The Friar's Tale
Folio 72v
9 of 11 folios
I trowe thow hast som frere or preest with the
285
¶ Who clappeth seyde this wif benedicite
God saue yow syr what is your swete wille
¶ I haue quod he a sompuns in a bille
Vp peyne of cursyng loke that thou be
To morwe bifore the Erchedekenes kne
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To answer to the court of certeyn thinges
¶ Now lord quod she cist Iħu kyng of kynges
So wisly helpe me as I ne may
I haue ben sek and that ful many a day
I may nat go so fer quod she ne ride
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But I be ded so pikketh it in my syde
May I nat axe a libel syr Sompnour
And answer ther bi my procuratour
To swich thing as men wold apposen me
¶ Yis quod the sompnour pay anon lat se
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Xij pens to me and I the wol acquite
I shal no profite haue ther bi but lite
Mi maister hath the profite and nat I
Come of and lat me riden hastily
Yeue me xij pens I may no lenger tary
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¶ Xij pens quod she now lady seint mary
So wisly helpe me out of care and synne
This wyde worlde thogh . that I shold wynne
Ne haue I noght xij pens wyth in myn hold
Ye knowen wel that I am pore and old
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Kythe your almes on me pore wrecche
¶ Nay than quod he . the foule fend me fecche
Yif I thexcuse though thou sholdest be spilt
¶ Allas quod she god wot I haue no gilt
¶ Pay me quod he or bi the swete seint anne
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As I wil bere away thi new panne
For det which thou owest me of old
Whan that thou madest thyn husbond kokewold
I payde at home for thi correccioun
¶ Thow lixt quod she bi my sauacioun
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Ne was I neuer or now wydewe ne wif