Whanne they be cónstreyned to do so,
And haue no power to go ther-ffro,
Comaunded [[commaundyd St., comaunde Tib.]] to swyche óbseruaunce
By hym [[them St.]] that hathe the gouernaunce [Tib folio 45a]
Line 18636
I mene the kyng, to whom, eche weye,
Mawgre ther myght, they muste obeye.'
¶ The Pylgryme:
"IConceyue, and se wel here,
Thow art the kyngës messangere,
Line 18640
By the armes that thow dost were,
And by the sygnes I se the bere;
But makë [[make a St.]] demonstracyoun
To me off thi comyssyoun,
Line 18644
By what power or by what peyne
Thát thow mayste [[mayst St., muste Tib.]] hem so constreyne."
¶ The Messangere:
'COmmyssyoun I haue neuere on;
And trewely I dar axë non;
Line 18648
And though I dyde (as thow schalt se)
He woldë grauntë noon to me.'
¶ The Pylgryme:
"THanne wote I wel, (ȝeue it be sought,)
ffor the, that they wole do ryght nought."
Line 18652
¶ The Messangere:
'HEre vp-on, what so ȝe seye,
Wotë [[I wott . . .that they will St.]] wel they wole [[I wott . . .that they will St.]] obeye
Pleynely vnto my byddynge;
ffor they wene that, off the kynge
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I haddë fful auctorite,
Commyssyoun and fful pouste,
To maken them, lyche [[lyke St.]] myn entent, [Tib folio 45b]
To óbeye [[or t'obeyë]] my comaundëment
Line 18660
By vertu off myn orysoun, [[orisons . . .commyssions St.]]
Karectys and coniurysoun [[orisons . . .commyssions St.]] ;
ffor drede off whiche, (be wel certeyn,)
I knowe they dar me not with-seyn.'
Line 18664
¶ The Pilgryme:
"WHer thow be wel or yuel apayd,
Take good heed what thow haste sayd:
Thow haste ben ffalse in thi workyng,
