The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 129]

GROUP B. (α. FRAGMENT II.)

§ 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK.

LANSDOWNE MS.

Incipit prologus Legis periti. [on leaf 65]

OWre Oste sauhe wele þat þe briht sonne The arke of his artificial daie had ronne The ferþe part & half an houre & more And þouhe he were nouȝt expert in lore Line 4 He wist it was þe .xviij. daye Of Aprill þat is messagiere of maie And sawhe wele þat þe schadow of euery tree Was as in lengeþ in þe same quantite Line 8 As was þe body erect þat caused it And þere-for be þe schadowe he toke his wit That phebus whiche þat schone so clere and briht Degres was .xlv. clome on hiht Line 12 And for þat daie as in þat latitude It was .x. att clokke . he gan conclude And sodenly he piht his hors aboute Lordeinges quod he .I. warne ȝou al þis route Line 16 The ferþe party of þis daie es gone Nowe for þe loue of god and seinte Iohn Leseþ no time as ferforþ as ȝe maie Lordeinges þe time it wasteþ nyht and daie Line 20 And steleþ from vs what priuely slepeinge And what þorwhe necligence in oure wakeynge As doþe þe streme þat turneþ neuer a-ȝeine Descendeinge fro þe mountaigne in to þe pleine Line 24 Wele cane senec and mony a philosophre Be-weylein time more þan golde in Cophre ffor losse of catell maie recouerd be Bot losse of time schendeþ vs quod he Line 28

[6-text p 130] Line 28 It wil nouht com aȝein wiþ oute drede Ne mor þan wil Malkins Maidenhede Whan sche haþe lost it in hire wantonnes [folio 65b] Lat vs nouȝt moulen þus in ydelnes Line 32 Sir Man come [[later]] of quod he so haue ȝe blisse Tel vs a tale nowe as forward is Ȝe be submitted þorwhe ȝoure fre assent To stonden in þis caas att my Iuggement Line 36 Acquiteþe now ȝowe of ȝoure beheste Than haue ȝe done ȝoure deuer att leste Ost quod he de par deux iche assent To breke forwarde is nouht myne entent Line 40 Beheste is dette and .I. wil holden faine Al my byheste .I. can no better seine ffor suche lawe as a man ȝeueþ anoþer whihte He scholde him selfe vsen it be riht Line 44 Thus wil oure text bot naþeles certeine .I. can . riht nowe no trusti tale seine Þat chaucer þouhe he can bot lewdly On metres and in rymeinge craftely Line 48 Haþe saide hem in suche ynglysshe as he can Of Olde time as knoweþ mony a man And if he haue nouht seide hem leue broþer In o boke he haþe seide in a noþer Line 52 ffor he haþ tolde of louers vp and doune Moo þan Ouide Maade Mencion In his Episteles þat been ful olde What schold .I. tellen hem sen þei bu tolde Line 56 In ȝouþe he maade of Ceys and Alcione And siþen haþe he spoken of euerichone Thes noble wifes and þes louers eke Who so þat wil his large veloine seke Line 60 Cleped þe seintes Legent of Cupide There maie he see þe large woundes wide Of Lucres and of Babilan Thisbe The swerde of dido for þe fals ene Line 64

[6-text p 131] Line 64 The tree of phillis for hir demefon The pleinte of Dianyre and of Ermyon Of Adriane and of ysiphilee The barayn ysel stondeynge in þe see Line 68 The dreynt leandre for his erro The teres of Eleyne and eke þe wo Of brixseide and of þe ladomya The cruelte of quene Medea Line 72 The litil childern hongeinge be þe hals [folio 66a] ffor þi Iason þat was of loue fals Of ypnistra Penelope Alceste Ȝoure wifehode he commendeþ wiþ þe beste Line 76 Bot certeynly no worde writeþ he Of þilke wilke ensample of Canace Þat loued hir owen broþer sinfully Of suche cursed stories .I. saie fye Line 80 Or elles of Tiro Appolonius How þat þe cursed kinge Anthiochus Beraft his douhter of hir maydenhede That is so orrible a tale for to rede Line 84 Whan he hire [[? yrewe]] þrewe þoruhe þe pament And þer-for he of ful avisement Nolde neuer write in none of his sermones Of whiche vnkinde abhominaciones Line 88 Ne .I. ne wil none reherce if þat .I. maie Bot of my tale . howe schal .I. done þis daie Me were loþe be likned douteles To muses þat men clepen pieriedes Line 92 Methamorphoseos woote what .I. mene Bot natheles .I. recche nouȝt a bene Þowhe .I. come after him wiþ halve bake .I. speke in prose and lat him rimes make Line 96 And wiþ þat worde he wiþ a sobre chere Began his tale as ȝe schal after here. Line 98

[6-text p 132]

Hic incipit fabula legis periti. [[No breaks in the MS between the stanzas.]]

O Hateful harme condicione of pouert Line 99 With þurst . with colde . with hungre so confounded To asken helpe þou schameþ in þine hert If þou [[a late none inserted]] axe with nede þou art so wounded Line 102 þat verrei nede vnwrappeþ al þi wound hid Maugreue þin hede þou most for indigence Or steele or begge or borwe þi despense Line 105

Þou blamest crist and seist ful bittirly. He mys departeþ richesse temporal Þi neiheburghe þou witest sinfully And seiste þou haste to litel and he haþ al Line 109 Per fey seys þou sum tyme he reken schal Whan þat his taile schal berne in þe glede ffor he nouȝt helpeþ nedeful in here nede Line 112

Herken what is þe meneynge of þe wise Better is to dyen þan to haue indigence [folio 66b] Þi self neighebore wil þe dispise If þou be pore fare wele þi reuerence Line 116 Ȝit of þe wiseman takeþ þis sentence All þe daies of pormen ben wikke Be war þar fore or þou com in þat prikke Line 119

¶ If þou be pore þi broþer hateþ þee And al þi frendes flye fro þe alas O riche marchauntes ful of wel be ȝe O noble prudent folke as in þis cas Line 123 Ȝoure bagges bene nouȝt filled wiþ ambes aas Bot wiþ sis sinke þat renneþ for ȝoure chaunce Att Cristes masse mery maie ȝe daunce Line 126

[6-text p 133] Line 126

¶ Ȝe seken londe and see for ȝoure wininges As wise folke þat knowen al þe astate Of regnes ȝe bene faders of tiþinges And tales bothen of pes and debate Line 130 I. was riht nowe of tales desolate Nar þat a marchant gone is mony a ȝere Me tauht a tale whiche as ȝe schal here Line 133

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[THE TALE.]

In Surre some while dweled a company. Of chap men riche and þer-to sadde and trewe That wide where senten hire spicery Cloþes of golde and satine riche of hewe Line 137 Here chaffer was so þrefty and so newe That euery wiht haþe deynte to chaffare Wiþe hem and eke to sellen hem here ware Line 140

¶ Nowe felle þat þe maistres of þat sorte Hane schapen hem to Rome for to wende Were it fo chapmanhode or for disporte None oþer Messagier wolde þei þeder sende Line 144 Bot cam hem selft to rome þis es þe ende And in swyche place as þouht hem auantage ffor here intent þei take here herbergage Line 147

¶ Soiorne haue þese marchantes in þat toune A certaine time as fell to here plesaunce Bot so be-fel þat þe excellent renoune Of þe Emperoure douhter dame Custance Line 151 Reported was wiþ euery circumstance Vn to þis surrien Marchantez in suche wise ffro day to day as .I. schal ȝowe deuise Line 154

¶ This was þe comune voyce of euery man Owre Emperour of Rome Gode him see [folio 67a] A douhter he haþe þat sen þe werlde beganne To rekken as wele hire goodnes as beaute Line 158 Was neuer suche anoþer as is sche .I. praie to gode in honoure hire susteigne And wald sche were of al Europe þe quene. [Europa est tercia pars mundi.]

[6-text p 135]

In hir is hihe beaute wiþ oute pride Ȝowþe wiþ oute greuehode or foly To al hire werkes vertue is hir gyde Humblesse haþe slayne in ȝowe al tyranny Line 165 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Hire herte is verrai chambre of holynesse Hir hande Ministre of fredam for almesse Line 168

¶ And al þis voice was soþe as god is trewe Bot nowe to purpos lat vs turne aȝeine This marchantez han don frauht here schippes newe And whan þei han þis blisseful Maiden seine Line 172 Home to surre be þei wente aȝeine And done here nedes as þei han done ȝore And leuen in wele .I. can say ȝow no more Line 175

¶ Nowe fel it þat þese marchantz stoden in grace Of him þat was Souldan of Surrye ffor whan þat þei cam from any strange place He wolde of his benigne curtesie Line 179 Make hem good chiere and besilye aspye Thinges of sundre remes for to lere The wonderes þat þei myht se or here Line 182

¶ Amonges oþer þinges specialy Thos Marchantz hane him tolde of dame Custance So grete noblesse in erneste curiousely Þat þis souldan haþ kauht so grete plesance Line 186 To hane hir figure in his remembrance And al his lust and al his besy cure Was for to loue hir while his lif maie dure Line 189

¶ Parauenture in þe large booke Whiche þat cleped þe heuen y-writen was Wiþ sterres whan þat he his birþe toke That he for loue schol haue his deþe alas Line 193

[6-text p 136] Line 193 ffor in þe sterres clerer þan is þe glas Is wreten god wote who so couþe it rede Þe deþe of euery man wiþ outen drede Line 196

¶ In sterres mony a winter þar be-forne [

¶ Ceptra pharonei furtum discordia thebe¶ Flammam phetontis deu-calionis aque¶ In stellis priami; species audacia turni¶ Sensus vlixeus herculeus que vigor.

] Was wreten þe deþe of Ector and achilles Off Pompe Iulius or thei were borne [folio 67b] The strif of Thebes and of Hercules Line 200 Of Sampson turnus and of Socrates The deþ bot mennus wittes bene so dulle That no whiht can wel rede it att þe fulle Line 203

¶ This Sowldan for his priue conseile sente And schortly of þis matier for to passe He haþe to hem declared his entent And seide hem certeine bot if he myht haue grace Line 207 To haue Custance wiþ inne a litel space He nas bot dede and charged hem in hihe To schapen for his lif som remedie Line 210

¶ Diuers men diuers þinges saiden The Argumentz custen vp and doune Many a sotyl reson forþe þei leyden Thei speken of Magik and abusion Line 214 Bot finalli as in conclusion Thei can nouȝt seen in þat none auantage Ne in none oþer waie saue Mariage Line 217

¶ Than sauhe þere suche difficulte Be way of Reson for to speke as pleine Be cause þat þere was suche diuersite Be twene here boþe lawes as þei seine Line 221 Thai trowe þat no cristen prince wold feine Wedden his childe vnder her lawes so swete That hem was tauht bue Mahoun þe prophete Line 224

[6-text p 137] Line 224

¶ And he Ansewarde raþer þan .I. lese Constance .I. wil be cristened douteles .I. mot bene hirs .I. maie none oþer chese .I. pray ȝow holde ȝoure argumentes in pes Line 228 Saueþ my lif and beþ nouht recheles To gete hir þat haþ my lif in cure ffor in þis woo .I. maie nouht longe endure Line 231

¶ What nedeþ gretter dilataciōn .I. sey be tretise and embassadrie And be þe popes Medeacione And al þe cherche and al þe chiualrie Line 235 That in destruccion of Maumetrie And in encrese of cristes lawe dere Thei bene accorded so as ȝe schal here Line 238

¶ How þat þe Souldan and his Baronage And alle his leges scholde cristened be And he scal haue Constance in Mariage [folio 68a] And certeigne gold .I. not what quantite Line 242 And herto founden sufficiant surtie This same accorde was swor in eyþer side Nowe faire Constance almyhti god þe gide Line 245

¶ Nowe wolde sum man waiten as .I. gesse Þat .I. schol telle al þe purueance That þe Emperour of his noblesse Haþ schapen for his douhter Dam Custance. Line 249 Wele maie men knowen þat so grete ordinance. Maie no man tellen in a litel clause As was arraied for so hihe a cause Line 252

¶ Cardinals and Bischops bene schapen wiþ hir to wende Lordes and lades and knyhtes of renoune And oþer folke .I.-nowe þis is þe ende And notified is þoruhe oute þe toune Line 256

[6-text p 138] Line 256 That euery whight wiþe grete deuocione Schold praie criste þat þis Mariage Resceyue in gree and spede þis viage Line 259

¶ The daie is comen of hire departeinge .I. say þat woful daie fatal is come That þat þere maie be no longer tariynge Bot forþwarde þei hem dresse alle and somme Line 263 Constance þat wiþ sorwe is al ouer-come fful pale a-rist and drisseþ hire to wend ffor wele sche seeþe þere is none oþere ende Line 266

¶ Allas what wonder is it þouhe sche wepete That schall be sent to so strange nacione ffro frendes þat so tendurly hir keppete And to be boundon vnder subiectione Line 270 Of one sehe knoweþ nouht his condicion Husbondes bene al good and hane bu ȝore þat knewen wives .I. dar sei ȝow no more Line 273

ffader sche seide . þi wreched childe Constance þi ȝonge douhter fostred vp so soft And ȝe my moder my souereigne plesance Ouer al þinge oute take criste on loft Line 277 Constance ȝowre childe hir recommandeþ oft Vn to ȝoure grace for .I. schal to Surrye Ne schal .I. neuer seen ȝow more wiþ eye Line 280

¶ Alas vn to þe Barbarie Nacion .I. most anone seþ it is ȝoure wille Bot crist þat starf for oure redempcione [folio 68b] So ȝeue me grace his hestes to fulfille Line 284 .I. wriched womman no force þou .I. spille Wemmen arne born to þraldom and penance And to bue vnder mannes gouernance Line 287

[6-text p 139] Line 287

¶ .I. trowe att troie whan purrus brake þe wal Or. ylion þat brende Thebes þat Citee Noute Rome for þe harme þorwhe Hanybal That Romaynes haþ venquissed times þre. Line 291 Nas herde swiche tender wepeinge for pite As in þe chambre for hire departeinge Bot forþe sche mote whereso sche wepe or singe Line 294

¶ O ferst moueynge cruel firmament Wiþ þi diurnale sweigh þat croudest aie And hurlist al fro est to Occident Þat naturelly wold hold a-noþer waye Line 298 Thi croudeinge sett þe heuen in suche arraie Att þe be-ginnynge of þis fers viage That cruel Mars haþe slayne þis mariage [Vnde Tholomeus. libro primo capitulo 8. Primi motus Celi duo sunt quorum vnus est qui mouet totum semper ab oriente in occidentem; vno modo super orbes &c. Alter vero motus est qui mouet orbem stellarum currencium contra motum primum videlicet. ab occidente in orientem super alios duos polos &c. Omnes enim sunt concordati quod elecciones sint debiles nisi in diuitibus Habent enim isti licet debilitentur eorum elecciones radicem .i. natiuitates eorum que confortant omnem planetam debilem in itinere Huc. Philoso|phus. [ a quotation in the middle of the text.]] Line 301

¶ Infortunate ascendent tortuous Of whiche þe lorde is falle alas Out of his angle in to þe derkest house O mars o.ataȝir as in þis caas Line 305 O feble mone vn-happy bene þi pas Thou knettest þe þar þou ert nouht receyuede The þou weere wele fro þens nowe ert þou weyued Line 308

¶ Imprudent emperour of Rome allas Was þere no philosopher in al þi toune Is no time bet þan oþer in suche cas Of viage is þere none eleccion Line 312 Namely to folke of hihe condicion Nat whan a rote is of a burþe y-knowe Alas ȝe bene to lewed or to slowe Line 315

¶ The schippe is brouht þis woful faire maide Solempnely wiþe euery circumstance. Nowe ihesu criste be wiþ ȝowe al sche saide [folio 69a] There is no more bot fare wele faire Constance Line 319

[6-text p 140] Line 319 Sche peyneþ hire to make gode continance And forþe þei lete hir saile in þis manere And turne .I. wil aȝeine to my matier Line 322

¶ The moder of þe Souldan wel of vices Espied haþe hir sones pleine entent How he wil lete his olde sacrifises And riht a-none sche for hire conseille sent Line 326 And þei comen to knowen what sche ment And whan assembled was þes folk in fere Sche sett hire doune and seide as ȝe schalle here. Line 329

¶ Lordes quod sche ȝe knowen euerychone Howe þat my sonne in pointe is fo to lete The holy lawes of owre Akkaron Ȝeuen be goddes Messagiere Makomete Line 333 Bott on avowe to grete god .I. hete The lif schal raþer oute of my bodi sterte Or Macometis lawe oute of myne herte Line 336

¶ What schuld vs tiden of þis newe lawe Bot þraldom to oure bodies and penance And afterward in hel to be drawe ffor we reneyed Mahon oure creance Line 340 Bot lordes wil ȝe maken assurance As .I. schal seine assentinge to my lore And .I. schal make us sauf for euer more Line 343

¶ Thei sworen and assenten euery man To leue wiþ hire and deye and by hire stande And eueryche in þe best wise he can To strengþen hir schal al his frendes fonde Line 347 And sche haþe þis emprise take on honde Whiche ȝe schal here þat .I. schal deuise And to hem al sche spak in þis wise Line 350

[6-text p 141] Line 350

¶ We schol first feyne vs cristendom to take Colde water schal nouht greue vs bot a lite And .I. schal suche a fest and a reuel make Þat as .I. trowe .I. schal þe sowdan quite Line 354 ffor þouhe his wif be crestened neuer so white Sche schal haue nede to whasse awaie þe rede Thouhe sche a fonte ful of water wiþ hire lede Line 357

¶ O sauldanesse rote of iniquite Virago þu semiram þe seconde. O serpent vnder femenyte [folio 69b] Like to þe serpente depe in helle bownde Line 361 O feyned womman alle þat may confounde Vertue and innocence þoruhe þi Malice Is bred in þe as nest of euery vice. Line 364

¶ O Sathan envious sen þilk daie That þou were chased from owre heritage Wele knowes þou to wemmen þe olde waie Þou madest Eua to bringe in seruage Line 368 Þou wilt for-done cristen Mariage Þine instrument so welawaie þe while Makeste þou of whan þu wilte begile Line 371

¶ This Souldanesse wham .I. þus blame and wery. Lete priuely hire consielle gon here waye What schold .I. in þis tale longer tary Sche rideþ to þe souldan on a daye Line 375 And seide þat sche wold reney hir laye And cristendome of prestes hondes fonge Repentynge sche heþen was so longe Line 378

¶ Besekeinge him to done hir þat honoure Þat miht haue þe cresten folke to feste To plese hem .I. wil do my laboure The souldan seiþe .I. wil done at ȝoure heste Line 382

[6-text p 142] Line 382 And knelynge þonkeþ hire of þat requeste So glad he was he nyst what to seie Sche kist hire sonne and home sche goþe hir waie Line 385

[PART II.]

¶ Arriued bene þis cresten folk to londe In Surry wiþþe a grete solempne route And hastely þis Souldan sent his sonde ffirst to his Moder and al þe regne aboute Line 389 And seide his wif was commen oute of doute And praide hir for to riden aȝein þe qwene The honoure of his regne to suteigne Line 392

¶ Grete was þe pres and riche was þe raie Of Surrys and Romeyns mette .I.-fere The Moder of þe souldan riche and gaie Reseiueþ hire wiþ also glad a chere Line 396 As any moder myht hire douhter dere And to þe next Cite þere beside A soft pas solempnyeli þei ride Line 399

¶ Nouht trowe .I. þe triumphe of Iulius Of whiche þat lukan maade suche a boste Was Roialer ne more corious [folio 70a] Than was þassemble of þis blisful oste Line 403 Bot þis Scorpion þis wikked goste This Sauldanesse for al hir flateringe Kast vnder þis mortali to stinge Line 406

¶ The Souldan comeþ himself sone after þis So Roialy þat wonder is to tel He welcomeþ hire wiþ al Ioy and blis And þus in merþe and Ioye .I. lete hem duel Line 410

[6-text p 143] Line 410 Þe fruyte of þis matier þat .I. tel Whan tim com men þouht it for þe best That Reuel stinte and men gon to rest Line 413

¶ The time come þis olde Souldanesse Ordeined þe fest haþ of wich .I. tolde And to þe feste Cristenten folke hem dresse In generale boþe ȝonge and olde Line 417 He may men feste and Roialte beholde And deynteþs mo þan .I. can ȝou deuyse Bot al to der þei bouht it er þei rise Line 420

¶ O Sodan woo þat euer art succesour To werldly blisse spreynde is wiþ bitternes The ende of þe ioye of oure werldly labour Woo occupieþ þe fine of oure gladnes Line 424 Herke þis conseile for þi securnes Vpon þi glad daie haue in mynde The vnwar wo or harme þat comeþ be-hinde Line 427

¶ ffor schortly for to telle att o worde The souldan and þe cristen euerychone Be al to-hewe and stiken att þe borde Bot it war only Dam Custance alone Line 431 Thys olde Sauldanes cursed crone Haþ wiþ hir frendes don þis cursed dede ffor sche hir selfe wolde þe contrei lede Line 434

¶ Ne þere was Surreyne ne none þat was conuertede That of þe counsel of þe souldan wote That he ne es alto-hewen or he astert-it And Constance han þei take a-none fote hote Line 438 And in a schippe al sterles god wote Thei hane hir sett and beden hire leren to saile Owte of Surry aȝeine to Itaile Line 441

[6-text p 144] Line 441

¶ A certeine tresoure þat sche þeder ladde And soþe to seine vital grete plente Þei hane here ȝeuen and cloþes eke sche hadde [folio 70b] And forþ sche saileþ in þe salte see Line 445 O my Custance fful of benignite O . Emperours ȝonge douhter dere He þat is lorde ouere fortune he þe steere Line 448

¶ Sche blisseþ and wiþ ful pitous voyce Vn to þe croys of crist þus seide sche O clere o welful auter holy croyce Rede of þe lambes blode ful of pite Line 452 Þat whisse þe werlde fro þe olde iniquite Me fro þe fende and fro his clowes kepe þat daie þat .I. schal drenchen in þe depe Line 455

¶ Victorious tree proteccion of trewe Þat oonely worþi war for to bere Þe kinge of heuen wiþ his wondes newe Þe wyght lambe þat hurt was wiþ a spere Line 459 fflemer of frendes oute of him and here On whiche þi lynes faiþfuly extenden Me kep and ȝife me myht my lyf to amenden Line 462

¶ Ȝeres and dayes fleteþ þis creature Þoruhe owte þe see of grece vnto þe streite Of Marrok as it as it was hir auenture O many a sory mele noue maie sche baite Line 466 Affter her deþ ful oft mai sche waite Or þat þe wilde wawes wil hir drive Vn to þe place þare sche schal ariue Line 469

¶ Men myht axen whi sche was nouȝt sleine Eke att þe feste who myht hir body saue .I. answere to þat demande aȝeine Who saue Danyel in þe horrible caue Line 473

[6-text p 145] Line 473 Þere euery saue he Maister or knaue Was wiþ þe lyons frete in a sterte No whight bot god þa he bare in his hert Line 476

¶ God luste to schewe his wonderful miracle In hire for sche schold see his myhty werkes Crist whiche þat is to euery harme treacle Be certeine Menes oft as knowen clerkes Line 480 Doþ þinge for certein ende þat ful derke is To mannes witte þat for owre ignorance Ne conne knowe his prodent purueance Line 483

¶ Nowe seþ sche was not at þe fest slawe Who kepped hire fro þe drencheinge in þe see Who keppet Iona in þe fisches mawe [folio 71a] To he was spouted vp att Niniue Line 487 Wele maie men knowe it was no whight bot he Þat keppe þe peple Ebayk fro drencheinge Wiþ dri feete þoruhe oute þe see passinge Line 490

¶ Who had þe foure spirites of tempest Þat power hane to anoyen londe and see Boþe norþe and souþe and also west and este Anoyeþ neyþer se ne londe ne tree Line 494 Soþe þe comander of þat was he Þat fro þe tempest ay þis womman kepet As wele whan sche woke as wen sche slepet Line 497

¶ Whare myht þis womman mete and drenke haue Three ȝere and more how lasteþ hir vytaile Who fede þe Egipciane Marye in þe caue Or in desert non bot crist sans faille Line 501 ffyve þousand folke it was a grete mervaille Wiþ loues five and ffisches tuo to feede Gode sente his foyson att her grete nede Line 504

[6-text p 146] Line 504

¶ Sche dryueþ forþ in to owre Occeane Þoruhe oute þe wilde see till att þe last Vnder an castel þat neuen .y. ne can ffor in Norþe Humbrelond þe wawe her caste Line 508 And in þe sonde þe schippe stikked so fast That þens wold it nouht of al a tyde The wil of criste was þat sche scholde abide Line 511

¶ The Cunstable of þe Castel doune is fare To seen þis wrakke and al þe schipe he souhte And fonde þis wery womman ful of Care He fonde also tresoure þat sche brouht Line 515 In hir langage Mercie sche be-souht Þe lif oute of þe body for to twynne Hir to deliuer of woo þat sche was inne Line 518

¶ A maner latine corrupte was hir speche Bot algatez þere by was sche vnderstonde The Constable whan him lust no longer seche This wooful womman brouht he to þe londe Line 522 Sche kneleþ doune and þonkeþ goddes sonde Bot what sche was sche wolde no man seye ffor foule ne faire þouhe þat sche scholde deye Line 525

¶ Sche seid sche was so mased in þe see Þat sche for-gat here mynde be hir trouþe The constable of hir haþe so grete pite [folio 71b] And eke his wif þat þei wepen for reuþe Line 529 Sche was so diligent wiþ owten sleuþe To serue and plese eueryche in þat place That al hir louen þat loken on hir face Line 532

¶ The Constable and dam Ermenilda his wif Where payneins and þat cuntre euery where Bot Ermenilda loued here riht as hir lif And custance haþ so longe soiourned þere Line 536

[6-text p 147] Line 536 In orisons wiþ mony a better tere Til ihesu haþe conuerted þoruhe his grace Dam. Ermenilda Constablesse of þilke place Line 539

¶ In al þat londe dorst no kersten route Al cresten folke bene fledde fro þat contre Þoruhe payneins þat conquerden here aboute The plages of þe norþe be þe lande and þe see Line 543 To Wales fledd fledde þe cristeante Of olde bretons dwelynge in þis Isle Ther was hire refute for þe mene while Line 546

¶ Bot ȝit was neuer cristen bretons so exiled Þat þer nas sum in hir priuete Honoured crist and heyþen folk be-giled And nyhe þe castel þer dwel þer dwelden þre Line 550 Þat one of hem was blinde and myht nouht see Bot it weere wiþe ilke yen of his mynde Wiþ wiche men seen after þat þei be blinde Line 553

¶ Briht was þe sonne as in þe somers daie ffor whiche þe Constable and his wif also And Constance hane ytake þe riht waie To-warde þe se a forlonge way or tuo Line 557 To pleyen and to Romen to and fro And in her waie blende men þaie mette Croked and olde wiþ fast eyen schett Line 560

¶ In þe name of criste cried þis blinde bretoune Dame Ermenilda ȝeue me my sihte aȝeine This lady wex affrayde of þe soune Lest hir husbonde schortly for to seyne Line 564 Wolde hir for ihesu cristes loue haue sleyne Til Constance made hir bolde and bad hire wirche The wil of criste as douhter of his chirche Line 567

[6-text p 148] Line 567

¶ The Constable wex abassched of þat siht And seide what amounteþ al þis fare Custance anseward it is cristes miht [folio 72a] Þat helpeþ folke oute of þe fendes snare Line 571 And so ferforþe sche gan oure laye declare Þat sche constable ar þat it was eue Conuerteþ and on criste maad him beleue Line 574

¶ This Constable was nouht lorde of þis place Of whiche .I. spak þare he constance fonde Bot keped it stronge mony a winter space Vnder Allea kynge of of Northehumbrelonde Line 578 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Aȝein þe scottes as men may wele here Bot torne .I. wil a-ȝeine to my matier Line 581

¶ Sathan þat euer waiteþ vs to begile Sauhe of Custance al hir perfeccioun And kast anone howe he myht white hir while And maad a ȝonge knyht þat dwelleþ in þe toune Line 585 Loue hire so hote of foule affeccione Þat verraily him þouht þat he scholde spille Bote of hir myht ones haue his wille Line 588

¶ He woweþe hir bot it aveileþ nouht Sche wolde do no sinne be no weie And for dispite he compassed in his þouht To make hir a schameful deþe to deye Line 592 He waiteþ whan þe Constable was awaie And priuely on a nyhte he crepte In Ermenilda scambur whiles þat sche sleped Line 595

¶ Wery for-waked in hire orisons Slepeþ custance and Ermenilde also Þis knyht þouht to performe sathanas temptacions Al softly he is to þe bedde go Line 599

[6-text p 149] Line 599 And kette þe þrote of Ermenylde a tuo And leide þe blody knyf be dam Custance And wente his weie þere god ȝiue him meschaunce Line 602

¶ Sone affter comeþ þis Constable aȝeine And Eke Allea þe kenge þat was of þis lande And sauhe his wyf dispitously sleyne ffor whiche ful of oft he wepet and wronge his honde Line 606 And in þe bedde þe blody knyfe he fonde Be dam Custance Alas what myht sche seye ffor verre woo hir witte was al awaie Line 609

¶ To Kinge Alla was tolde al þis meschance And eke þe time and where and in what wise Þat in a schip was founden þis Constance As ȝe haue herde to-forne devise [folio 72b] Line 613 The kinges herte of pite gan agrise Whan he seþe so benyngne a creature ffal in disese and in mesauenture Line 616

¶ ffor as þe lambe towarde towarde his deþe is brouht So stant þis Innocent be-for þe kenge This fals knyht þat haþe þis treson wrouht Bereþ hir on honde þa sche haþe don þis þinge Line 620 Bot naþeles þer was grete Morneinge Amonge þe peple and sei þe can not gesse That sche had done so grete a wikkenesse Line 623

¶ ffor þei haue sene hir euer so vertuous And loueinge ermenilde riht as hir lif Of þis bare wittenes eueryche in þat house saue he þat Ermenilde slowhe wiþ his knyfe Line 627 This Gentil kinge haþe cauht a grete motif Of þis wittenes And þouht he wolde enquere Depper in þis caas he troueþ for to lere Line 630

[6-text p 150] Line 630

¶ Alas Constance þou naste no champioun Ne fiht cans tow nouht so walawaie Bot he þat for oure redempcioun And bonde Sathan. and lythe ȝit þere he laye Line 634 So be þi stronge champion þis daie ffor bot if criste oopen myracle kyþe Wiþe outen gilt þou schalt be sleyne also swyþe Line 637

¶ Sche Sett hir doune on knes and þus sche seyde Immortale god þat sauedest Susan ffrom false blam and þou mercyful mayde Mary .I. mene douhter of seint Anne Line 641 Beforne whos childe Angels singe osanne If .I. be giltles of þis felonye Mi soker be. for elles schal .I. deye Line 644

¶ Haue ȝe nouht seen sum tyme a pale face Amonge a pres of him þat haþe be lad To wardes his deþ where him gat no grace And suche a colour in his face haþ hadde Line 648 þat men miht knowe his face þat was be-stadde Amonge al þe faces in þat route So stant Custance and lokeþ hire aboute Line 651

¶ O queens leueinge in prosperite Duchesses and ladies euerychon Haue some reuþe of his aduersite An Emperour douhter stant alone [folio 73a] Line 655 Sche haþe no whihte to whome to make hire mone O blode Roial þat standest in þis drede ffer bue þin frendes att þi grete nede Line 658

¶ This allea kinge haþ suche compassioun As gentil hert is fulfilled of pete Þat from his yen ran þe water doune Nowe hastely do feche a boke quod he Line 662

[6-text p 151] Line 662 And if þis knyht wil swere howe þat sche This womman slowhe ȝit wil we vs avise Whome þat we wolde þat schal be oure Iustice Line 665

¶ A breton boke wreten wiþ þe euangelies Was fett and on þis boke he swore anone Sche giltif was in þe mene whiles An hande him smote vpon þe nekke bone Line 669 Þat doune he fel att ones as a stone And boþe his eyȝen borst oute of his face In siht of euery body in þat place Line 672

¶ A voice was herde in general audience And seide þou haste disclaundred giltles The douhter of holy cherche in hiehe presence Thus hast þou done and ȝit .I. mot hold my pes Line 676 Of þis Merueile a-gast was al þe pres As Mased folke þei stoden euerychone ffor drede of wreche saue Constance alone Line 679

¶ Grete was þe dede and eke þe repentance Of hem þat hadden wronge suspecione Vpon þis cely Innocent constance And for þis miracle in conclusione Line 683 And by Constance Mediacione The kinge and mony a-noþer in þat place Conuerted was þonked be cristes grace Line 686

¶ This fals knyht was sleyne for his vntrewþe Be Iuggement of Allea Hastelye And Constance haþe of his deþe grete rewþe And after þis ihesus of his mercy Line 690 Maade Alla wedden ful solempnely. Þis holy mayden þat is briht and schene And þus haþe criste maad Constance a queene Line 693

[6-text p 152] Line 693

¶ Bot who was woful. If .I. schal not lye Of þis wedynge bot Domylda and no mo Þe kinges moder ful of Tiranny. Hire þouht hir cursed hert braste a two [folio 73b] Line 697 Sche wolde nouht her sonne had don so Hir þouht a dispite þat he scholde take So straunge a creature vnto his maake Line 700

¶ Me list nouht of þe chaf ne of þe stre Maake so longe a tale as of þe corne What scholde .I. tellen of þe royalte Of þe Mariage or whiche cours goþ to forne Line 704 Who bloweþ in a trompe or in an horne The fruyte of euery tale is for to seie Thei ete. and drinke and dance. and singe and pleie Line 707

¶ Thei gone to bed as it was skill and riht ffor þouhe þat wyues bene holy þinges Thei must take a pacience a nyht Suche maner necessaries as biene plesinges Line 711 To folke þat hane ywedded hem wiþ ringes And laie a lite hire holines a side As for þe time it maie non oþer betide Line 714

¶ On hire he gate a knaue childe anone And to a bischop and his Cunstabule eke He toke his wif to kepe whan he is gone To scotelande ward his fomen for to seke Line 718 Nowe faire Custance þat is so humble and meke So longe is gone wiþ childe til þat still Sche halt hir chambure abideinge att cristes will Line 721

¶ The time is come a knaue childe sche bare Mauricius att þe font þei him calle This Constable doþ forþe come a Messagier And wrote to his kinge þat cleped was Alle Line 725

[6-text p 153] Line 725 Howe þat þis blisful tiþinge was be-falle And oþer tiþinge spedful for to seie He takeþ þe letter and forþe he goþ his weie Line 728

¶ This Messagier to done his auantage Vnto þe kinges moder rideþ swyþe And salueþ hire ful faire in his langage Madame quod he he ȝe maye glad and bliþe Line 732 And þonkeþ god an hundreþ þousand siþe My lady queene haþ childe wiþ oute doute To Ioy and blisse of al þis regne a-boute Line 735

¶ Lo here þe lettres selede of þe tiþinge þat .I. mote bere wiþ al þe hast .I. maie If ȝe wille ouht vn to ȝowre sone þe kinge. I am ȝoure seruant boþe niht and daie [folio 74a] Line 739 Domilda anseward as nowe at þis time Bot here al niht .I. wil þat þou take þi rest To morwe will .I. saie what me lest Line 742

¶ This Messagier dranke sadly ale and wyne And stollne was his lettres priuely Out off his box while he slepe as a swyne And Conterfet was ful sotely Line 746 And oþer lettres wrouht ful sinfuly. Vnto þe kinge direct of þis matier ffro his Constable as ȝe schal after here Line 749

¶ The lettre spak howe þe queene deliuerd was Of so horrible fendelyche creature That in þe Castel none so hardy was That any while dorst þer in endure Line 753 The moder was an elfe be aventure Ycome be charmes or be sorceri And euery whitte hateþe hir company Line 756

[6-text p 154] Line 756

¶ Woo was þis kinge whan he þis lettre had seyne Bot to no white he tolde þis sorwe sore Bot of his owen he wrote ageyne Welcome be þe sonde of criste for euer more Line 760 To me þat am nowe lerend in his lore Lord welcom be þi lust and þi plesance Mi lust is put al in þine ordinance Line 763

¶ Kepeþ þis childe al be it foule or faire And eke my wif vnto myne home comynge Criste whan him liste maie sende me an heire More Agreable þan this to my likinge Line 767 This letter he seleþ priuely wepeinge Whiche to þe Messagier was take sone And forþe he goþe þare is nomore to done Line 770

¶ O Messagier fulfilde of dronkennesse Stronge is þi breþe þi limmes faltern aye And þou be-wreyest al sekurnesse Thi mynde is lorne þu Iangelest as a Iaye Line 774 Thi face is turned in a newe arraie There drunkennesse reygneþ in any route Þere is no counsel hidde wiþ outen doute Line 777

¶ O domilda. I ne haue non englisshe digne Vnto þi malice and þi tirannye An þer-for to þe fende .I. þe resigne. Lat him endite þi traitery [folio 74b] Line 781 ffy mannysshe fy. o nay be god .I. lye ffy fendlyche spirit for .I. dare wele telle Thouhe þou here walke þi spirit is in helle Line 784

¶ This Messagier comeþ fro þe kinge aȝeine And att þe kinges moder courte he liþe And sche was of þis Messagier ful faine And plesed him in al þat euer sche myht Line 788

[6-text p 155] Line 788 He dranke and wele his girdel vnder pyht He slepeþ and he fronteþ in his gise Alle nyht til þe son gan rise Line 791

¶ Eft was his letters stollen euerychōn And Conterfet lettres in þis wise The kinge Commandeþ his constable a none Vppeyne of hangeynge or an hihe Iewys Line 795 Þat he ne schold suffur in no wise Constance inwiþe his regne to Abide Thre daies and a quarter of a tide Line 798

¶ Bot in þe same schippe as he hir fonde Hire and hire ȝonge sone and hir gere He schold putte and croude fro þe londe And Charger þat sche neuer eft com þere Line 802 O my Constance wele may þi goste haue fere And slepeinge in þi dreme be in penance Whan Domilda cast al þis ordinance Line 805

¶ This Messagier on morwe whan he woke Vnto þe castel halt þe next waie And to þe Constable he þe letter toke And whan þat he þis pitous lettre saye Line 809 fful oft he seide alas and walawaie Lord criste quod he howe maie þis lettre endure So wooful of synne is mony a creature Line 812

¶ O myhti god. if þat it be þi wille Sethe þowe is riht-ful Iugge howe maie it be Þat þou wilt suffur Innocent to spille An wikked folk reigne in prosperite Line 816 O good Constance alas so woo is me Þat .I. mot be þi tormentour or deye On schames deþ þere is none oþer weie Line 819

[6-text p 156] Line 819

¶ Wepen boþe ȝonge and olde in al þat place Whan þat þe kinge þis cursede letter sent And Custance wiþ a dedly pale face Þe ferþe daie to warde þe schippe sche wente [folio 75a] Line 823 Bot Naþeles sche takeþ in goode entente Þe will of criste and kneleinge att þe stronde Sche seide lorde ay welcome be þi sonde Line 826

¶ He þat me keppet fro þe fals blame While .y. was in þe londe amonges ȝowe He can me kepe from arme and eke frome schame In salt see al-þouhe .I. see nouȝt howe Line 830 As stronge as euer he was he is riht nowe In him trust .I. and in his moder dere Þat is to me my saile and eke my stere Line 833

¶ Hire litel childe laie wepeinge in hir arme And knelynge pitusly to him sche seide Pees litel son .I. will do þe none harme Wiþ þat þe kerchef of hir hede sche braide Line 837 And ouer his litel yen sche it leide And in hir arme sche lulleþ it ful fast And in to heuen her yen vp sche cast Line 840

¶ Moder quod sche and Maiden briht Marie Soþe is þat þoruh wommannes egment Man kinde was lorne and dampned aye to deye ffor whiche þi childe was on a crois rente Line 844 Þi blisfully yen sawhe all his tornement Than is þere no comparison be-twene Þi woo and any woo man may susteigne Line 847

¶ Thowe sawhe þi sonne slayne to for þin eyȝene And ȝit leueþ now my childe parfaie Now lady to whome al woful cryȝen Thow glorie of wommanhode þou faire maie Line 851

[6-text p 157] Line 851 Þou haven of refute briht sterre of daie Rew on my childe þat of þi gentillesse Rewest on euery rewful in destrisse Line 854

¶ O litel childe alas what is þi gilte Þat neuer wrouhtest sinne as ȝit parde Whi wil þi hard fader haue þe spilte O merci dere constable quod sche Line 858 As lat my litel childe dwel here wiþ þe And if þou darst nouht saue him frome blame So kesse him ones in his faders name Line 861

¶ Ther-wiþ sche loked bakward to þe londe And seide fare wel husbonde rewþeles And vp sche riseþ and walkeþ doune þe stronde To warde þe schippe hir foloweþ al þe prees [folio 75b] And euer sche praieþ her childe to holde his pees And takeþ hire leue and wiþ an holy entent Sche blisseþ hir and in to schippe sche went Line 868

¶ Vitailled was þe schip it is no drede Abundantly for hire ful longe space And oþere necessaries þat schold nede Sche had .I.-nowhe heried be goddes grace Line 872 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And bringe hire home .I. can no better saie Bot in þe see sche driueþ forþ hire waie Line 875

[PART III.]

¶ Alla þe kinge comeþ home sone after þis Vnto his Castel of þe whiche .I. tolde And axeþ where his wif and his childe is The Constable gan aboute his hert colde Line 879

[6-text p 158] Line 879 And pleinly al þe maner he him tolde As ȝe hane herde .I. kan tel it no better And scheweþ þe kinge his seal and his letter Line 882

¶ And seide lorde as ȝe commaunded me Vp peine of deþ so haue .I. done certeine This Messagier tumended was til he Most be-knowen and tellen plat and pleine Line 886 ffrom nyht to nyht where þat he had leine And þus be witte and soubtile enquereinge Imagened was be wham þis harme gan springe Line 889

¶ The hande was knowe þat þe lettre wrote And al þe venym of þis cursed dede Bot in what wise certeinli .I. note þe effecte is þis þat oute of drede Line 893 His moder he slowhe þat mai men pleinli rede ffor þat sche traitour was to hire legance Thus endeþ olde Domylda wiþ meschaunce Line 896

¶ The sorwe þat þis Alla nyht and daye Makeþ for his wif and his childe also Ther is no tunge þat it telle maie Bot now wil .I. vnto Custance go Line 900 Þat fleteþ in þe se in peine and wo Þre ȝere and more as liked crist sonde Or þat hir schip approched vnto þe londe Line 903

¶ Vnder an heyþen castel att þe last Of whiche þe name in my text not .I. finde Custance and eke hir childe þe see vpkast Al myhti þat saueþ al mankinde Line 907 Haue on Constance and hire childe sum mynde [folio 76a] That fallen is in heyþe honde eft sone. In pointe to spille as .I. scall tel ȝowe sone Line 910

[6-text p 159] Line 910

¶ Done fro þe Castel commeþ þere mony a whihte To gauren on þis schep and on Constance Bot schortly fro þe castel on a nyht The lord steweard god ȝiue him meschance Line 914 A þef þat had reneyde oure creance Com vn schip alon and seide he schold Hir lemman be where sche wolde or nolde Line 917

¶ Woo was þis wreched womman woo be gone Hir Childe cride and sche cried pitously Bot blisse-ful Marye helped hir a none ffor wiþþe hir strogelinge wele and myhtily Line 921 The þef fel ouere þe borde al sodanly. And in þe se he drenched for vengance And þus haþ crist vnvenemed keped Custance Line 924

¶ O foule lust of luxurie lo þine ende Not onely þat þou faintest mannes mynde Bot verraili þou wilt his body schende The ende of þi werk or of þi lust-is blinde Line 928 Is compleigneinge howe many oone men maie finde Þat not for werke sum time bot for þe entente To done þis sinne bene eyþer sleyne or schente Line 931

¶ Howe maie þis wayko womman haue þe strenkeþ Hir to dofende aȝeine þis renegate O golyas vnmesurable of lengeþe Howe myht dauid make þe so mate Line 935 So ȝonge and of Armour so desolate Howe dorst he loke vpon þi dredeful face Wele maie men seen it is bot goddes grace Line 938

¶ Who ȝaf Iudith. Corage or hardinesse To slene him Olefernus in his tent And to deliuer oute of wrechednesse Þe peple of god .I. seide for þis entente Line 942

[6-text p 160] Line 942 Þat riht as god spiret and vigor sente To heme and saued hem out of meschance So sent he myht and vigor to Constance Line 945

¶ ffor goþe hir schipe þoruhe oute þe narow mouþe Of Iubalter and þens driueinge aye Sum tim west and sum tim norþe and souþe And som time est ful mony a wery daie. Line 949 Til cristes moder blissed be sche aye [folio 76b] Haþ schapen þoruhe hire endeles goodenes To make an hende of al her heuenes Line 952

¶ Now latte vs stent of Constance bot a þrowe An speke we of þe Romaine Emperour That oute of Surry haþe be letters knowe The slawhte of Cristen folk and dishonour Line 956 Done to his douhter be a fals traitour .I. mene þe Curssed wikked Sawdanesse Þat att þe fest le slen boþe more and lesse Line 959

¶ ffor whiche þis Emperour haþ sent anone His Senatour wiþ roial ordinance And oþer lordes god wote manyone On Surriens to taken hir vengeance Line 963 Thei brennen slene and bringen hem to meschance ffol mony a day bot schortly þis is þe ende Homwarde to Rome þei schapen hem to wende Line 966

¶ This Senator repaireþ wiþ vittorie To Romewarde seileinge ful Roialy And mette þe schippe driueynge as seiþe þe storie In whiche Constance sitte ful pitously. Line 970 No þinge ne knewe he what sche was ne whi Sche was in Suche aray ne sche wil seye Of hir estate þouhe sche schold deie Line 973

[6-text p 161] Line 973

¶ He bringeþ hir to Rome And to his wif He ȝaf hire and hire ȝonge sone also And wiþ þe Senatur sche led hir lif Thus can owre lady bringen oute of wo Line 977 Woful Constance and mony anoþere mo And longe time dwelled sche in þis place In holy werkes euer as was hire grace Line 980

¶ The Senatour wif hire [[MS corrected]] Aunte was Bot for alþat sche knewe hire neuere more .I. wil no longer tarien in þis cas Bot to kinge Alla whiche .I. spake of ȝore Line 984 That for his wif wepeþ and sikeþ sore .I. wil retorne and lete .I. wil Constance Vnder þe Senatour gouernance Line 987

Kinge Alla whiche þat had his moder sleyne Vppon a daie fel in suche repentance Þat . if .I. schortly tellen schall and pleyne To Rome he comeþ to receyuen his penance Line 991 And put him in þe popes ordinan[c]e [folio 77a] In hihe and lowe and ihesu crist be-souht ffor-ȝeue his wikked werke þat he wrouht Line 994

¶ The fame anone þorwhe Rome toune is borne Howe alla kinge scha com in pilgrenage Be herberioures þat went him be forne ffor whiche þe Senatour as was þe vsage Line 998 Rode him aȝeine and mony of his lignage Als wele to schewe his magnificence As to done any kenge a reuerence Line 1001

¶ Grete chiere doþe þis noble Senatour To kinge Alla and he to him also Eueriche of hem doþ to oþere grete honour And so be-fel þat on a daie or two Line 1005

[6-text p 162] Line 1005 This Senatur is to kinge Alla go To feste and schortly if .I. schal nouht lye Costance sone in his companye Line 1008

¶ Som men wald seine att þe request of Custance This Senatour haþe ledde þis childe to fest .I. maie not tel euery Circumstance Be as be may þere he was at lest Line 1012 Bot soþ þis is þat att his moder hest Be-forne Alla dureinge þe mete space The childe stode lokeinge in þe kinges face Line 1015

¶ This Alla kinge haþ of þis childe grete wonder And to þe Senator he seide a none Whos is þat faire childe þat stondeþ ȝonder .I. note quod he be god and be seinte Iohn Line 1019 A moder he haþe bot fader haþe he none Þat .I. of wote and schortly schortly in a stounde He tolde Alla howe þat þis childe was founde Line 1022

¶ Bot god woote quod þis Senatour also So vertuouse a leuere in my lyf Sawhe .I. neuer as sche . ne herd of moo Of werldly wemmen . Maiden or wif Line 1026 .I. dar wele saie sche had leuer a knyf Thoruhe hir breste þan bene a womman wik There is no man couþe bringe hire to þat prik Line 1029

¶ Nowe was þis childe as like vn to custance As possible as is a creature to be This Alla haþe þe face in remembrance Of Dame Custance and þere-on mused he Line 1033 If þat þe childes moder weer ouht sche [folio 77b] That is wif and priuely he siht And sped him fro þe table þat he myht Line 1036

[6-text p 163] Line 1036

¶ Par faye þouht he þe fantome is in myn hede .I. hauht demen of skilful Iuggement Þat in þe salt se my wif is dede And afterward he maade his Argument Line 1040 What wote .I. if þat crist hire haþ hider sent .Mi. wyf be see as wele as he hire sent To my contre from þens þat sche was went Line 1043

¶ And after none home wiþ þe Senatour Goþe Alla for to seen þis wonder chaunce This Senatour doþ alla a grete honoure And hastely sent after Custance Line 1047 Trusteþ wele hire liste nouht to daunce Whan þat sche wiste where for was þat sonde Vnneþe vp vpon hire feete sche myht stonde Line 1050

¶ Whan Alla sauhe his wif faire he hire grete And wepped þat it was reuþe for to see ffor att þe first loke he on hire sette He knewe wele verraile þat it was sche Line 1054 And for sorwe as dombe stant as a tre So was hir hert schette in hire distresse When sche remembred his vnkindenesse Line 1057

¶ Twys sche swownede in his owen siht He wepe and him excuseþ pitusly God quod he and his Halowes briht So wisly of my soule as haue mercy Line 1061 That of ȝoure harme as gelteles am .I. As. is Moris my sone so like ȝowre face Elles þe fende me feche out of þis place Line 1064

¶ Longe was þe sobynge and þe bitter peine Or þat hir woful hertes myht cesse Grete was was þe pite for to here hem pleine Thoruhe whiche pleintes gan her woo encres Line 1068

[6-text p 164] Line 1068 I. pray ȝow al my labour to relese .I. maie nouht tel hir woo vn-to to morwe .I. am so wery to speke of hir sorwe Line 1071

¶ Bot fynally whan þat þe soþe is wist That Alla gilteles was of hir woo .I. trowe. an .C. times bene þei kist And suche a blisse is þere be-tuex hem two Line 1075 That saueþ þe ioy þat lasteþ euer mo [folio 78a] There is none like þat any creature Haþ seen or schal while þe werlde maye dure Line 1078

¶ Tho praide sche hir husbond mekly In releueinge of hir longe pitous pyne Þa he wolde praie hir fader s[p]ecialy That he of his hihe Magestee enclyne Line 1082 To vowchesaue som day wiþ him to dyne Sche praide him eke he scholde be no weie Vnto hire fader no worde of hir seie Line 1085

¶ Som men wold sey howe þat þe Childe morice Doþ þis Message vn-to þis Emperour Bot as .I. gesse Alla was nouht so nyce To him þat was of so souereigne honoure Line 1089 As he þat is of cristen folke þe floure Sent any Childe but it is bet to deme He went him selfe and so it maie wele seme Line 1092

¶ This Emperoure haþ graunted gentilly To come to denere as he him besouht And wele rede .I. he loked besyly. Vpon þis child. and on his douhter þouht Line 1096 Alla goþe to his Inne as him ouhte And array for þis feste in euery wise As ferforþe as his comynge maie suffise Line 1099

[6-text p 165] Line 1099

¶ The morwe cam and Alla gan him dresse And eke his wif þis emperour for to mete And forþe þei redde in Ioy. and in gladnesse And whan sche seyhe hire fader in þe strete Line 1103 Sche lihteþ adoune and falleþ him to fete ffader quod sche ȝoure ȝonge childe Constance Is nowe ful clene oute of ȝoure remembrance Line 1106

¶ .I. am ȝoure douhter Constance quod sche That whilome ȝe sente vnto Surrye It am .I. fader þat in salt see Was put alone and dampned for to dye Line 1110 Goode fader to ȝowe .I. crye Sende me no more [[re interlined in red]] in to heyþennesse Bot þonke my lorde here of his kindenesse Line 1113

¶ Who kan þe pytous Ioy tellen all Be-twixe hem þree seþþen þei bue þus ymett Bot of my tale make an ende .I. schall The day goþe fast .I. wil no longer lette Line 1117 This gladde folke to denere þei hem sette [folio 78b] In Ioy and blisse att þe mete .I. lete hem dwelle A. þousand folde wel mor þan .I. can telle Line 1120

¶ Þis Childe Moris was siþen Emperour Maade be þe pope an leued Cristienly To Cristes chirche he dide grete honoure Bot I. lat al his storie passen bie Line 1124 Of Constance is my tale sekerlie In olde Romeyne gestes men mai finde Moris lif .I. bere it nouht in mynde Line 1127

¶ This kinge Alla whan he his time seie Wiþ his Custance his holy wif so swete To Ingelonde bue þei comen þe riht weie Where as þei leue in Ioy and in quyete Line 1131

[6-text p 166] Line 1131 Bot litel while it lasteþ .I. ȝowe hete Ioy of þis werlde for time wil nouȝt abide ffro day to nyht it chaungeþ as þe tide Line 1134

¶ Who so leueþ euer in suche delite a daie þat ne meued eyþer conscience Or ire or talent or sumkin afraie Envie or pride or passion or offense Line 1138 .I. ne saie bot þis ende þis sentense þat litel while in Ioy or in plesance Lasteþ þe blisse of alla wiþ Constance Line 1141

¶ ffor deþ þat takeþ of hihe and louhe his rent Whan passed was a ȝere euen as .I. gesse Oute of þis werlde kinge Alla he hente ffore whome Constance haþe ful grete heuinesse Line 1145 Now latt vs preyne God his soule blisse And dam Constance fynally to seye To warde þe toune of Rome goþe hire weye Line 1148

¶ To Rome is comen is comen þis holy creature And fyndeþe here frendes hole and sounde Now is sche scaped al hir a-venture Whan sche hir fader haþ founde Line 1152 Doune on hir knees falleþ sche to grounde Wepeinge for tendurnesse in hert bliþe Sche herieþ god a .C. þousand siþe Line 1155

¶ In vertu and holy almosdede Thei leuen al. and neuer a sonder wende Til deþe depart hem þis lif þei lede An fare nowe wele my tale is att an ende Line 1159 Nowe ihesu criste þat of his myht maye sende [folio 79a] Ioy after woo gouerne vs in his grace And kepe vs al þat bene in þis place Line 1162

Explicit fabula legis periti.

[6-text p 167]

Incipit prologus Armigeri. [on leaf 79]

OWre Ost vpon his stereps stode anone And seide goode men herkeneþ euerychone This was a þrefty tale for þe nones Sir pariche preste quod he for goddes bones Line 1166 Tel vs a tale as was þi forward ȝore .I. se welee þat ȝe lerned men in lore Can muchel goode be goddes dignite The person him anseward benedicite Line 1170 What eyley þe man so sinfuly to swere Owr oste anseward Iankin be ȝe þere .I. smel a loller in þe wynde quod he How good men quod oure oste herkeneþ me Line 1174 Abideþ for goddes deyne passione ffor we schal haue a predicacione This loller will prechen her sumwhat Nay be my fader sowle þat sal he nat Line 1178 Seid þe swyere her schal he nouht preche He schal no gospel glosen here ne teche He leueþ al in þe grete god he He wolde sowen sum difficulte Line 1182 Or sprengen cokel in oure clene corne And þar-for oste .I. warne þe be-forne Mi Ioly body . schal a tale tell And .I. schal klynken ȝow so mery a bell Line 1186 Þat .I. schal waken al þis compaignie Bot it schal not bien of philosophie Ne fisleas ne turnies queynte of lawe There is bot litel latine in my mawe [[The Squire's Tale follows in the MS.]] Line 1190

Explicit prologus.