The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 79v
16 of 29 folios
550
And such a colour in his face haþ had
Men mighte knowe his face was so bystad
Among aƚƚ þe faces in þat route
So stant Constance and lokeþ hire aboute /
O queenes lyuyng in prosperite
555
Duchesses and ȝe ladies euerychon
Haueþ som reuþe on hir aduersite
An emperoures douȝt er stond allon
Sche nath no wigħt to whom to make hir moon
O blod ryal þt stondest in þis drede /
560
Ferre be þy frendes at þy grete neede /
This Alla kyng haþ such compassiou~ .
As gentil hert / is fulfild of pite /
That from his eyen ran þe wat er doun
Now hastily do fech a book quod he /
565
And if þis knight wil swere how þat sche /
This wōman slowz ȝet wol we vs auyse
Whom þat we wille schal be oure iustise
A britoū book I write wiþ euangiles
Was fette and on þis book / he swor anoon
570
Sche gultif was and in þe mene whiles
An hond hī smot vpon þe nekke boon
That doun he fel anon rigħt at a stoon
And boþe his yen brast out of his face
In sight of euery body in þat place
575
A vois was herd in general audience
And seist þou hast disclaundred gulteles
The dought er of holy chirche in hire persence
Thus hastow doon & ȝit I holde my pees
Of þis meruaile agast was al þe prees
580
As mased folk þey stooden euerychon
For drede of wreche saue Custaūce allon
Gret was þe drede and eek þe repentaunce
Of hem þat hadden gret suspecciou~
Vpon þe sely Innocent Custaunce
585
And for þis miracle in conclusiou~
And by Custaunces mediaciou~
The kyng and many oþer in þe place