylinge really And mette þe schip dryuyng as seiþ þe storie In which Custance sitte ful pitously Line 970 No þing ne knew he what sche was ne why Sche was in swich aray ne sche nyl seye Of hire astate þough sche scholde deye Line 973

[6-text p 161] Line 973

he bringeþ hire to Rome and to his wijf he yaf hire and hire ȝonge sone also And wiþ þe Senatour sche ladde hir lyf [folio 87b] Thus kan oure lady bringen out of woo Line 977 Woful Custance and many anoþer mo And long tyme dwelled sche in þat place In holy werkes euere as was hir grace Line 980

¶ The Senatoures wijf hir aunte was But for al þat sche knew hir neuer þe more I wil no lenger tarien in þis caas But to king Alla which I spak of yore Line 984 That for his wyf wepeþ and sikeþ sore / I wol retorne and lete I wil Custance vnder þe Cenatoures gouernance / Line 987

¶ kyng Alla which þat hadde his moder slayn vpon a day fil in such repentance That if I schortly tellen schal and playn To Rome he comeþ to receyuen his penance Line 991 And put him in þe popes ordinance In heigh and low and Ihesu crist besoughte fforyeue his wikkede werkes þat he wroughte Line 994

¶ The fame ano þurgh Rome toun is born how Alla king schal comen in pilgrinage By herberiours þat wenten him biforn ffor which þe Senatour as was vsage Line 998 Rood him agayn and many of his lynage As wel to schewen his hie magnificence As to don any king a reuerence Line 1001

¶ Gret cheere doth þis noble Senatour To king Alla and he to him also Euerich of hem doþ oþer gret honour And so bifille þat in a day or tuo Line 1005

[6-text p 162] Line 1005 This Senatour is to king alla go To feeste and schortly if I schal not lye Custance sone is in his companye / Line 1008

¶ Som men wolde seyn atte requeste of Custance This Senatour haþ lad þis child to feste I may not tellen euerich circumstance / Be as be may þer was he atte leste [folio 88a] But soþ is þis þat at his moodres heste Byforn Alla duryng þe metes space The child stood loking in þe kinges face Line 1015

This alla king haþ of þe child gret wonder And to þe Senatour he sayde anon Whos is þat faire child þat stondeþ yonder I not quod he by god and by seint Iohn Line 1019 A mooder he haþ but fader haþ he non That I of woot and schortly in a stounde / he tolde alla how þat þis child was founde Line 1022

¶ But god wot quod þis Senatour also So vertuous a lyuere in my lyf Ne saugh I neuer as sche ne herde of mo Of worldly wommen mayde ne of wijf Line 1026 I dar wel sayn sche hadde leuer a knyf Thurghout hire brest þan ben a womman wikke Ther is noman kowde bringe hire to þat prikke Line 1029

Now was þis child as lik vnto Custance / As possible as is a creature to be This alla haþ þe face in remembrance Of dame Custance and þer on mused he Line 1033 If þat þe childes moder were aught sche / That is his wyf and priuily he sighte And spedde him fro þe table þat he mighte Line 1036

[6-text p 163] Line 1036

¶ Par fay he þought þe fantome is in myn hed I oughte demen of skilful Iuggement That in þe salte see my wyf is deed And aftirward he made his argument Line 1040 What wot I if þat crist haþ hider sent My wyf by see as wel as he hir sente To my contre fro þennes þat sche wente Line 1043

¶ And after non hom with þe Senatour Goþ alla for to seen þis wonder chaunce This Senatour doþ alla gret honour And hastily he sente after Custance Line 1047 But trusteþ wel hire luste nought to daunce [folio 88b] Whan þat sche wiste wherfore was þat sonde Vnneþe vppon hire feet sche mighte stonde / Line 1050

¶ Whan alla saugh his wyf faire he hire grette / And wepte þat it was reuþe for to se ffor atte ferste look he on hire sette / he knew wel verrely þat it was sche / Line 1054 and for sorwe as domb stant as a tre So was hir herte schet in hire distresse Whan sche remembred his vnkyndenesse / Line 1057

¶ Twies sche swowneþ in his owne sight he wepte and him excuseth pitously Now god quod he and his halwes bright So wisly on my saule as haue mercy Line 1061 That of youre harm as gilteles am I As is Maurice my sone so lik ȝoure face Elles the feende me fecche out of þis place / Line 1064

¶ longe was þe sobbyng and þe bittre peyne / Or þat here wofulle hertes mighte cesse / Gret was þe pite for to heere hem pleyne / þurgh whiche pleyntes gan hire wo encresse / Line 1068

[6-text p 164] Line 1068 I pray ȝou alle my labour to relesse I may not tellen hir wo vntil to morwe I am so wery for to speke of hire sorwe Line 1071

¶ But finally whan þat þe soþe is wist That Alla gilteles was of hire woo / I trowe an hundred tymes ben þei kiste And such a blisse is þer betwixe hem tuo Line 1075 That saue þe ioye þat lasteth eueremo Ther is non lik þat ony creature haþ seyn or schal whil þe world may dure Line 1078

¶ Tho preyed sche hire housbonde mekely In relief of hir longe pitous pyne That he wolde preye hire fader specially That of his mageste he wolde enclyne Line 1082 To fouche sauf som day with him to dyne Sche preyde him eek he scholde by no weye [folio 89a] vnto hir fader no word of hire seye Line 1085

¶ Some men wolde sein how þat þe child Maurice Doþ þis message vntil þis Emperour But as I gesse Alla was nought so nyce To him þat was of so souereigne honour Line 1089 As he þat is of cristene folk þe flour Sent eny child but it is bet to deme he went himself and so it may wel seme Line 1092

¶ This Emperour hath graunted gentily To come to dyner as he him bysought And wel redy he lokede bisily vpon þis child and on his doughter þought Line 1096 Alla goþ to his In and as him ought Arrayed for þis feste in euery wise As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise Line 1099

[6-text p 165] Line 1099

¶ The morwe com and alla gan him dresse And eek his wyf þis Emperour to meete And forþ þey ryde in ioye and in gladnesse / And whan sche seigh hir fader in þe strete Line 1103 Sche light a doun and falleþ him to feet ffader quod sche youre ȝonge child Custance Is now ful clene out of ȝoure remembrance Line 1106

¶ I am ȝoure doughter Custance quod sche That whilom ye sent vnto Surrye I am I fader þat in þe salte see Was putte allone and dampned for to dye Line 1110 Now goode fader mercy to you I crye Send me nomore vnto non hethenesse But þonk my lord heer of his kyndenesse Line 1113

¶ Who can þe pitous Ioye tellen al Bitwexe hem þre syn þey ben þus y-mette But of my tale make an ende I schal The day goþ faste I wol no lenger lette Line 1117 This glad folk to dyner þey hem sette In ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle A þousand fold wel more þan I can telle / [folio 89b]

This child maurice was sitthen Emperour Made by þe pope and lyuede cristenely To cristes chirche he dede gret honour But I letete [[so]] alle his story passen by Line 1124 Of Custance is my tale specially In olde Romeyn gestes men may fynde [ ¶ A mane vsque ad vesperam mutabitur tempus tenent tympanum & gaudent ad sonum organi.] Maurices lyf I bere it nought in mynde Line 1127

¶ This king Alla. whan he his tyme say With his Custance his holy wif so sweete To Engelond þei come þe redy way Wher as þay lyue in ioye and in quiete Line 1131

[6-text p 166] Line 1131 But litel while it lasteþ I ȝou heete Ioye of þis world for tyme wil nouȝt abyde ffro day to nyght it chaungeþ as þe tyde Line 1134

¶ Who lyued euere in such delyt a day [ Quis vnquam vnicam diem totam duxit in sua delecta|cione iocundam quem in aliqua parte diei reatus consciencie vel impetus ire vel motus concupiscencie inde non turbauerit quem liuor inuidie vel ardor auaricie vel tumor superbie non vexauerit vel quem aliqua iactura vel offensa vel passio non commo^auerit.] That ne meued eyþer conscience / Or Ire or talent of som kyn affray Enuye or pride or passion or offense / Line 1138 I ne say but for þis ende þis sentence That litel while in Ioye or in plesance lasteþ þe blisse of alla wiþ Custance / Line 1141

ffor deþ þat takeþ of heigh and lough his rent Whan passed was a yeer euene as I gesse Out of þis world þis king Alla he hent ffor whom Custance haþ ful gret heuynesse / Line 1145 Now lat vs prayen god his soule blesse / And dame Custance finally to seye Toward þe toun of Rome goþ hire weye Line 1148

To Rome is come þis holy creature And fyndeþ hire freendes hol and sounde Now is sche scaped alle hire auenture And whan sche hir fader haþ I-founde Line 1152 Doun on hir knees falleth sche to grounde Wepynge for tendirnesse in herte bliþe Sche herieþ god an C. þousand sithe Line 1155

In vertue and holy almesdede / [folio 90a] They lyuen alle and neuer asonder wende Til deth departe hem þis lif þey lede And fareþ now wel my tale is at an ende Line 1159 Now ihesu crist þat of his might may sende Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his grace And kepe vs alle þat ben in þis place / Line 1162

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