þe king called a clerk . I can not his name

to take mede þe mayde . and make hure at ese .

I wolde a-saye hure my-self . and soþly a-vise

what man of þis molde . þat hure were leuyst 

and ȝif sche wyrke by wyt . and my wil folwe

I wil for-gyf hure þe gylt . so me god helpe .

Curteysly þe clerk þan . as þe king hyȝþe

tok mede by þe myddel . and brouȝthe hure to chaumbere 

and þer was merþe and mynstrasye . mede to plese

and þo þat wone at westmenstre . worschepyn hure alle .

Gentely with Ioye . þe Iustyse C to sompne

busked hym to þe bour . þer þe berthe duellyþ 

comnfortyth / comfortythC hure kyndely . by clergyes leue

and sayde murne not mede . ne make þou no sorwe C

For we wil wisse þe kyng . and þi wey make

for al concienses cast . and craft as I trowe 

myldelyche mede þan . mercyed hem alle

of here gret goudnesse . andT hem echone .

Coupys and clene gold . and pecys of syluer

rynges with rubeys . and rychesses manye 

þe leste man of here mayne . a motoun of golde

þan lauȝthe þei leue . þes lordes at mede .

with þat come clerkes . to comforte hure þanne

and bode hure be blyþe . for we beþ þyn owyn  

for to wyrche þy wylle . whyl oure lyf lasteþ

hendelyche sche þanne . behyȝþ hem þe same .

To loue ȝou lell{e}y P . and lordys ȝou make

and in constorye at þe court . calle ȝoure names 

þer schal no lewednysse hem lette . þe lede þat I louie

þat he ne worþ furste a-vaunsed . for I am be-knowe .

Ther counynge clerkes . schul clocke be-hynde

þan cam þer a confessour . y-copyd as a frere 

to mede þe mayde . meklyche he lowtede

and seyde wel softly . a schryft as hit were .

They lered and lawed / l[e]wed . hadde loyn C by þe {w}alle

and þei falsnesse hadde y-folwed .P þe . þis . xj / elleuene wynter 

I schal a-soyle þe my-self . for a sem whete

and eke be þi bawdekyn . and bere wel þin arnde

A-mong clerkes and knyȝthis . conciensce / conciense to felle

þan mede for hure mysdedes . to þe man knelyd 

and schrof of her schrewedenesse . schameles I trowe .

tolde hym a tokne . and tok hym a noble .

For to be hure bedman . and hure baude after

þan he a-soyled hure sone . and swyþe he sayde 

we haue a wyndoweC at wyrchyng . wil stonde vus / v[s] hyȝe

woldest þou glase þe gable . and graue þer þy name .

Sikyr schulde þy soule be . hefne to haue

wiste I qwaþ þe womman . þer is no wyndowe ne auter 

þat I ne schuld make ⁊̃ / & amende . and my name wryte

þat ech segge schal se . I am suster of ȝour house .

And god alle gode folke such grauyng . defendeþ ⁊ / & seyþT C

Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextera .

let nouȝt þy lyȝ{t}ftP half . late ne raþeC

wite what þy rythalf / ryt half T . worchyt or delyþ .

And so pryuylyche parte hit . þat pride be not seye

Neyþer in syth ne in soule . for god hym-self knoweþ 

who is curteys or kynde . or co / C coueytes or ellys

for-þi I rede ȝou lordes . such wrytynges leuyþ .

To wryte in wyndowys . of ȝour wel dedys

or to gredyn after godys men . when ȝe ȝeyue dolys .

an auntere ȝe haue ȝour hyre . þer of ȝoure gode

for oure saueour seyde . and hym-self preched .T

Meyrys and maysteres . ȝe þat beþ mene

by-twytheT þe king ⁊̃ / & þe common . to kepe þe lawes 

as punschin on pylorijs . and on pynnyng-stolys

breweres bakeres . bocheres and kokys .

For þes are men on molde .C þat most harme werkyn

to þis pore puple . þat parcel-mele beggen .

for þey poysone þe puple . pryuyly wel ofte

and rechyn þorw regratyng . and rentes hem buggen .

Of þat þe pore puple . schulde pote in her wombes

for ne tok he on-trewely . he T tymbred not so hye 

ne bouȝþe none bargayns . be þou wel certeyne

and mede þe mayden . þe meyr sche be-sowȝthe .

Of alle suche selleres . syluer to take

of presentes with-oute pens . as peces of syluer 

ryng or oþer rychesses . þes regrateres to meyntene

for my loue quod þat lady . loue hem ychone .

And suffre hem to selle . sumdel a-geyn resoun

salomon þe sage . a sermoun he made 

to a-mende meyres . and men þat kepe þe lawes

and tok hem þis teme . þat I telle thinke .

Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum . qui libenter accipiunt munera .

A-mong þese lettered men . þis latyn a-mounthyþ 

þat fyre schal falle . and for-brenne at þe laste

þe hous and þe homes . of men þat desyren .

To haue ȝiftes of here seruises . in ȝouþe or in elde

þe king for his counseyl . calde after mede 

and of-sente hire swyþe . with seriauntes hire

fetteT and brouȝþe hire to boure . with blysse and with Ioye .

Curtaysly þe king . comseþ to telle

to mede þe m{n}aydenP . melus þese wordes C

Won-wyttyly wrouȝþ . hast þou wel ofte

And worse wrouȝþest þou neuere . þan þo þou fals toke .

But I for-gyue þe þat gylt . and graunte þe grace

hennys to þy deþday . do þou so no more 

I haue a knyȝt hyȝþ conciens . come late fro by-ȝonde

ȝif he wil þe to wyue . wilt þou hym haue .

Ȝe lord quod þat lady . lord for-bede ellys .

but I be holly at ȝour heste . honge me ellys .

þan was conciens cald . and cam to a-peyren

by-fore þe king and his counseyl . clerkes and oþere .

Knelyng concyens . to þe king louted

what his wille were ⁊̃ / & . what he don schulde  

wil þou wedde þis womman . ȝif I wil a-sente

for sche is fayn of þi felaschep . for to be þy make .

Qwaþ conciens to þe king . crist hit me for-bede

ere I wedde such a wyf . wo me be-tyde 

sche is frethil of hure fleys . fykel of hure speche

sche makeþ men mysdo . manye skore tymes .

In trust of hure tresour . sche tenyþ wel manye

wyues and wedues . wantonnesse techeþ 

lered hem lecherye . þat louedyn hure ȝiftes

ȝour fader sche felde . þorþ / þor[ȝ] falce be-hestes .

Poysonede popys . a-peyred holy chirche

Is nouȝt a beter baude . by hym þat me made 

by-twen helle and heuene . ⁊erþe / & erþe þeyȝ men souȝþe

sche is tykel of hure tayl . talle-wys of hure tounge

As comoun as þe cartway . to knaue and to monke

to menstralis and meselys . many tyme in hegges .

Sysoures and soumneres . suche men hire preyse

schirreues and schyres were schent . ȝif sche ne were  .

Sche doþ men lesyn here lond . and here lyf boþe

and {...?...} letyyȝ passe þe prysoneresC . and preyeþ for hem ofthe 

and gyf þe gayloures gold . and grotes to-gederes

And vnfetereþ þe falce . to fle wher hym luste .

He takeþ truþe by þe top . and teyȝeþ hym faste

and hangeþ hym for hatered . þat harmed neuere 

to be cursed in constorye . he counteþ nouȝth a ryssche

for he copyþ þe comyssarye . and cloþeþ his clerkes .

Sche is a-soyled as sone . as hure-self lykyþ

sche may ney as moche don . in a monþe onys  

as ȝour secret seel . in seuene score dayes

sche is priuey with þe pope . proueysoures hit knoweþ .

Sire symonye and hure-self . seleþ here bulles

sche blesseþ þus bischopys . þey þat he P be lewde  

prouendres parsones and prestes .P sche manteyneþ to holdeT

lemmanys and lotebijsP . al here lyf-dawes .

And brynge forþ barnes . a-ȝen forbode lawes

þer sche is with þe king . wo is þe rewme  

for sche is fauourable and fals . and fouleþ truþe ofte

barounes and burgeyses . sche bryngeþ to sorwe .

By Iesu with hire Iewelys . ȝour Iustyces sche schendeþ

and leyþ a-ȝens þe lawe . and lefteþ hem ofte 

þat feyþ may not haue his forþ . his h[ure] floreyns goþ so thicke

sche ledeþ lawe as hure lust . and louedayes makeþ .

The mase for a mene man . þow he mote euere

lawe is so lordly . and loþ to maken ende  

with-oute presentes or pens . he pleseþ wel fewe

{.}clergieP and couetyse . coupleþ hem T to-gederes

This is þe lif of þat lady . oure lord ȝif hure sorwe

and al þat manteyne hure men . myschauns hem by-tide 

for pore men haue no power . to pleyne þey hem nede

schuche a mayster is mede . among men of gode .

Than murnede mede . ⁊ / & pleyned hure to the kyng .

to haue space and speche . spede ȝif sche myȝthe .

þe kyng graunted hure grace . with a goud wille

excuse þe ȝif þou canst . I can no more segge .

For conciens accuseþ þe . to conge þe for euere

nay lord qwatT þat lady . leue hym þe werse 

whan ȝe wyte wyterly . wher þe wrong lyggeþ

þer þat myschef is gret . mede may helpe .

And þou knowyst concyens . I c{o}amP nouȝt to chyde

for to dispyce þy persone . wyth a proud herte

wel þou wost conciens . but þou woldest lye

þou hast hangen on myn half . elleuene tyme .

And grepyn my gold . and gyuen hit wher þe lykyþ

why þou wratthest þe now . wonder me thynkyþ 

ȝit I may as I myȝthe . mylde þe with ȝiftes

and mainteyneP þy manhode . more þanC þou knowest

AndC þou hast famed me foule . by-fore þe king here

for kylled I neuere no kingP . ne counseyled þer-after 

ne dede as þou dost . I do hit on þe king

in normandye was he .P nouȝt noyȝed for me .

And þou þy-self sykerly . schamed hym ofte

crepe in-to a cabanne . for colde of þy naylys 

wenest þou þat wynter . wolde lasten euere

and dreddest to be ded . for a dym knowde k[l]owdeT

And hastest þe homward . for hunger of þy wombe

withoute pyte þou pelour . pore men þou robbedest  

and bore out bras on þi bak . to caleys to selle

and I lafte at home with my lord . his lyf for to saue .

And made hym merþes . fro morwen til eue

I batred hym on þe bak . boldede his herte 

dede hym hoppe for hope . to haue at his wille

had I be marchal of his menC . by marie loue of heuene .

I dorste haue leyde my lyf . and no lasse wedde

he schoulde haue be a lord in þat lond . in lengþe and in brede 

and eke king of þat lytȝ LX . his kyn for to helpe

þe leste barn of his blode . a baronys pere .

Cowardlyche þou conciens . þou counseyledest hym þennes

to leuyn his worschep . for a lytel syluer 

þat is þe rycheste of rewmys . þat regnes ouer-houes

hit by-come a king . þat kepeþ a rewme .

To ȝeue his men mede . þat manlyche hym seruen

mede makeþ hym y-loued . and for a man {l}holdenC

to alienys . to alle men . to honoure hure h[em] with ȝiftes  

emperoures erlys . and alle maner of lordes .

Thurȝ ȝiftes haue ȝonge men . to renne and to ryde

þe pope with his prelates . ȝifthis vnderfongen 

and medyþ men hym-self . to meynten hure lawesC

seruauntes for here seruise . we sen wel þe soþe

Take mede of here maystres . as þei mown a-corde

beggeres for here byddyng . byddeþ me me[n] mede 

menstrales for here merþe . mede þei axin .

þe king haþ mede of his men . to make pes in londes .

Men þat ben clerkes . mede of hym crauytȝ

prestes þat prechin . þe peple to gode 

Axin mede of masse pens .C and here mete alse

Alle kinde crafty men . craue mede for here prentys 

Mede and marchaundise . mot nede com to-gedere

no wyt as I wene . with-oute mede myȝþe lybbe 

qwaþ þe king to conciens . be crist as me þinkyþ

mede is worþi . þe maystrye to haue .

Nay quod conciens to þe king . and knelyd to þe erthe

þere arn two maner of medes . my lord by ȝour leue  

þat on god of his grace . geuyþ in his blysse

to hem þat worchen wel . whiles þei ben here .

The prophete precheþ hit . and put hit in þe sawter

Qui peccuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram .

tak no mede my lord . of men þat beþ trewe

loue hym and lene hem . {c}forP our lordes loue of heuene .

Godes mede and his mercy . þer-with myȝth þou wynne

þer is a mede mesureles . þat maysteres desyren 

to menteyne mysdoeres . mede þei takyn

and þer-of seyþ þe sauter . in a psalmes ende .

In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt . dextra eorum re. / repletaT est muner / muner[ibus] T

And he þat grypytȝ oure gyfte{n}sP . so me god helpe 

schal a-bye ful bytterly . or þe boke lyes

prestes and parsones . þat plesynges desyrenP .

To take mede and mone . for messes þat þei synge

schal han þe mede of þe molde . þat mathew haþ graunted  

Amen amn / am[e]n . reciperunt mercedem suam .

Thaþ / Tha[t]T C laboreres and lond folk . takeþ of here maystres

hit is no maner of mede . but a mesurable hyre 

in marchaundie is no mede . I may hit wel a-vowe

hit is a permutacioun a-pertly . a peneworþ for a-nother .

Ac reddest þou neuere regum . þou recreyede mede

how þe vengauns fel on saul . and on al his chyldryn 

god sente hym to seye . by samueles mouþe

þat agas and amelek . and al his puple after .

Schulde deye for a dede . þat don hadde his eldren

a-ȝens israle and aaron . and moyses his broþer 

samuel seyde to saul . god sendeþ þe and hoteþ

to be buxoum and bold . his byddyng to fulfylle .

wend þeder with þin ost . wymman to kylle

children and chorles . schep hem to deye 

loke þou kylle þe king . coueyte not his godes

for eny milyouns of mone . morþere hem ychone .

Barnes and bestes . brene hem to deþe

and for he kylde nouȝt þe king . as crist hym bad 

coueyted here catel . kylde nouȝt here bestes

but brouȝthe with hem þe bestes . as þe bylle tolde .

God seyde to samuel . þat saul schulde deye

and al his sed for þat synne . schenfullyche ende 

suych a myschef mede . made þe king to haue

þat god hated þe king for euere . and alle his eyres after .

Thou / [e] culorum of þis T kepe . I not to schewe

en aunter ȝif hit noyed me . ende wil I make .

in conciens knowe I þis . for resoun hit me tauȝthe

þat resoun schal regne . and rewmes gouerne .

And ryȝth as agas hadde hap . men schuld se sum-tyme

samuel schal scle hym . and saul schal be blamed  

And dauid schal be dyademyd .C and daunten hem alle

and o . cristene king . kepe vs alle .

Schal no more mede . be mayster on erthe

but loue and lownesse . and lewte to-gederes 

and who-so trespaseþ trewlyche . and takeþ a-gaynes ryȝth

his wikke lewte schal don hym lawe . and lese his lyf ellys 

Schal no seruaunt for his seruise . were no sylk gowne

ne no ray robe . with ryche pelure 

mede of mysdoeres . makeþ hem so ryche

þat lawe is lord woxin . and lewte is pore .

wykkednysse is commaundour . and kyndenysse is bansched

and kynde wit schal come ȝit . and conciens to-gedere 

and make of lawe a loburer . schuche lawe l[ou]e schal a-reyse .