Of pleiying of a kyng. Capitulum 18m. [Numbered 17 in MS., so that from this point the numeration of the chapters is not in accord with that of the MS., being one in advance.]
it is semely to a kyng sumtyme with his pryncis lordis and othir that ben honest gentiles, forto delite him in honest pleyes and myrthis, and forto haue many dyverse mynstralcies in his audience, and dauncyng and syngyng, for whan the kynde of man is reioysid in myrthe of kyndely nature, the talent of man takith therof gret strengthe and corage in alle manhode. Than if thou delite the in suche myrthe, loke that it be doone in honeste and pryvy place, and whan thou art in þi most myrthe kepe the wel from ouermoche drynke, but lete othir haue drynke at wille, and than shalle þou here many pryvy thingis discoverid, than take to the tho that thou lovist best, that they may reporte to the an othir day of that men seyne and tellen in here dronkenshipe; Onys or twyes ayere suffisith to haue suche maner myrthis. And euyrmore loke that thou holde alle thi lordis in gret worshipe as they ben of estate, and diuerse tymys make them ete with the on aftir an oþir, and yeue hem rewardis of Iewellis or of riche clothyng after that they ben of estate and worthi; and loke þat ther be no man of thi counselle ne famulier with the, but if he be rewardid with yeftis of thi largesse, for ellis makist thou not ther hertis toward the in trusty loue, nor savist not thyn estat.