The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 68r
5 of 27 folios
And he scal haue Constance in mariage
And certeigne gold .I. not what quantite
145
And herto founden sufficiant surtie
This same accorde was swor in eyþer side
Nowe faire Constance almyhti god þe gide
¶ Nowe wolde sum man waiten as .I. gesse
Þat .I. schol teƚƚ al þe purueance
150
That þe Emperor of his noblesse
Haþ schapen for his douhter Dam Custance .
Wele maie men knowen þat so grete ordinance .
Maie noman tellen in alitel clause
As was arraied for so hihe a cause
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¶ Cardinals & Bischops bene schapen wiþ hir to wende
Lordes & lades & knyhtes of renoune
And oþer folke .I. nowe þis is þe ende
And notified is þoruhe oute þe toune
That euery whight wiþe grete deuocione
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Schold praie criste þat þis mariage
Resceyue & gree & spede þis viage
¶ The daie is comen of xx hire departeinge
.I. say . þat woful daie fatal is come
That þat þere maie be no lenger tariynge
165
Bot forþwarde þei hem dresse aƚƚ & some
Constance þat wiþ sorwe \is/ al ouercome
Ful pale arist & drisseþ hire to wende
For wele sche seeþe þere is none oþere ende
¶ Allas what wonder is it þouhe sche wepete
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That schaƚƚ be sent to so strange nacione
Fro frendes þat so tendurly hir keppete
And to be boundon vnder subieccōne
Of one sche knoweþ nouht his condicion
Husbondes bene al good & haue bu ȝore
175
Þat knewen wives .I. dar sei ȝow no more
Fader sche seide . þi wreched childe Constance
Þi ȝonge douhter fostred vp so soft
And ȝe my moder my souereigne plesance
Ouer al þinge oute take criste on loft
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Constance ȝowre childe hir recōmandeþ oft
Vn to ȝoure grace for .I. schal to Surrye
Ne schal .I. neuer seen ȝow more wiþ eye
¶ Alas vn to þe Barbarie Nacion
.I. most anone seþ it is ȝoure wiƚƚ