The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 80r
17 of 29 folios
Conuerted was / thanked be cristes grace
This false knight was slayn for his vntrouþe /
590
By Iuggement of Alla hastyly
And ȝit Custaunce haþ of his deþ gret rouþe
And after þis ihūs of his mercy
Made alla wedde ful solempnely
This holy mayde þat is bright and schene /
595
And þus hath crist I maad Constance a queene
But who was woful if I schal not lye /
Of þis weddyng but Domegild and þo
The kynges mooder ful of tyrannye
Hir þougħt hir cursed herte brast a two
600
Sche wolde nat hir sone had I do so
Hir þougħt despyte / þat he schulde take
So straunge a creature vnto his make
Me lust not of þe caf ne of þe stree
Make so long a tale as of þe corn
605
What schuld I telle of þe realte
Of mariage / or which cours goþ biforn
Who bloweth in a trompe or in an horn
The fruyt of euery tale is for to seye
They ete & drynk / and daunce / and synge & pleye
610
They gon to bed as it was skile & right
For þough þat wyfes ben ful holy þinges
They moste take in pacience a night
Such maner necessaries as ben plesynges
To folk þat han I wedded hem wiþ rynges
615
And haluendel her holynesse ley a side
And for þe tyme it may non oþer betyde
On hire he gat a knaue child anoon
And to a bisschope & a Constable eeke
He took his wyf to kepe whan he is goon
620
To scotlondward his foomē for to seeke
Now faire Custaūce þat is so humble & meeke
So long is goon wiþ childe til þat stille
Sche held hir chambre abidyng goddes wille
The tyme is come a knaue child sche bere
625
Maurius atte funtstoū men him calle