<fol. 3v><line 4>now is mede þe maide ; no mo of hem alle
þour3 bideles and bailifs ; brou3t by-fore þe kyng
þe kyng called a clerk ; y can not his name
To take mede þe maide ; and maken hure at ese
I schal asaie hure my self ; and sothely apose
what man of þis world ; þat hure is leuest haue
And 3if 3heo worche wisly ; by wise men counsail
I wole for 3yue hure alle gultes ; so me god help
Corteisliche þe clerk þenne ; as þe kyng hy3ht
Toke mede by þe myddel ; and mildeliche hure brou3t
Into boure wiþ blisse ; and by hure gan sitte
There was murthe and munstralcy ; mede to plesen
þat wendeþ to westmnstre ; worschupeþ hure many
Gentiliche wiþ ioie ; þe justises some
Busked hem to þe boure ; þere þis burde dwelled
Confortynge hure as þei couþe ; by þe clerkes leue
And seide morne not mede ; make þou no sorwe
For we wolle wisse þe kyng ; and þy way schape
For to wende at þi wille ; where þe leof likeþ
For al conciense cast ; or craft as y trowe
Mildeliche mede þo ; merciede hem alle
Of here gret goodnesse ; and 3af hem echone
Coupes of clene golde ; coppes of seluer
Rynges wiþ rubies ; and other riche 3iftes
þe leste of here meyne ; a Motoun of gold
whanne þei hadde lau3t here leue ; at þis lady mede
þenne comen clerkes to conforten hure samen
And buden hure be bliþe ; for we been þyn owne
For to worche þi wille ; þe while we mowen dure
And Mede hendeliche ; by hy3t hem þe same
<fol. 4r>To louen hem lelliche ; and lordes hem make
And purchasen 3ou prouendres ; whil 3oure pans lasteþ
And bigge 3ou benefyce3 ; pluralite to haue
And in constorie at Court ; do calle 3oure names
Schal no lewedenesse let ; þe clerk þat y louye
þat he ne worþ furst awaunced ; for y am by knowe
þere connynge clerkes ; schullen clokke by-hynde
Thenne come þer a confessour ; coped as a frere
To mede þe maide ; myldeliche he saide
þou3 lewede men and lered ; hadde layn by þe boþe
And falshede yfonde þe ; al þis fourty wynter
I schal assoile þe my-self ; for a seem whete
And 3ut be þy bedeman ; and brynge adoun conciense
Amonge kynges and kny3tes ; and clerkes 3if þe like
Thenne mede for hure mysdedes ; to þis man kneled
Schrof hure of hure synnes ; schameles y leue
Tolde hym a tale ; and tok hym a <gap> noble
Forto beo hure bedeman ; and bere wel hure erynde
Among kny3tes and clerkes ; conciense to turne
And he assoiled hure sone ; and sithe he saide we haue
A <gap> wyndowe a worchinge ; wol stonde vs ful hie
wolde 3ee glase þat gable ; and graue þere 3oure name
In masse and in matynes ; for mede we schal synge
Solempneliche and softeliche ; as for a soster of oure ordre
loueliche þat lauedy ; lau3hynge seide
I schal be 3oure frend frere ; and faile 3ou neuer
þe while 3ee loueþ þese lordes ; þat lecherye haunteþ
And lakkeþ no3t þese ladies ; þat louyeþ þe same
hit is bote frelete of flesche ; 3e fyndeþ wel by bokes
And a cours of kynde ; where of we comen alle
who may a-scape þe sclaunder ; þe scaþe my3t sone be mended
hit is synne as of seuene ; noon sauner relesed
haue mercy quod mede ; on men þat hit haunteþ
<fol. 4v>And ˆ [y] schal keouer 3oure kerke ; and 3oure cloitre make
Boþe wyndowes and walles ; y wole amende an glase
And do peynte and purtreyen ; who paiede for þe makynge
þat euery man schal se and seie ; y am a soster of 3oure ordre
And god to alle good folk ; suche grauyng defendeþ
To writen in wyndowes ; of eny wel dedes
leste pruyde be peynted þere ; and pompe of þe worlde
For god knoweþ þi conciense ; and þy kynde wille
þy coste and here couetise ; and who þe catel ou3ht
For þy leue lordes loue ; leueþ suche writynges
God in þe gospel ; suche grauyng not aloweþ
<lat>nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra</lat>
let not þi lift hand ; oure lord techeþ
I-wite what þou delest ; wiþ þy ri3t side
3ut Mede myldely ; marie heo by sou3t
Boþe schereues and seriauns ; and suche as kepeþ lawes
To punyschen vpon þe pilories ; and on pynyngstoles
As bakeres and bruweres ; bochours and cokes
For þese men doþ most harm ; to þe mene people
Richen þour3 regraterie ; and rentes hem biggen
wiþ þat þe poure people ; schulde putten in here wombe
For toke þei truwely ; þey tymbred not so hey3
Nother bou3ten borgages ; beo 3ee fulcertayn
þei han no pite on þe people ; þat parcelemele mot begge
þou3 þei take hym vntydy þyng ; no tresoun þei holden hit
And þau3 þei fulle not ful ; þat for lawe is seled
he gripeþ þerfore as grete ; as for þe grete truthe
Mony sondry sorewes ; in citees fallen ofte
Boþe þour3 fuyr and flood ; and al þour3 false people
þat by-gilen gode men ; and greueþ hem wrongly
þe whuche crien on here knes ; þat crist hem avenge
here on þis erthe ; or elles in helle
þat so by-gileþ hem of here good ; þat god on hem sendeþ
<fol. 5r>Feueres or fouler vueles ; or fuyr on here hoses
Moreyne or oþer meschance ; and menytyme hit falles
þat jnnocence is yherd ; in heuene amonge seyntes
þat louten to hem for oure lord ; and to oure lady bothe
To graunte gilours on erthe ; grace to amende
And haue here penaunce ; on pure erthe ; & not þe peine of helle
And þenne falleþ þer fuyr ; on false mennes houses
And goodmennes for her gultes ; gloweþ on fuyre after
Al þis haue we seien ; and some tyme þour3 a brewere
Meny burgages y-brent ; and bodies þer-ynne
And þour3 a candel clemyng ; in a corsede place
Ful adoun and forbrent ; forþ alle þe rewe
For þy Maires þat maken fre men ; me þinke þat þei ou3hten
For to spere and aspie ; for eny speche of seluer
what manere muyster ; of Marchaundise he vsed
Ar he were vnderfonge freo ; and felawe in 3oure rolles
hit is not semely for soþe ; in Citee ne in burgh toun
þat vsereres oþer regratours ; for eny skynnes 3iftes
Beo fraunchised for a freo man ; and haue a fals name
Ac Mede þe maide ; þe maire s3heo be-sou3ht
Of alle suche sulleres ; seluer to take
Or presentz with out pans ; and oþer pryue 3iftes
And haue ruthe on regratours ; þat han riche hondes.
<lat><6 words></lat>
loue hem for my loue ; quod þis lady mede
And soffre hem some tyme ; to sulle a3eyns þe lawe
Salamon þe sage ; a sarmon he made
In amendement of Meires ; and other stiwardes
And wittenessit what worþ of hem ; þat wolleþ take mede
<lat><8 words></lat>
Among þese lettred lordes ; þis latyn is mene
þat fuyr schal falle and for-brenne ; al to blo askes
þe houses an þe homes ; of hem taken 3iftes .
<fol. 5v>þe kyng fram counseil cam ; and called after mede
And seide to se hure ; bote y sau3 not hym þat ladde hure
Corteisliche þe kyng þo ; as his kynde wolde
lackede hure a lite wi3th ; for þat 3heo loued gile
And wilned to be wedde ; wiþ-outen his leue
Til truthe hadde tolde hure ; a tokne fram hym selue
And seide vnwittiliche womman ; wrou3ht has þou often
I haue for 3yue þe meny gult ; and my grace graunted
Boþe to þe and to þine ; in hope þou schost amende
And ay þe lenger y lete þe go ; þe lasse truthe is wiþ þe
For worse wroutes þou neuer ; þenne þo þou fals toke
3ut y for-3yue þe þis gilt ; godes forbode eny more
þou teone me and truthe ; and þou mowe be a take
In þe castel of Corfe ; y schal do the close
þere as an Ancre ; or a wel worse wone
And marie þe meschief ; by seynt marie my lady
þat alle wantowen wommen ; schulle be war by þe one
And biterliche banne þe ; and alle þat bereþ thi name
And teche þe louye treuthe ; and take consail of resoun
J haue a kny3ht hi3t conciense ; cam late fro by 3eonde
If he wilneþ þe to wyue ; wolthou hym haue
3ee lord quod þat lady ; lord hit me for bede
Bote y be holly at thin heste ; let hange me elles
þenne was conciense cald ; to come and a peere
By-fore þe kyng and his counsail ; as clerkes and oþer
knelyng to þe kyng ; conciense louted
To wite what is wille were ; and what he do scholde
woltou wedde þis maide ; if y wolle asente
For heo is fayn of þy felaweschup ; and forto be þi make
Quaþ conciense þo to þe kyng ; crist hit me for bede
Er y wedde such a wif ; wo me by tide
For scheo is freel of hure faith ; and fikel of here speche
And makeþ men misdo ; meny score tymes
<fol. 6r>Jn trist of hure tresour ; scheo teoneþ ful meny
wyues and widewes ; wantoness scheo techeþ
And lereþ hem to lecherye ; þat louieþ hure 3iftes
3oure fader scheo felde ; fals and scheo to-gederes
Scheo haþ apoisoned popes ; scheo apeireþ holy churche
Js not a+beter baude ; by hym þat me made
By-twene heuene and helle ; al erþe þau3 men sou3t
For scheo is tikel of hire tail ; talewys of tonge
And commune as þe carteway ; to knaues and to alle
To Monkes to alle men ; þe museles in hegges
Liggeþ by hem whenne hem luste ; lered and lewed
Sisours and sompnours ; suche men hure preiseþ
Schereues of shires ; were schent if sche nere
Scheo lat passe prysones ; and paieþ for ofte
And 3yueþ þe gailer gold ; and grotes to-gideres
To vnfeter þe fals ; and fleo where hym likeþ
And takeþ truw<add>th</add> by þe top ; and tieþ hym faste
And hangeþ hym for hatered ; þat harmed neuer
To beo corsede in constorie ; scheo counteþ not a rusche
Scheo copeþ þe commissarie ; and coteth his clerkes
Scheo is assoiled þus sone ; as hure-self likeþ
Scheo may ney3 as moche do ; in a monthe one
As 3oure secree seel ; in six score daies
Scheo is pryue wiþ þe pope ; prouysours hit knoweth
For symonye and hure-self ; seeleþ here bulles
Scheo blesseþ þese bisschopes ; þou3 þey be ny lewed
Scheo prouendreþ persones ; and preostes heo mayteneth
To holde lemmannes and lotebies ; al here lyf daies
And bryngeþ forþ barnes ; a3eynes forbodene lawes
<lat><6 words></lat>
There scheo is wel wiþ eny kyng ; wo is þe Reome
For scheo is fauerable to fals ; þat defouleþ truthe
By ihesus wiþ hure juweles ; þe justise scheo schendeþ
<fol. 6v>Sche liþ a3eyn þe lawe ; and letteþ hym þe gate
þat faiþ may not haue his forþ ; hure florynes goþ so þikke
And ledeþ þe lawe as hure lust ; and louedaies makeþ .
þour3 wuche loueday is lost ; þat leaute may wynne
þe mase for amene man ; þau3 he mote euer
lawe is so lordliche ; and loþ to maken ende
wiþ presentz and pans ; scheo pleseþ ful fewe
Truwe burgeises and bonde ; to no3t scheo bryngeþ often
And al þe commune in care ; and in coueytise
Religioun scheo al to reueth ; and out of rule to libbe
þer nys Cite vnder sonne ; ne so riche reome
þis scheo is lowed and lete by ; þat last schal eny while
wiþ oute werre oþer wo ; or wikked lawes .
and custumes of couetise ; þe comune to distrie
In sittyng suffraunce ; hure soster and here selue
hauen maked al most ; bote marie þe helpe
þat no londe loueþ þe ; and 3ut leost þyn owne
For mede haþ knut clerkes ; and coueitise to-gedres
þat al þe wit of þis world ; is woxe into gile
þus þis lady leret þi land ; nowe lord 3eue hure sorwe
For poure men dur not playne ; ne here pleynt schewe .
such a maister is mede ; amonge men of goode
þenne morned mede ; menynge hure to þe kyng
To haue space to speke ; spede if scheo my3t
þe kyng grauntede hure grace ; wiþ a good wille
Excuse þe if þou canst ; y can no more seggen
For conciense acuseþ þe ; to congeie þe for euer
Nay lord quod þat lady ; leoueþ hym þe worse
whwen 3ee witen witerly ; in wham þe wronge liggeþ
þere þat meschief is gret ; mede may helpen
And þat knoweþ conciense ; y cam not to chide
Ne to de-praue þi persone ; with a prout herte
wel þou wost weterly ; bot if þou wilt gabbe
<fol. 7r>you hast hanged on myn half ; elleuene tymes
And also gripen of my gold ; and 3af hit where þe liked
whi þou wraþþeste þe nowe ; wonder me thynkethe
3ut y may as y mi3t ; menske þe wiþ 3iftes
And mayntene þe manhed ; more þan þou knowest
Ac þou hast famed me foule ; by-fore þe kyng here
For culd y neuer kyng ; ne counseild so to done
Ac y saued my-self ; sixti þousand lyues
Boþe here and elles were ; in alle kynde londes
Ac þou þi-self ; who so hit segge durst
hast arwed many hardman ; þat hadde wille to fi3t
To brenne and to kruten ; to bete adoun strengthes
In contrees þer þe kyng cam ; conciense hym lette
þat he ne fuld no3t his foos ; þo fortune hit wolde
And as his wirdes were ordeyned ; by þe wille of oure lord
Caitifliche þou conciense ; consailedest þe kyng leten
In his enemys hond ; his eritage of Fraunce
Vn-connyng is þat conciense ; a kynedome to sulle
þat is conquered þour3 a commune help ; a kynedom or a douchee
May not be solde soþly ; so many here part askuþ
Of folk þat fau3t þerfore ; and folwed þe kynges wille
þe leste ladde þat langed to hym ; be þe londe y wonne
lokeþ after lordschupe ; oþer oþer large mede
where-by he may as a man ; for euer more lyue after
And þat is þe kynde of a kynge ; þat conquereþ on his enemys
To he<ill><2 chars></ill>e heiliche al his ost ; or elles to graunte
Al þat <ill><1 word></ill> men may wynne ; to do þer myde here best
For þi y counsaile no kyng ; eny counsaile aske
At conciense if he coueite ; to conquere a Reome
For scholde neuer conciense ; beo my constable
were y a kyng y-crounded ; by Marye quod mede
Ne be Marchel ouer my men ; þere y most fi3ht
Ac hadde y mede be his Marschal ; ouer his men in Fraunce
<fol. 7v>I durste haue y laide my lif ; and no lasse wedde
he hadde be lord of þat londe ; in lengthe and in brede
And also kyng of þat kuþ ; his kyn to haue holpe
þe lest brol of his blood ; a barones pere
Vn-connendly þou conciens ; consailledest hym þennes
To lete so his lordschup ; for a litel mone
hit by-comeþ for a kyng ; þat schal kepe a Reome
To 3eue men mede ; þat mekeliche hym serueþ
To alienes and to alle men ; to honoure hem wiþ 3iftes
Mede makeþ hym beo by loued ; and for a+man y holden
Emperours and Eorles ; and alle maner lordes
þour3 3iftes han 3emmen ; to rennen and ryde
þe pope and prelates ; presentz vnderfongen
And 3euen mede to men ; to meyntene here lawes
Seriauns for here seruyse mede þei asken
And taken mede of here maistres ; as þei mowe a-corde
Beggeres and bedemen ; crauen mede for here preieres
Mynstrals for here munstracy ; a mede þei asken
Maistres þat techeþ clerkes ; crauen for hure mede
Preostes þat prechen ; and þe people techen
Asken mede and masse pans ; and here mete bothe
Alle kyne crafti men ; crauen mede for here prentises
Marchaundise and mede ; mote nede go to-gyderes
Js no lede þat lyueþ ; þat he ne loueþ mede
And glad forto gripe hur~ ; gret lord or poure
Quaþ þe kyng to conciense ; bi crist at my knowyng
Mede is worthi me thynkeþ ; þe maistrie to haue
Nay quod conciense to þe kyng ; clerkes wite þe soþe
þat mede is euer-more ; a meyntenour~ of gile
As þe sauter scheweþ ; by suche þat 3yuen mede
þat vnlawefulliche lyuen ; hauen large handes
To 3eue men mede ; more oþer lasse
Ac þer is mede a mercede ; and boþe men demen
<fol. 8r>A desert for some doyng ; deorne oþer elles
Mede meny tymes ; men 3yuen bi-fore þe doynge
and þat is noþer resoun ne ri3t ; ne in no reome lawe
þat any man mede toke ; bote he hit my3t deserue
And forto vndertake to trauaile for anoþer
And wot neuer witerlie ; wher he lyue so longe
Ne haue happe to his hele ; mede to deseruen
I hald hym ouer hardy ; or elles nat truwe
þat <lat>manibus</lat> is paied ; or his paie askeþ
harlotes and hores ; and also fals leches
þei asken here huyre ; er þei hit haue deserued
And gilours 3yuen byfore ; and goodmen atte ende
whenne þe dede is y-do ; and þe day ended