(215. Hoccleve.)
¶ "But if a wyght hauë any [a H R.] cause to sue
Line 1499
To vs, som lordës man schal vndertake
To sue it out; & þat þat is vs due
ffor oure labour, hym deyneþ vs nat take;
He seiþ, his lord to þanke vs wole he make;
Line 1503
It touchiþ hym, it is a man of his;
Where þe reuers of þat, god wot, sooþ is.
Line 1505
(216. Hoccleve.)
¶ "His letter he takiþ, and forþ goþ his way,
Line 1506
And byddeþ vs to dowten vs no-thyng
His lord schal þanken vs an oþer day;
And if we han to suë to þe kyng,
His lord may þerë haue al his askyng;
Line 1510
We schal be sped, as fer as þat oure bille
Wole specifie þe éffecte [effect R, fecte H.] of our wylle.
Line 1512
(217. Hoccleve.)
¶ "What schol we do? we dar non argument [folio 28a]
Line 1513
Make a-geyn him, but fayre & wel him trete,
Leste he roporte amys, & make vs schent;
To haue his wil, we suffren him, & lete;
Hard is, be holden suspect with þe grete:
Line 1517
His talë schal he leeuëd, but [bileeued and R.] nat ourys,
And þat conclusïoun to vs ful soure is.
Line 1519
(218. Hoccleve.)
¶ "And whan þe mater is to ende I-broght,
Line 1520
Of þe straunger, for whom þe suyte haþ be,
Þan is he to þe lord knowén right noght;
He is to him as vn-knowén as we;
Þe lord not wot [ne wote not R.] of al þis sotilte;
Line 1524
Ne we nat dar lete him of it to [Ne we ne dar not lete hym of it R.] knowe,
Lest oure compleynte oure seluen ouerthrowe.
