Of a kyngis messangeris. Capm. 60m.
dEre sone, messangeres shewen the wisdome of hem that senden hem, and a messangere is the eye, the ere, and the tunge of the lord; than it bihovith a messangere to ben the most sufficient and cherfulle speker, wijs, honourable and lele, and that he loue þi [thi repeated in MS.] [folio 24a] worship and thyn honure, and hate alle thi dishonoure, vnto suche on discouer thi counselle, and in case thou may not fynde such on, enquere the on that wolle trewly bere thi lettris, and kan report an answer. And if thou fynde thi messangere be couetous forto take yeftis of them that they are sent to, truste not in hem, but refuse hem for euyr. And make neuir thi messangere of man that is dronkelew, for bi him shalle be seid and tolde alle that he knowith. And also make not thi messangere of no gret officer, ne lete noon suche go fro the, for that myght be distruccioun of the and thyne and of thi rewme also. And if thou myght perceyve that þi messangeres did to the any tresoun thorugh takyng of gret mede, deme thou than as the thynkith they are worthi, for trewly y kan not.