"alle thes vertues (in substaunce)
made aforn hym pourveyaunce;
took vp a paleys most Royal
In that cyte celestial,
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for kyng Lowys, that holy man,
as his lif rehercë can,
wel bet than I can expresse.
"and for my part, touchyng almesse,
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I may not make hir (fer nor ner)
forto be my massager: [[sessenger (!) St.]]
She nys not pertynent to me,
which ha no thyng in propurte,
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but by licence (in certeyn)
oonly of my souuereyn.
"wherfore (of entencïoun)
I shal make a commyssïoun
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to oon that is prudent and sage,
to taken vp myn herbergage:
the name of whom is Prayer,
to go toforn as massager." [[messenger St.]]
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Prayer: [[St., om. C.]]
Quod Prayer, 'for thy best,
I wil fulfillë thy requeste
as forforth [[farforthe St.]] as I ha myght,
and as toforn [[reason St.]] I ha behyght.' [Stowe folio 378b]
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[The Pilgrim]:
And with that word, anoon Siknesese
bad hir hastë fast, and dresse, [folio 307a]
withouten eny mor delay,
forto spede hir on hir way;
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and without eny longer space,
for tavoyden anoon the place.
[Siknesse]:
Quod she, 'it is now no sesoun
to maken a comyssïoun,
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at this tymë, to prayere;
for, playnly (who list to lere,)
bothe at complyn and at pryme,
it hath be mad afore this tyme;
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or ellës, herbergage to wynne,
