To take mede þat mayde · and make here at ese

Ich shal asaye hure my-self · and sothliche apose

Wat man of þys worlde · þat hure is leuest haue

And yf hue wirche wisliche · by wysmen counsail

Ich wolle for-gyue hure alle hure gultes · so me god helpe

Cortesliche þe clerk þenne · as þe kynge hyghte

Toke mede by þe mydel · and myldeliche here broughte

In-to boure with blysse · and by hure gan sitte

Ther was myrthe of mynstralcy · mede to plesen

That wenden to westmynstre · worshupde hure meny

Gentelich with ioye · Iusti{s}ces somme

Buskede hem to þe boure · ther þis berde dwellyd

Confortynge hure as þei couthe · by þe clerkus leue

And seyde morne nat mede . make þow no sorwe

For we wolle wisse þe kyng · and þy wey shappe

For to wende at þy wil · wer þe luf lykeþ

For alle consciences cast · a craft as ich trowe

Mildeliche mede þo · merciede hem alle

Of hure grete goudnesse · and gaf hem echone

Coupes of clene gold · and coppes of seluer

Rynges with rubies · and oþer riche ȝiftes

The leste of here meyne · a moton of golde

Wenne thei had lauht here leue · at þys lady mede .

Thenne comen clerkus · to comfortye hure samen

And beden here be blythe · for we ben þyn owe

For to worche þy wil · þe wile we mowe dure

Ande mede hendiliche · by-hyht hem þe same

To louen hem leellich* · and lordes hem make

And porchace ȝow prouenders · wile ȝoure pans lasteþ

And bigge ȝow benefices · pluralite to haue

And in constorie atte court · do calle ȝoure names

Shal no lewednesse lette · þe clerk þat ich louye

Þat he ne worth ferst auanced · for ich am knowen

Ther connynge clerkus · shulleþ clocke by-hynde

Thenne com þer a confessour · coped as a Frere

To mede þat mayde · myldelich* he sayde

Thauh lered men and lewede · had layen by þe boþe

And falshede yfounden þe · al þis fourty wynter

Ich shal a-soily þe my-selue · for a seem wete

And ȝut be þy bedman · and brynge adoun conscience

Among kynges and knyȝthes · and clerkus if þe lyke

Thenne mede for hure mysdedes · to þis frere knelyd

Shrof hure of here synnes · shameles yleyue / y leyue

Told hym a tale · and took hym anoble / a noble

For to be hure be hure / be hure bedman · and bere wel hure ernede

Among knyȝthes and clerkus · conscience to turne

And he soiled hure sone · and setthen he seide we haue

A wyndow a-worcheng · wol stonden ousP ful hye

Wolde ȝe glase þe gable · and graue þer ȝoure name

In masse and in matyns · for mede we shulleþ synge

Solenliche and sothlich* · as for asustre / a sustre of oure ordre

Louelich* þat lady · lauhynge seyde

Ich shal be ȝoure frende frere · and faille ȝow neuere

The wile ȝe louyeþ þuse lordes · þat lecherye haunten

And lackieþ noȝt þuse ladies · þat louyeþ þe same

Hit is bote frelete of flesch* · ȝe fynden wel in bokis

And a cours of kynde · wer-of we comen alle

Ho may a-scapie þe sclaundere · þe scaþe may sone be mendyd

Hit ys synneP as of seuene · non soner relesede

Haue mercy quath mede · on men þat hit haunten

And shal keuery ȝoure churche · and ȝoure cloistre maken

Boþe wyndowes and wowes · ich wolle a-menden & glase

And do peynten and portreyn · wo paide for þe makynge

Þat euery seg* shal see and seye · ich am sustre of ȝoure ordre

Ac god to alle good folke · suche grauynge defendeþ

To wryten in wyndowes · of eny wel-dedes ·

Leste prude be peyntid þere · and pompe of þe worlde

For god knoweþ þy conscience · and þy kynde wille

Thi cost and here couetyse · and who þe catel ouhte

For-þy leue lordes loue · leueþ suche wrytinges

God in þe gospel · such grauynge noȝt a-loweþ

Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextera

Let nat þy lyft half · oure lord techeþ

Ywite what þow delest · with þy ryht syde

Ȝut mede myldeliche · þe meyre hure bysouhte

Bothe shereues and seriauns · and suche as kepeþ lawes

To punyshen on pillories · and on pynyng stoles

As bakers and brewers · bouchers and Cokes

For þees men doþ most harme · to þe mene puple

Richen þorw regratrye · and rentes hem byggen

WhitLX þat þe poure puple · sholde putten in hure womben

For toke þey on triweliche · they tymbrid nat so heye

Noþer bouhten hem burgages · be ȝe ful certayn

Thei haue no puteye of þe puple · þat parcel-mele mote biggen

Þauh þei take hem vntydy þyng · þei hold hit no treson

And þauh þei fulle nat ful · þat for lawe y seelde

He gripeþ þer-for as grete · as for þe grete treuthe

Meny sondry sorwes · in cyte fallen ofte

Boþe þorw fyur and flod · and al for false puple

That by-gylen good men · and greueþ hem wrongliche

The wiche cryen on hure knees · þat crist hem auenge

Here on þys erthe · oþer elles on helle

That so by-gyleþ hem of here good · and god on hem sendeþ

Feueres oþer fouler hyueles · oþer fur on here houses

Moreyne oþer oþere meschaunce · and menye tyme hit falleþ

That innocence ys yherde · In heuene a-monge seyntes

That louten for hem to oureP lorde · and to oure lady boþe

To graunten gylours on erthe · grace to amende

And haue here penaunce on pure erthe · and noȝt in þe pyne of helle

And þenne falleþ þer fur · on false menne houses

And good men for here gultes · gloweþ on fuyr after

Al þys haue we seyen · {.}that som tyme þorw a brewere

Meny burgagys ybrent · and bodyes þer-ynne

And þorw a candel clomyng · in a corsed place

Fel a-doun and for-brende · forþ al þe rewe

For-þy mayres þat maken free men · me þynken þat þei ouhten

For to spure and aspye · for eny speche of seluer

What manere mester · oþer merchaundise he vsede

Er he were vnder-fonge free · and felawe in ȝoure rolles

Hit ys noȝt semly forsoþ · in cyte ne in borwton

Þat vsurers oþer regratours · for eny kynne ȝeftes

Be fraunchised for a free man · and haue fals name

Ac mede þe mayde · þe meyere hue by-souhte

Of alle suche sellers · suluer to take

Oþer presentes with-oute pans · and oþer pryueye ȝyftes

And haue reuthe of þe regratours · þat han ryche hondes

In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextra eorum repleta est muneribus .

Loue hem for my loue · quath this lady mede

And soffre hem som tyme · to sulle a-ȝens þe lawe

Salamon the sage · a sarmon hue made

In amendement of meyres · and oþere stywardes

And witnessyth wat worth of hem · þat wollen take mede

Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera .

Among þes lettrede lordes · þis latyn ys to mene

Þat fur shal {brenne} falle and for-brenne · al to blewe askes

The houses and þe homes · of hem þat taken ȝyftes

The kynge fram consail cam · and callyd after medeC

And sente for to se{..}e hure · ac ich say nat hym þat ladde hure

Corteisliche þe kyng* tho · as hus kynde wolde

Lackede here a lyte wyht · for þat hue louede gyle

And wilnede to be wedded · with-oute ys leue

Tyl treuth* hadde tolde hure · a tokne fram hym-selue

And seyde wommen vnwittylich* · wrouȝt hast þow ofte

Ich haue for-gyue þe meny gult{.}es · and my grace graunted

Boþe to þe and to þyne · in hope þow sholdest a-mende

And ay þe lenger ich lete þe go · þe lasse treuthe ys with þe

For worsse wrouhtest þow neuere · þan þo þow fals toke

Ȝut ich for-gyue þe þis gult · godes for-bode eny more

Þow tuene on treuthe · and þow mowe be y-take

In þe castel of corf · ich shal do þe close

Ther as an ancre · oþer in a wel wors wone

And marre þe with myschef · by seint marye my lady

Þat alle wommen wantowen · shulleþ bewar by þe one

And biterliche banne þe · and alle þat bereþ þy name

And teche þe louye treuthe · and take consail of reson

Ich haue a knyȝt hatte conscience · cam late froo by-ȝonde

Yf he wilneþ þe to wyue · wolt ȝow hym haue

Ȝe lord quath þe lady · lord it me for-bede

Bote ich be holiche at þyn heste · let honge me ellys

Thenne was conscience {...}cald · to come and apeere

By-for þe kyng and ysLX consail · as clerkus and oþere ·

Conscience . knelynge · to þe kyng loutede ·

To wite what hus wil were · and what he do sholde

Wolt t{b}how wedde þis maide · yf ich wolle assente

For hue ys fayne of þy felaushep · and for to be þy make

Quath conscience to þe kynge · Crist it me for-bude

Er ich wedde suche a wif · wo me by-tyde

For hue ys freel of hure faith · and fikel of hure speche

And makeþ men mys-do · meny score tymes

In trist of hure tresour · he tueneþ ful menye

Wyues and wodewe{n(?)}s · wantownesse hue techeþ

And lereþ hem to lecherie · þat louyeþ here ȝyftes

Ȝoure fader hue felde · fals and hue to-gederes

Hue haþ a-poisened popes · hue apeireþ holy churche

Ys nauht abetere / a betere baude · by hym þat me made

By-twyne heuene and helle · alle erthe þauh me souhte

For hue ys tykel of hure tail · talwys of tonge

As comune as þe cart-wey · to knaues and to alle

To monkes and to alle men · the meseles in heggys

Lyggeþ by hure wenne hem lust · lered and lewed

Sysours and somners · suche men hure preyseþ

Shereue of shires · were shent yf hue ne were

For hue doþ men lese here londe · and here lyf boþe

Hue leteþ passe prisoners · and paieþ for hem ofte

And geueþ þe gailer gold · and grotes to-gederes

To vnfeterye þe false · and fle were hem lykeþ

And take trewe by þe top · and tieþ hem faste

And hongeþ for haterede · þat harmede neuere

To be corsed in constarye · hue counteþ nauht arusche / a rusche

Hue copeþ þe comessarie · and coteþ hus clerkus

Hue is asoilid þus sone · ase hure lef lykeþ

Hue may ney as moche do · in amounthe / a mounthe one

As ȝoure secret seel · in sexscore dayes

Hue ys priuy with þe pope · prouisours it knoweþ

For symonye and hure-self · seeleþ hure bulles

Hue blesseþ thees b{u}yshopys · þauh þei be negh lewede

Hue prouendreþ persons · and prestes hue menteyneþ

To holde lemmenes and lotebyes · al here lif-dayes

And bryngeþ forþ barnes · a-ȝens for-boden lawes

sSunt infelices quia matres sunt meretrices .

Ther hue ys wel wyth eny kynge · wo ys þe reome

For hue ys fauerable to fals · that defouleþ treuthe

By iesus with hure iewels · þe Iustices hue shendeþ

Hue lyth aȝen þe lawe · and letteþ hym þe gate

Þat faith ne may nat haue hus forþ · hure floreines goth so thycke

And ledeþ þe lawe as hure lust · and louedayes makeþ

Þoruh wich loueday ys lost · þat leaute myȝte wynne

The mase for þe mene man · þauh he mote euere

The lawe ys so lordlich* · and loth to maken ende

Wit-oute presentes oþer pans · hue pleseth ful fewe

Trewe burgeis and bonde · to nauht hue bringeþ ofte

And al þe comune in care · and couetyse

Religion hue al to-reueþ · and out of ruele to lybbe

Ther nys cite vnder sonne · no so riche reome

Ther hue ys loued and lete by · þat last shal eny wile

With-oute werre oþer wo · oþer wicked lawes

And custemes and couetyse · þat comune to distruye

Vnsyttynge suffraunce · hure suster and hure-selue

Haue maked al-most · bote marie þe helpe

Þat no lond loueþ the · and ȝut leest þyn owene

For mede . hath knyt clerkes · and couetyce to-geders

Þat al þe whitLX of þis worlde · ys woxen in-to gyle

Thus þis lady ledeþ þys londe · now lord ȝeue hure sorwe

For pore men der nat pleyne · ne here pleinte shewe

Suche a maister ys mede · a-mong men of goode

Thanne mornede mede · menyng* hure to þe kynge

To haue space to speke · spede yf hue myghte

The kyng* graunted hure grace · wit a good wyll

Excuse yf þow canst · ich can no more seggen

For conscience acuseþ the · to congie þe for euere

Nay lord quaþ þat lady · leyueþ hym þe werse

Wen ȝe wyten witerliche · in wam þe wrong lyggeþ

Ther þe myschief ys gret mede may helpen

And þat knoweþ conscience ich cam noȝt to chiden

Ne to depraue þe persone · with a prout herte

Wel þow wost wyterly · bote yf þow wolle gabbe

Thow hast hanged on myn hals elleuen tymes

And also grypen of my gold · an gaf it were þe lykede

Why þow wratthest now · wonder me þynkeþ

Ȝut ich may as ich myghte · meurke þe with ȝyftes

And menteyny þy manhod · more þan þow knowest

Ac þow hast famede me foule · by-fore þe kynge here

For culde ich neuere no kyng* · ne consailed so to done

Ac ich saued my-self · and sexty þousand lyues

Boþe her and elles-wer · in alle kynne londes

Ac þow þy-self sothliche · ho it segge dorste

Hast arwed meny hardy men · that hadden wil to fyghte

To brennen and to bruten · to bete a-doun strengthesN

In þe contreis þer þe kyng* cam conscience hym lette

Þat he ne feld nat hus foes · þo fortune it wolde

And as hus werdes were ordeined · by wil of houre lorde

Caytiflyche þow conscience · consailedist þe kyng leten

In hus enemys honde · ys heritage of fraunce

Vnconnyng ys þat conscience a kyngdome to sulle

Þat ys conqueryd þorw comune helpe · a kyngdome oþer duche

May nat be sold soþly · so meny here part asken

Of folk þat fauht þer-fore · and folwed þe kynges wil

Þe lest lad þat longeþ to hym · be þe lond wonnen

Lokeþ after lordshep · oþer oþere large mede

Wer-by he may as aman / a man · for euere-more lyue after

And þat ys þe kynde of a kyng · þat conquereþ of ys enemyes

To helpe heyeliche al hus host · oþere elles to graunte

Al þat hus men mowen wynne · to do þer-myd here beste

For-þy ich counsayle no kyng* · eny counsayle aske

AtN conscience . yf he coueyteþ · to conquery a reome

For sholde neuere conscience . be my constable

Were ich a kyng ycoronede · by marye quaþ mede

Ne be mareschal of my men · þer ich moste fyghte

Ac hadde ich mede . be hus mareschal · ouer hus men in fraunce

Ich dorst haue led my lyue · and no lasse wedde

He had be lord of þat londe · in lengthe and in brede

And also kyng of þat cuth* · hus kyn to haue holpen

The leste brel of hus blod · a barones pere

Vnkyndely þow conscience consailedest hym þennes

To lete so hus lordshup · for a lytel moneye

Hyt by-comeþ for a kyng* · þat shal kepe a reame

To ȝeue men mede . þat mecklyche hym serueþ ·

To alienes to alle men · to honoury hem with ȝeftes

mede makeþ hym by-loued · an for aman / a man yolde

Emperours and erles · and alle manere lordes

Þoruh ȝiftes hauen ȝemmen · to rennen and to ryde

Þe pope and alle prelates · presentes vnder-fongen

And ȝeuen mede . to men · to menteynye here lawes

Seriauntes for here seruice mede . þey asken

And taken mede . of here maistres · as þei mow a-corde

Beggers and bedmen · crauen mede . for here prayers

Mynstrals for here mynstralcye amede / a mede þei asken

Maistres þat techen clerkes · crauen hure for mede

Prestes þat prechen · and þe puple techen

Asken mede and masse pans · and here mete boþe

Alle kyne crafty men · crauen mede . for here aprentys

Marchaundise and mede mote nedes go to-gederes

Is no lede þat leueþ · þat hue ne loueþ · mede

And glad for to grype hure · gret lord oþer poure

Tho quath þe kyng to conscience by Cryest at my knowynge

Mede ys worthy me þynkeþ · þe maistrye to haue

Nay quaþ conscience · clerkes wyten þe soþe

Þat mede ys euermore · ameyntenour / a meyntenour of gyle

As þe sauter sheweþ · by suche as ȝeuen mede

Þat vnlawfulliche · hauen large honden

To ȝeue mede . to men · more oþer lasse

Ac þer ys mede . amercede / a mercedeLX and boþe men demen

A desert for som doynge · d{.}eerne oþer elles

Mede meny tymes · men ȝeuen by-for þe doynge

And þat ys noþer reson ne ryht · ne no reame lawe

Þat eny man mede toke · bote he it myghte deserue

And for to vndertake · to trauely for anoþer

And wot neuere whiterly · wer he lyue so longe

Ne haue hap to hus hele mede to deseruen

Ich halde hym ouere hardy · oþer elles nouht trewe

Þat pre manibus ys payed · oþer elles paye askeþ

Harlotes and hores · and also fals leches

Thei asken hure huyre · er þey hit haue deseruede

And gylours gyuen by-fore · and goode men at þe ende

When þe dede ys ydo · and þe day yendyd

And þat ys no mede · bote amercede / a mercede

A maner diwe dette · for þe doynge

And bote if yt be payed prestliche · the payer is to blame

As by þe bok þat bit · no-body to wit-holde

Þe hure of hus hywe · ouer eue til a-morwe

Non morabitur opus mercennarij apud te usque mane .

And þer is reson as a reue · rewarding treuthe

And boþe þe lord and þe laborer ben leelliche yserued

The mede þat meny prest takeþ · for masses þat þei syngen

Amen amen Matheu seyth mercedem suam recipiunt .

In marchaundise ys no mede · ich may it wel avowe

Hit is a permutacion a-pertelich* · opene worth for anoþer

And þauh þe kyng of hys cortesye · kaiser oþer pope

Ȝeue lond oþer lordshup · oþer large ȝeftes

To here leelle lege · loue ys þe cause

And yf þe leelle and þe lyge · be luther men after

Boþe kyng and kayser · and þe coronede pope

May desauowe þat þey dude · and douwe þer-whitLX oþer

And a-non by-nymen hym hit · and neuere after ·

Noþer þei ne here a{.}yres hardy to cleyme

That kyng oþer cayser hym gaf catel oþer rente

For god gaf to salamon grace vp-on þe erthe

Rychesse and reson · whyle he ryht lyuede

And as sone as god seih · he suwed nouht hus wille

He reuede hym of hys richesse and of hus ryht mynde

And soffrede hym leue in mysbyleue · ich leyue he be in helle

So þat god geueþ no þyng · þat synne ne ys þe glose

And so ryght sothliche · may kyng and pope

Boþe gyue and grauntye · þer hus grace likeþ

And eeft haue hit a-ȝeyn · of hem þat don ille

Thus ys mede aLX mercede · as two manere relacions

Rect* and indyrect* · rennynge bothe

On a sad and a syker · semblable to hym-selue

Ac adiectif and substantyf · vnite asken ·

Acordaunce in kynde · in cas and in {membre} numbre

And ayþer ys oþeres help · of hem comeþ retribucion

Þat ys þe ȝefte þat god ȝyueþ · to alle leelle lyuenge

Grace of good ende · and gret ioye after

Retribuere dignare domine deus omnia et cetera

Quaþ þe kynge to conscience knowen ich wolde

Wat is relacion rect* · and indyrect* · after

And þanne adiectyf and substantif · for englisch* was it neuere

Relacion rect* quath conscience ys a recorde of treuthe

Quia antelate rei est recordantium .

Folwyng* and a-fyndyng* out · þe foundement of strenthe

And styuelyche stonde forth · to strengthe of þe foundement

In kynde and in case · and in cours of nommbre

As leel laborer · þat by-leuyþ with hus maistre

In hus paye and in hys pyte · and in hus pure treuthe

To paye hym yf he performeþ and haue pyte yf he faylleþ

And take hym for hus trauaile · al þat treuthe wolde

So of hol herte comeþ hope · and hardy relacion

Sekeþ and suweþ hus sustentif sauacion

That ys þe grounde of al · a graciouse antecedent

And man ys relatif rect* · yf he be ryht triwe

He a-cordeþ with crist in ys kynde uerbum caro factum est .

In case credere in ecclesia . In holy churche to by-leyue

In numbre rotie and aryse · and remyssion to haue

Of oure sory sennes · asoiled and clansede

And lyue as oure credo ous kenneþ · with crist with-outen ende

Thus is relacion rect* · ryht as adiectif and substantif

A-cordeþ in alle kyndes · whitLX isLX antecedent

Indirect* þyng ys · as ho-so coueited

Alle kyne kynde · to knowe and to folwe

With-oute cause to cacche two · and come to boþe numbres

In wich* beþ good and nat good · and graunte here noþers wil

Þat is noþer reisonable ne rect* · to refusy my syres sor-name

Sitth ·y· isLX sone and seruaunt · suwe for his ryghte

For wo-so wol haue to wyue · my worliche doughter

Ich wol feffe hym with hure fayre · and with hure foule taylende

So indirect þyng ys · Inliche to coueyte

To a-corde in alle kyndes · and in alle kyne numbre

With-oute cost and care · in alle kynde trauaile

Ac relacion rect* is · a ryhtful custome

As a kyng to cleyme · þe comune at is wille

To folwe hym to fynde hym · and fecthe / fec[c]he at hem hus consail

That here loue þus to hem · þorw al þe londe a-corde

So comune cleymeþ of a kyng · thre kynne þynges

Lawe loue and leaute · and hym lord antecedent

Boþe here hefd and here kyng* · haldyng with no partie

Bote stande as a stake · þat stykeþ in a muyre

By-twyne two londes · for a trewe marke

Ac þe moste partie of þe puple · pure indirect* semeþ

For þei wilnen and wolde · as best were for hem-selue

Thauh þe kyng* and þe comune · al þe cost hadde

Al reson reproueþ · such imparfit puple

And halt hem vnstedefast · for hem lackeþ case

Ac relatifs indirect* · reccheþ þei neuere

Of þe cours of þe case · so þey cacche suluer

Be þe pectunie / pec[c]unie ·y·-payedP · þauh parties chide

He þat mede may lacche · makeþ litel tale

Nyme he a numbre of nobles · oþer of shullenges

How þat clyentes a-corde mede a-counteþ lytel

Ac adiectif and substantif · ys as ich er tolde

Þat ys vnyte a-cordaunce · in case gendre and numbre

And ys no mene in oure mouth · more ne mynne

Bote þat alle manere men · wommen and children

Sholde conformye to on kynde · on holy churche to by-leyue

And coueite þe case · wen þei couthe vnderstonde

To asky fore hure synnes · and suffre arde penaunce

For þat ilke lordes loue · þat for oure loue deyde

And coueited oure kynde · and be cald in oure name deus homo

And nymen hym into oure numbre · now and euere-more

Qui in caritate manet in deo manet & deus in eo .

Thus is man and mankynde · in manere of a substantif

As hic & hec homo · and a kyng an adiectif

Of þre trywe termysons trinitas unus deus .

Nominatiuo pater & filius & spiritus sanctus 

Ac ho-so rat of regum · rede me may of mede

Hou hue absolon to hongynge brouhte

And suthe for saul sauede · a kyng for mede

A-geyn godes comaundement · god toke suche veniaunce

Þat saul for þat synne · and hus sone deyde

And gaf þe kyngdome to hus knaue · þat kept sheep and lambren

And men þat in regum · after reweþ of kynges

Hou god sente to saul by Samuel þe prophete

Þat agag of amalek and al hus lyge puple

Sholde deye delfulliche · for dedes of here eldren

Saul . quath samuel · god hym-self hoteþ

To be boxome at my bidding · hus bone to fulfylle

Haste þe with al þyn ost · to þe lond of amalek

And al þat lyueþ in þat londe · oure lord wol þat þow slee hit*

Mebles and vnmebles · man and alle þynges

Bren hit ber nouht away · be hit neuere so riche

For eny mede of moneye · al þat þow myght spille

Spar hit nat and þow shalt · spede þe betere

And for he coueited hyre catel · and þe kyng spared

For-bar hym and hus beste bestes · as þe byble whitnesseþ

Oþerwise þan god wolde · by warnyng of þe prophete

God seide to samuel . þat saul sholde deye

And al hus for þat synne · and shendfulliche ende

Thus was kyng saul ouercome · for couetyse of mede

That god hatid hym for euere · and alle hus ayres after

The culorum of þis cas · kepe ich nat to shewe

An aunter hit nuyede me · non ende wol ich make

for so ys þe worlde went · wit þat han þe power

That he þat seith most sothest · sonnest ys y-blamed

Ich conscience knowe þis · for kynde witt me tauhte

Þat reson shal regne · and reames gouerne

And ryht as agag* hadde · happen shulleþ somme

Samuel shal fle hym · and saul shal be blamed

And dauid shal be diademyd · andeP daunten alle oure enemyes

And on cristene kyng* · kepen ows echone

Shal no mede neuere-more after

Ac loue and louhnesse · and leaute to-gederes

Shullen be maistres on molde · trewe men to helpe

And ho-so takeþ aȝen treuthe · oþer transuerseþ aȝens reson

Leaute shal do hym lawe · and no lif elles

Shal no seriaunte for þat seruyse · were aselk / a selk houe

No pelour in hus paueylon · for pledyng* at þe barre

Muchel yuel is þorw mede meny tyme suffred

And letteþ þe lawe · þorw here large ȝyftes

Ac kynde loue shal come ȝut · and conscience to-gederes

And make of lawe a loborer · suche loue shal aryse

And such pees among þe puple · and a parfyt treuthe

Þat Iewes shal wene in here witt* · and wexe so glade

That here kyng be ycome · fro þe court of heuene

Moyses . oþer messias . · þat men be so trewe

For alle þat bereþ baselardes · bryght swerde oþer launce

Axe oþer acchett · oþer eny kynne wepne

Shal be demed to þe deþ · bote yf he do hit smythie

In-to sykel oþer into sithe · to shar oþer to culter

Conflabunt gladios suos in uomeres  & lanceas suas in falces .

Ech man to pleye with a plouh · a pycoyse oþer a spade

Spynnen and spek of god · and spille no tyme

Prestes and persons placebo and dirige .

Here sauter and here seuene psalmis for alle synful preyen

Haukyng oþer hontyng · yf eny of hem hit vsie

Shal lese þer-fore hus lyue-lode · and hus lif parauenture

Shal noþer kyng ne knyȝt · constable ne meyre

Ouer-cark þe comune · ne to þe court sompne

Ne putte men in panell · ne do men plighte here treuthe

Bote after þe dede þat ys ydo · the dome shal recorde

Mercy oþer no mercy · as most trewe a-corden

Kynges court and comune court · constorie and chapitre

Al shal be bote on court · and on berne be Iustice

That worth trewe tunge a trewe man · þat tennede me neuere

Batailles shulle neuere eft be · ne man bere eg tool

And yf eny man smyþen hit · be smyte þer-with to deþe

Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium  nec excercebuntur ultra ad prelium .

Ac er þis fortune by-falle · fynde me shal þe worste

By s{...}yx sonnes and a shup · and half a shef of arwes

And þe myddell of a mone · shal makye þe Iewes turne

And saresyns for þat syght · shullen synge credo in spiritum sanctum .

for makamed and mede shullen myshappen þat tyme

for melius est bonum nomen  quam diuicie multe .

As wroth as þe wynd · waxe mede þer-after

Lo what Salamon seith quath hue · in sapience þe byble

Þat ȝeueþ ȝyftes take ȝeme · þe victorie he wynneþ

And moche worshep þer-with · as holy writt telleþ

Honorem acquirit . qui dat munera .

Ich leyue þe lady quaþ conscience as holy wriȝt telleth*

Thow ert lyke a lady · þat a lesson radde

That was omnia probate wiche plesed hure herte

That was no lengere · and at þe leues ende

Ac hadde hue loked on þe lift half · and þe leef turned

Hue sholde haue yfounde · folwynge fele wordes after

Quod bonum est tenete a tyxte of treuthes makyng

So he þat secheþ sapience · fynde he shal þat folweþ

Tristilich a tuenful tixt · to hem þat takeþ mede

The wiche hatte as ich haue rad and oþer þat conne rede

Animam aufert accipientium .

Worshup hue wynneþ · þat wol ȝeue mede

Ac he þat receyueþ oþer recetteþ hure · ys recettor of gyle