The Friar's Tale
Folio 104r
6 of 9 folios
Sen þat ȝe be a baillif as am .I.
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Som subtilite tel me feiþfully
In myne office how þat .I. maie most winne
And spare nouht for conscience ne sinne
Bot as my broþer tel me howe do ȝe
Nowe be my trewþe broþer dere seide he
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As .I. schal tellen þe a faiþ fultale
My wage bnen ful streite & smale
My lorde is harde to me & dangerous
And myne Office ful laborous
And þere fore be extorcions .I. leue
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For soþe .I. al þat men wil me ȝeue
Aƚƚ gate be sleiht or violence
Frome ȝere to ȝere .I. winne al my dispence
.I. kan no better tellen faiþfully
Now sertes qd Somnor so fare .I.
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.I. spare nouht to taken god it wote
Bot if it be to heuy or to hote
What .I. maye gette in Counseiƚƚ piuely
No manere consciens of þat haue .I.
Ner mye extorcion .I. myht not leuen
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Of suche Iapes wil .I. nouht bn schreeuen
For stomak ne for conscience knowe .I. none
I. schrewe þis schrift faders euerychone
Wele be we mette be god & be seint Iame
Bot leue broþer tel me þan þi name
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Or þis Somnor in þis mene while
This ȝoman gan a litel for to smyle
Broþer qd he wil towe þat .I. þe teƚƚ
.I. am a steue my dwellinge is in heƚƚ
And here .I. ride a boute my purchasinge
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To witte if men wil ȝeue me any þinge
Mi purchache is to fett al my rent
Looke howe þou ridest for þe same entent
To winne good þou rekkest neuer howe
Riht so fare .I. for ride wolde .I. nowe
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In to þe werldes ende for a preie
A qd þis somnor Benedicite what ȝe seie
.I. wende ȝe were a ȝoman trewly
Ȝe haue a mannes schappe as wel as .I.
Haue ȝe þan a figure determinate
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In hel þer ȝe bene in ȝoure astate .