[6-text p 155]
He dranke and wele his girdel vnder pyht
He slepeþ and he fronteþ in his gise
Alle nyht til þe son gan rise
Line 791
¶ Eft was his letters stollen euerychōn
And Conterfet lettres in þis wise
The kinge Commandeþ his constable a none
Vppeyne of hangeynge or an hihe Iewys
Line 795
Þat he ne schold suffur in no wise
Constance inwiþe his regne to Abide
Thre daies and a quarter of a tide
Line 798
¶ Bot in þe same schippe as he hir fonde
Hire and hire ȝonge sone and hir gere
He schold putte and croude fro þe londe
And Charger þat sche neuer eft com þere
Line 802
O my Constance wele may þi goste haue fere
And slepeinge in þi dreme be in penance
Whan Domilda cast al þis ordinance
Line 805
¶ This Messagier on morwe whan he woke
Vnto þe castel halt þe next waie
And to þe Constable he þe letter toke
And whan þat he þis pitous lettre saye
Line 809
fful oft he seide alas and walawaie
Lord criste quod he howe maie þis lettre endure
So wooful of synne is mony a creature
Line 812
¶ O myhti god. if þat it be þi wille
Sethe þowe is riht-ful Iugge howe maie it be
Þat þou wilt suffur Innocent to spille
An wikked folk reigne in prosperite
Line 816
O good Constance alas so woo is me
Þat .I. mot be þi tormentour or deye
On schames deþ þere is none oþer weie
Line 819
