The Friar's Tale
Folio 107r
9 of 11 folios
Or I wol somone hir to oure office
And ȝit god wot I know of hir no vice
But for þou canst not as in þis contre
280
Wynne þy cost tak / ħer ensample of me
This sompnour clapped at þe widowes gate
Com out quod he þou olde viritrate
I trowe þou hast som frere or prest wiþ þe
Who clappith þer sayd þis widow bñdicite
285
God saue ȝow sir . what is ȝour swete wille
I haue quod he . a somonaūce of a bille
Vp payne of cursyng loke þat þou be
Tomorwe biforn our erchedeknes kne
To answer to þe court / of certeyn þinges
290
Now quod sche Ihū cist and king of kinges
So wisly helpe me as I ne may
I haue ben seek and þat ful many a day
I may not goon so fer quod sche ne ryde
But I be deed so prikith it in my syde
295
May I nat aske a lybel sir Sompnour
And answer þer . by my procuratour
To suche þing as . men wol oppose me
Ȝis quod þis sompnour . pay anoon let se
Twelf pens to me and I þe wil acquite
300
I schal no profyt haue þer by but lite
My mayster hath þe profyt and not I
Com of and let me ryden hastily
Ȝif me my twelf pens I may no lenger tary
Twelf pens quod sche . now lady seinte mary
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So wisly help me . out of care and synne
Þis wyde world . þough þat I schulde wynne
Ne haue I not .xij. pens wiþinne myn hold
Ȝe knowen wel þat I am pore and old
Kithe ȝour almes on me pore wrecche
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Nay þan quod he þe foule fend me fecche
If I þexcuse þough þou schalt be spilt
Allas quod sche god wot I haue no gilt
Pay me quod he . or by þe swet seint Anne
As I wol bere away þy newe panne