(398)
¶ And doutëlesse, if þat fordone be [be R, by H.] lawe,
Line 2780
A princes power may goo pley him þenne;
ffor þei þat nought ne haue, with knyfe I-drawe,
Wol on hem þat of good be myghty, renne,
And hurt hem, and hir houses fire & brenne,
Line 2784
And robbe and slee, and do al swich folye,
Whan þer no lawe is, hem to iustifie.
Line 2786
(399)
¶ Now in gode feith, I pray god it amende,
Line 2787
Lawe is nye flemëd out of þis cuntre,
ffor fewë be þat dreden it offende.
Correccïoun and al is long on the:
Whi soffrest þou so many an ássemble
Line 2791
Of armëd folk? wel ny in euery shire,
Partye is made to venge her cruel ire;
Line 2793
(400)
¶ Thei, with her hande wrong, to hem done redresse;
Hem deyneth naght an accioun attame
At comun lawë: swich vnbuxumnesse
Suffréd, vs makë wol of seuerte lame.
Who-so may þis correct, is worthi blame
Line 2798
Þat he ne doth naght. alasse! þis suffraunce
Wol vs destroyë by continuance.
Line 2800
(401)
¶ Is ther no lawë þis to remedie? [folio 48b]
Line 2801
I can no morë; but, and this forth growe,
This londe shal it repent and sore abye;
And al such mayntenance, as men wel knowe,
Sustenëd is naght by personës lowe, [lowe R, lawe H.]
Line 2805
But Cobbes [cobbes R, great men, lords. Compare 'wattes,' l. 2816, p. 102.] gretë þis ryot sustene;
Correct it, gode is, whil þat it is grene.
Line 2807
