The Friar's Tale
Folio 230r
3 of 8 folios
And ek of brotherhode ȝif that ȝow leste
100
I haue gold & siluyr in myn cheste
Ȝif þt ȝe happyn to comyn in oure schyre
Al schal be ryȝt as ȝe wele desyre
Graunt mercy quod þis somenour by myn fey
Eueryche in oþeres hand his trouthe leyth
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For to ben swore breþeryn til þey deye
In daliaūce þey rode forth & pleye
This somenor þt was so ful of Iangelys
As ful of venym ben þese variangelys
And euere enquyrynge vp on euery thyng
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Brothir quod he where is ȝoure dwellyng
A noþer day ȝif þt I schulde ȝow seche
This ȝeman hȳ answerede in softe speche
Broþer quod he fer in þe north cuntre
Where as I hope sūtyme I schal þe se
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Er we departe I schal þe so wel wische
That of myn hous ne shalt þu neuere mysse
Now broþer quod þe somenour I ȝow preye
Teche me whils þt ȝe ryde by þe weye
Syn þt ȝe be a balyf as am I
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Sū subtilete & telle me feythfully
In myn offys how I may most wȳne
And sparyth not for concience ne for synne
But as myn broþer telle me how do ȝe
Now by myn trouthe broþer dere seyde he
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As I schal telle þe a feythful tale
Mȳne wagis been ful streyte & ful smale
Myn lord is hard to me & daūgerous
And myn offys is ful laberous
And þerfore by extorcioūnys I leue
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For sothe I take al þt men wele me ȝeue
Algate by sleyȝte or by violence
From ȝer to ȝer I wȳne al myn dispence
I can no betere telle feythfully
Now sertis quod þis somenour so fare I
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I spare not to take god it wot
But ȝif it be to heuy or to hoot