The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 46r
5 of 16 folios
Kepeth this child al be it foul or feir
And ek my wyf vnto myn hom comyng
Crist whan him lust may sende me an heyr
Moore greable than this to my lykyng
670
This lettre he seleth piuely wepyng
Which to the Messager was take sone
And forth he goth ther nys na more to done
O messager fulfild of drunkenesse
Strong is thi breth thi lymes faltren ay
675
And thow biwryest al secreenesse
Thyn mynde is lorn thow Iangelest as a Iay
Thi face is turned in a new array
There dronkenesse regneth in any route
Ther is no conseil hid wyth owten doute
680
O domegild I ne haue non englissh dygne
Vnto thi malice and thi tyrannye
And therfore the feende I the resigne
Lat him enditen of thi traitourye
Fy mannyssh . fy .o. nay bi god I lye
685
Fy fendelich spirite for I dar wel telle
Thogh thou heer walk thi spirit is in helle
This Messager comth fro the kyng a gayn
And at the kynges modres court he lyght
And she was of this Messager ful fayn
690
And plesed him in al that euer she myght
He dranke and wel his girdel vnderpyght
He slepeth and he fnorteth in his gyse
Al nyght til the sonne gan aryse
Eft were this lettres stolne euerychone
695
And contrefeted lettres in this wyse
The kyng commaundeth his Constable anon
Vp peyne of hangyng and of high Iewise
That he ne shold suffren in no wyse
Custance wythynne his regne to abyde
700
Thre dayes and a quarter of a tyde