'In myn entent, that fynally
Yt be nat touchyd of no whyht,
But he to-forn (as yt ys right, [[Stowe]] ) [folio 70a]
Line 4628
Be with my yerdë [[yerde St., yerd C.]] fyrst chastysed,
And also (as I ha devysed,)
With myn hamer broke a-two,
And with my bysmë swept also;
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That he be purgyd al aboute,
Bothe with-Innen & with-oute:
Lat euery man be war & wys
To werkyn affter my devys,
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Whether that he be yong or old.'
And whan thys lady hadde al told, [prose cap lxi]
And yt [[yt St., om. C.]] declaryd (al yfere)
Off hyr offycë the manere,
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¶ The tother lady that stood hyr by,
Gan pressë forth, & was redy
(Lych as ye shal vnderstond,)
With the scrypture in hyr hond,
Line 4644
Off the wych to-forn I tolde;
And hyr lettre she gan vnfolde,
And in opyn audyence
Thus she seydë in sentence.
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'Syrs,' quod she, 'yiff ye lyst lere, [Stowe folio 86a]
Ye han herd al the manere
How thys lady, Dame Penaunce,
Hath declaryd in substaunce
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To yow hyr offyce by & by.
And, by your leuë, now wyl I,—
In hope I may your thank dysserue,—
Declarë wher-off that I serue,
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Off myn offyce & my degre.
'I wyl ye wyte, that I am she
That neuere haddë yet delyt
To haue no persone in despyt,
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Hih nor lowh, in no degre;
ffor al my Ioye, wherso I be,
As fer forth as I ha myght,
Ys to forthren euery wyht.
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And neuere yet, for no greuaunce,
