[Tale of the Rich Forswearer at a Trial in London.]
[narracio D.] Yn Londun toune fyl swyche a chek,
A ryche man and pore [a pore O, a pore weryn D.] were at cuntek, [debate]
And pleted [motedyn D.] a-boute a lytyl land [folio 18b:2]
Line 2701
Tyl a day was take yn [on D.] hand;
þat day was so ny[e] [nyghe O, ny D.] dreue
þat þe othe was to þe ryche man ȝyue: [dreuyn . . . ȝeuyn D.]
wytnes þey allë gan hym bere
Line 2705
Þat he ne wuld[ë] falsly [þat þei woldyn for hym D.] swere;
For rychë men are holdë [arn holdyn D.] trewe,
Þogh here falsnes be [be her falsnesse (om. þogh) D.] neuer so newe.
whan [qwan D.] he was charged þe soþe to seye,
Line 2709
Þat he ne shulde, for loue ne eye, [say . . ay D.]
Ne for lefë, [No for lef O, ne f. lef D.] no for loþe,
But trew[ë]ly to [schulde D.] swere hys oþe;
Line 2712
A-nouþer þan [but a noþer D.] was yn hys þoght,
For [For, om. D.] falshede he wlde haue furþ broȝt;
And God toke veniaunce apertly,
Þat alle hyt say þat stode [(om. For) alle it seyȝen . . stodyn D.] hym by.
Line 2716
For whan he hadde hys oþë swore,
And kest [kessid D.] þe boke hem alle before,
Vp ne ros he neuer more,
But, lay dede befor hem þore. [fil doun ded hem alle be-fore D.]
Line 2720
Þan y trowe þat y dar [I dar wel (om. þat) D.] seye
Þat he ȝede an euyl weye.
By þys tale, ȝe mowe se alle
Þat fals sweryng wyl euyl befalle, [of f. s. w. e. falle D.]
Line 2724
Namlyche, on þe halydom [namely vp-on þe holydom D.]
whan he ys charged of any [qwan . . ony D.] whom.
