The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 46v
6 of 16 folios
But in the same ship as he hir fonde
Hir and hir yonge sone and al hir geere
He sholde putte and croude hir from the lond
And charge hir that she neuer eft come theere
705
O my Custance wel may thi goost haue feere
And slepyng in thi dreme ben in penance
Whan Domegild caste al this ordinaunce
This Messager on morwe whan he wook
Vn to the Castel halt the next way
710
And to the Constable he the lettre took
And whan that he this pitous lettr say
Ful ofte he sayde allas and wailaway
Lord criste quod he how may this world endure
So ful of synne is many a creature
715
O myghti god if that it be thi wille
Sith thow art ryghtful Iuge how may it be
That thow wolt suffren Innocentes to spille
And wikked folk regnen in prosperytee
A good Custance allas so wo is me
720
That I mote be thi tormentour or dye
On shames deth ther is no nother weye
Wepen bothe yonge and old in al that place
Whan that the kynge this cursed letter sent
And Custance wyth a dedly pale face
725
The ferth day toward hir ship she wente
But natheles she taketh in good entente
The wil of crist and knelyng on the stronde
She sayde lord ay welcome thi sonde
He that me kepte fro the fals blame
730
Wil I was on the lond amonges yow
He kan me kepe from harm and eke from shame
In salt see al thogh I se nat how
As strong as euer he was he is yit now
In him triste I and in his moder deere
735
That is to me my sail and eke my steere .