The Tale of Melibeus Folio 187r 38 of 40 folios
submitten vs to the excellence and benygnytee of your gracious
lordshepe
kyng yow that of your mercyable pitee
gret repentaunce and lowe submissioun
of our outerageous trespas and offense
your liberal grace and mercy strecchen hem ferther in to goodnesse
your hie lordshepe
ful benygnely
bi hir othes vnto hir plegges and borowes
a certeyn day
resceyue the sentence and Iugement/ that Melibee wolde co-
maunde to be doon / on hem bi the causes aforeseid /
thinges ordeyned / eu
that dame prudence sagh hir tyme she freyned and axed hir
lord Melibee
saries /
I thinke and purpose me fully
thei han
dame prudence this were a cruel sentence and mochel ageyn
resoun /
nes good
coueitous name
eschued of eu
of thapostle Coueitise is root of al harmes /
were bettre for yow to lese so muchel good of your owne
for to take of hir good in this manere
good with worshepe / than it is to wynne good with vileynye
and shame
bisinesse to gete him a good name
bisy him in kepyng his good name
alwey to doon some thing bi which he may renouel his good
name
me of a man is soon goon and passed whan it is nat newed
ne renoueled