'Thus wrouht I ffyrst in my yong age:
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And day be day I ne cessede nouht
Tyl I hadde gret harmys wrouht;
ffor yt am I, both nyh and ferre,
That make A-mong gret lordys, werre;
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I cause al dissencïouns,
Dyscord and indygnacïouns,
And make hem, by ful gret envye,
Everych other to dyffye;
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ffor I am leder and maystresse,
Cheventayne and guyderesse,
Bothe off werre and off bataylle.
I make off platë and of maylle
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Many devyses, mo than on; [folio 214a]
And to rekne hem euerychon,
Yt woldë doun but lytel good.
'I causede ffyrst, shedyng off blood;
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I ffond vp fyrst, devyses newe,
Rayës off many sondry hewe;
Off short, off long, I ffond the guyse;
Now streight, now large, I kan devyse,
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That men sholde, for syngulerte,
Beholde and lokyn vp-on me.
I wolde be holden ay sanz per,
And by my syluen synguler; [Stowe folio 248b]
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I wolde also that, off degre,
Ther wer noon other lyk to me;
Yiff any dydë me resemble,
Myn hertë wolde for Ire tremble,
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Ryve atwo almost for tene.
'What euere I sey, I wyl sustene,
Be yt wrong or be yt ryht;
And I wyl ek, off verray myght,
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Be cheff mayster aboue echon:
Other doctryne kepe I noon.
'I hate also, in myn entent,
Good consayl and avysëment,
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And overmor, thus ys yt,
I preyse noon other manhys [[mannys St.]] wyt,
But myn owne, what so be-falle,
