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[Prologus] And as I passid in my preiere ther prestis were at messe, In a blessid borugh that Bristow is named In a temple of the Trinité the toune even amyddis, That Cristis Chirche is cleped amonge the comune peple, Sodeynly ther sourdid selcouthe thingis, A grett wondir to wyse men, as it well myghth, And dowtes for to deme for drede comynge after. So sore were the sawis of bothe two sidis, Of Richard that regned so riche and so noble, That wyle he werrid be west on the wilde Yrisshe, 1 Henrri was entrid on the est half, Whom all the londe loved, in lengthe and in brede, And rosse with him rapely to rightyn his wronge, For he shullde hem serve of the same after. Thus tales me troblid, for they trewe where, And amarride my mynde rith moche and my wittis eke. 2 For it passid my parceit and my preifis also How so wondirffull werkis wolde have an ende. But in sothe whan they sembled some dede repeute, As knowyn is in cumpas of Cristen londis, That rewthe was, if reson ne had reffourmed The myssecheff and the mysserule that men tho in endurid. I had peté of his passion that prince was of Walis, And eke our crouned kynge, till Crist woll no lenger. And as a liage to his lord, though I lite hade, All myn hoole herte was his while he in helthe regnid. And for I wuste not witterly what shulde fall, Whedir God wolde geve him grace sone to amende, 3 To be oure gioure ageyn or graunte it another, This made me to muse many tyme and ofte, For to written him a writte, to wissen him better, And to meuve him of mysserewle, his mynde to reffresshe For to preie the prynce that paradise made To fullfill him with feith and fortune above, And not to grucchen a grott ageine Godis sonde, But mekely to suffre what-so him sente were. And yif him list to loke a leef other tweyne, That made is to mende him of his myssededis, And to kepe him in confforte in Crist and nought ellis, I wolde be gladde that his gost myghte glade be my wordis, And grame if it greved him, be God that me boughte. Ther nys no governour on the grounde ne sholde gye him the better; 4 And every Cristen kyng that ony croune bereth, So he were lerned on the langage, my lyff durst I wedde, 5 Yif he waite well the wordis and so werche therafter, For all is tresour of the Trinité that turneth men to gode. And as my body and my beste oute to be my liegis, So rithffully be reson my rede shuld also, For to conceill, and I coughthe, my kyng and the lordis; And therfor I fondyd with all my fyve wyttis To traveile on this tretis, to teche men therafter To be war of wylffulnesse, lest wondris arise. And if it happe to youre honde, beholde the book onys, And redeth on him redely rewis an hundrid, And if ye savere sumdell, se it forth overe, For reson is no repreff, be the rode of Chester. And if ye fynde fables or foly ther amonge, Or ony fantasie yffeyned, that no frute is in, Lete youre conceill corette it, and clerkis togedyr, 6 And amende that ys amysse, and make it more better. For yit it is secrette and so it shall lenger, Tyll wyser wittis han waytid it overe, That it be lore laweffull and lusty to here. For witterly, my will is that it well liked You and all youris and yonge men leveste, To benyme hem her noyes that neweth hem ofte. For and they muse theron to the myddwardis, They shall fele fawtis foure score and odde, That youghthe weneth alwey, that it be witt evere. And though that elde opyn it otherwhile amonge, And poure on it prevyly and preve it well after, And constrewe ich clause with the culorum, It shulde not apeire hem a peere, a prynce though he were, Ne harme nother hurte the hyghest of the rewme, But to holde him in hele and helpe all his frendis. And if ony word write be that wrothe make myghte My sovereyne, that suget I shulde to be, I put me in his power, and preie him, of grace, To take the entent of my trouthe, that thoughte non ylle, For to wrath no wyght be my wyll nevere, As my soule be saff from synne at myn ende. The story is of non estate that stryven with her lustus, But tho that folwyn her flessh and here frelle thoughtis; 7 So if my conceyll be clere, I can saie no more, But ho be greved in his gost, governe him better, And blame not the berne that the book made, But the wickyd will, and the werkis after. [Passus Primus] Now, Richard the redeles, reweth on you-self, That lawelesse leddyn youre lyf and youre peple bothe. 8 For thoru the wyles and wronge and wast in youre tyme, Ye were lyghtlich ylyfte from that you leef thoughte, And from youre willffull werkis, youre will was chaungid, And rafte was youre riott and rest, for youre daiez weren wikkid, 9 Thoru youre cursid conceill youre karis weren newed, And coveitise hath crasid youre croune for evere. Radix omnium malorum cupiditas Of alegeaunce now lerneth a lesson other tweyne Wherby it standith and stablithe moste — By dride, or be dyntis, or domes untrewe, Or by creaunce of coyne for castes of gile, By pillynge of youre peple, youre prynces to plese, Or that youre wylle were wroughte, though wisdom it nolde; Or be tallage of youre townnes without ony werre, By rewthles routus that ryffled evere, Be preysinge of polaxis that no peté hadde, Or be dette for thi dees, deme as thou fyndist, Or be ledinge of lawe with love well ytemprid. 10 Though this be derklich endited for a dull nolle, Miche nede is it not to mwse ther-on, For as mad as I am though I litill kunne, I cowde it discryve in a fewe wordys; For legiance without love litill thinge availith. But graceles gostis, gylours of hemself, That nevere had harnesse ne hayle-schouris, But walwed in her willis forweyned in here youthe, They sawe no manere sighth saff solas and ese, And cowde no mysse amende whan mysscheff was up, But sorwed for her lustus of lordschipe they hadde, And nevere for her trespas oo tere wolde they lete. Ye come to youre kyngdom er ye youreself knewe, Crouned with a croune that kyng under hevene Mighte not a better have boughte, as I trowe; So full was it filled with vertuous stones, With perlis of prise to punnysshe the wrongis, With rubies rede the righth for to deme, With gemmes and juellis joyned togedir And pees amonge the peple for peyne of thi lawis. It was full goodeliche ygrave with gold al aboughte; The braunchis above boren grett charge; With diamauntis derve ydouutid of all That wroute ony wrake within or withoute; With lewté and love yloke to thi peeris, And sapheris swete that soughte all wrongis, Ypouudride wyth peté ther it be oughte, And traylid wyth trouthe and treste al aboute: For ony Cristen kynge a croune well ymakyd. But where this croune bicome a clerk were that wuste; 11 But so as I can, declare it I thenke, And nempne no name; but tho that nest were, Full prevyly they pluckud thy power awey, And reden with realté youre rewme thoru-oute, And as tyrauntis, of tiliers token what hem liste, And paide hem on her pannes whan her penyes lacked. 12 For non of youre peple durste pleyne of here wrongis, For drede of youre dukys and of here double harmes. Men myghtten as well have him huntyd an hare with a tabre As aske ony mendis for that thei mysdede, Or of ony of her men though men wulde plete, For all was felawis and felawschepe that ye with ferde, And no soule persone to punnyshe the wrongis; And that maddid thi men, as thei nede muste. For wo, they ne wuste to whom for to pleyne. For, as it is said by elderne dawis, "Ther gromes and the goodmen beth all eliche grette, Woll wo beth the wones, and all that woneth ther-in!" 13 They ladde you with love that youre lawe dradde 14 To deme youre dukys myssdedis so derve thei were. Thus was youre croune crasid till he was cast newe, Thoru partninge of youre powere to youre paragals. Thus lacchide they with laughinge, and lourid longe after, But frist sawe they it not, ne youreself nother; For all was wisliche ywroughte as youre witte demed, And no fauutis yffounde till fortune aperid. But had youre croune be kepte that comons it wiste, Ther nadde morder ne mysscheff be amonge the grette. 15 Thus youre cautell to the comoune hath combred you all, That, but if God helpe, youre hervest is ynne. Wytteth it not youre conceill but wyteth it more youreself, The fortune that fallyn is to feitheles peple; And wayte well my wordis and wrappe hem togedir, And constrwe clerlie the clause in thin herte. Of maters that I thenke to meve for the best For kyngis and kayseris comynge hereafter. Whane ye were sette in youre se as a sir aughte, Ther carpinge comynliche of conceill arisith, The chevyteyns cheef that ye chesse evere, Weren all to yonge of yeris to yeme swyche a rewme; Other hobbis ye hadden of Hurlewaynis kynne, Reffusynge the reule of realles kynde. 16 And whane youre conceill iknewe ye come so at ones For to leve on her lore and be led be hem, For drede that they had of demynge therafter, And for curinge of hemself cried on you evere For to hente hele of her owen greves, More than for wurschepe that they to you owed. They made you to leve that regne ye ne myghte Withoute busshinge adoun of all youre best frendis, Be a fals colour her caris to wayve, And to holde hem in hele if it happe myghte. For trostith rith treuly and in no tale better, All that they moved or mynged in that mater Was to be sure of hemself and siris to ben ycallid; For that was all her werchinge in worde and in dede. But had ye do duly and as a duke oughte, The frist that you formed to that fals dede, He shulde have hadde hongynge on hie on the forckis, Though youre brother yborn had be the same. Than wolde other boynardis have been abasshyd To have meved you to ony maters that myssheff had ben ynne. But for ye cleved to knavis in this cas, I avowe 17 That boldid thi burnes to belde uppon sorowe, And stirid you stouttely till ye stombled all. [Passus Secundus] Bot moche now me merveilith and well may I in sothe, Of youre large lyverey to leodis aboughte That ye so goodliche gaf but if gile letted, As hertis yheedyd and hornyd of kynde, So ryff as they ronne youre rewme thoru-oute, That non at youre nede youre name wolde nempne In fersnesse ne in foltheed but faste fle awayward; And some stode astonyed and stared for drede, For eye of the Egle that oure helpe brouute. And also in sothe the seson was paste For hertis yheedid so hy and so noble To make ony myrthe for mowtynge that nyghed. That bawtid youre bestis of here bolde chere; 18 They severid and sondrid for somere hem faylid, 19 And flowen into forest and feldis aboughte, All the hoole herde that helde so togedir; But yet they had hornes half yere after. Now liste me to lerne ho me lere coude, What kynnes conceyll that the kyng had, Or meved him most to merke his liegis, Or serve hem with signes that swarmed so thikke Thoru-oute his lond in lengthe and in brede, That ho-so had hobblid thoru holtes and tounes Or ypassid the patthis ther the prynce dwellyd, Or hertis or hyndis on hassellis brestis, Or some lordis lyveré that the lawe stried, He shulde have ymette mo than ynowe. For they acombrede the contré and many curse servid, And carped to the comounes with the kyngys mouthe, 20 Or with the lordis ther they belefte were, That no renke shulde rise reson to schewe. They plucked the plomayle from the pore skynnes, And schewed her signes for men shulde drede To axe ony mendis for her mysdedis. Thus lyverez overeloked youre liegis ichonne; For tho that had hertis on hie on her brestis, For the more partie, I may well avowe, They bare hem the bolder for her gay broches, And busshid with her brestis and bare adoun the pouere 21 Lieges that loved you the lesse for her yvell dedis. So, trouthe to telle, as toune-men said, For on that ye merkyd, ye myssed ten schore Of homeliche hertis that the harme hente. Thane was it foly in feith, as me thynketh, To sette silver in signes that of nought served. I not what you eylid, but if it ese were; 22 For frist at youre anoyntynge alle were youre owen, Bothe hertis and hyndis, and helde of non other; No lede of youre lond but as a liege aughte, 23 Tyl ye, of youre dulnesse, deseveraunce made Thoru youre side signes that shente all the browet, And cast adoun the crokk the colys amyd. 24 Omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur (luce eleven) 25 Yit am I lewde and litill good schewe To coveyte knowliche of kyngis wittis, Or wilne to witte how was the mevynge That ladde you to lykynge youre liegis to merke, That loved you full lelly or lyverez begynne, 26 And as redy to ride or renne at youre heste As wyghte myghte wilne wonnynge uppon erthe, Tyll lyverez hem lette and lordyns wrongis, As youreself fonde well whane fortune you fayled. For whan ye list to lene to youre owen lymes, 27 They were so feble and feynte for faughte of youre lawe, And so wankel and wayke, wexe in the hammes, That they had no myghte to amende youre greves Ne to bere byrthen youre banere to helpe. But it longith to no liegeman his lord to anoye Nother in werk ne in word but if his witt faile. "No, redely," quod Reson, "that reule I alowe: Displese not thi demer in dede ne in wordis But if thee liste for to lede thi lyf in dissese. But yif God have grauntyd thee grace for to knowe Ony manere mysscheff that myghtte be amendyd, Schewe that to thi sovereyne to schelde him from harmes; For and he be blessid, the better thee betydyth In tyme for to telle him for thi trewe herte." Now for to telle trouthe, thus than me thynketh, That no manere meyntenour shulde merkis bere, Ne have lordis lyveré the lawe to apeire, Neither bragger ne boster, for no brymme wordis. But ho-so had kunnynge and conscience bothe To stonde unstombled and stronge in his wittis, Lele in his levynge, levyd by his owen, That no manere mede shulde make him wrye, For to trien a trouthe betwynne two sidis, And lette for no lordschep the lawe to susteyne 28 Whane the pore pleyned that put were to wrongis, And I were of conceill, by Crist that me boughte, He shuld have a signe and sumwhat be yere For to kepe his contré in quiete and in reste. This were a good grounde, so me God helpe! And a trewe tente to take and to geve, For ony lord of this londe that lyverez usith. But how the gayes han ygon, God wotte the sothe 29 Amonge myghtffull men alle these many yeris; And whedir the grounde of gifte were good other ille, Trouthe hathe determyned the tente to the ende, And reson hath rehersid the resceyte of all. Yit I trowe youre entente at the frist tyme Was, as I wene, yif I well thenke in multitude of peple, That ye were the more myghtier for the many signes That ye and youre servauntis aboughte so thikke sowid; And that they were more tristi and trewer than other To love you for the lyverey that legaunce stroied; Or ellis for a skylle that skathed youreself, That comounes of contré had costis aboughte Sholde knowe be hir quentise that the kyng loved hem For her privy prynte passinge another. Yif that was youre purpos, it passith my wittis To deme discrecion of youre well-doynge. Thus were ye disceyved thoru youre duble hertis, That nevere weren to truste, so God save my soule! But had the good greehonde be not agreved, But cherischid as a cheffeteyne, and cheff of youre lese, Ye hadde had hertis ynowe at youre wille to go and to ride. 30 And also in serteyne, the sothe for to telle, I wondir not hyly, though heed-dere thou failid; For litill on youre lyf thee list for to rewe On rascaile that rorid with ribbis so lene, For faughte of her fode that flateris stelen, And evere with here wylis and wast ofte they hem anoyed, That poverte hem prickid full prevyliche to pleyne, But where, they ne wyste ne ho it wolde amende. Thus ye derid hem unduly with droppis of anger, And stonyed hem with stormes that stynted nevere, But plucked and pulled hem anon to the skynnes, That the fresinge frost freted to here hertis. So whanne youre hauntelere-dere where all ytakyn, Was non of the rasskayle aredy full growe To bere ony breme heed, as a best aughte, So wyntris wedir hem wessh with the snowis, With many derke mystis that maddid her eyne. For well mowe ye wyttyn and so mowe we all, That harde is the somer ther sonne schyneth nevere. Ye fostrid and fodid a fewe of the best, And leyde on hem lordschipe a leyne uppon other, And bereved the raskall that rith wolde thei hadde, 31 And knewe not the caris ne cursis that walkyd. But mesure is a meri mene, though men moche yerne. Deus exaudit clamorem pauperum, et iudicat causam eorum; David in Psalmis 32 Thus be the rotus youre raskall endurid, Tyll the blessid bredd brodid his wyngis To covere hem from colde, as his kynde wolde. Rith as the hous-hennes uppon londe hacchen And cherichen her chekonys fro chele of the wynter, Ryth so the hende Egle the eyere of hem all, Hasteth him in hervest to hovyn his bryddis, And besieth him besely to breden hem feedrin, 33 Tyll her fre fedris be fulliche ypynned, That they have wynge at her wyll to wonne uppon hille; For venym on the valeye hadde foule with hem fare, Tyll trouthe the triacle telde somme her sothes. Thus baterid this bred on busshes aboughte, And gaderid gomes on grene ther as they walkyd, That all the schroff and schroup sondrid from other. He mellid so the matall with the hand-molde That they lost lemes the levest that they had. Thus foulyd this faukyn on fyldis aboughte, 34 And caughte of the kytes a cartffull at ones, That rentis and robis with raveyn evere laughte. 35 Yit was not the fawcon full fed at his likynge, For it cam him not of kynde kytes to love. Than bated he boldeliche, as a brid wolde, To plewme on his pray the pol fro the nekk; But the blernyed boynard that his bagg stall, Where purraile-is pulter was pynnyd full ofte, Made the fawcon to floter and flussh for anger That the boy hadd be bounde that the bagge kepte. But sone therafter, in a schorte tyme, As fortune folwith ech fode till his ende, This lorell that ladde this loby awey Overe frithe and forde for his fals dedis, Lyghte on the lordschepe that to the brid longid, And was felliche ylaughte and luggid full ylle, And broughte to the brydd and his blames rehersid Prevyly at the parlement amonge all the peple. Thus hawkyd this Egle and hoved above That, as God wolde that governeth all thingis, Ther nas kyte ne krowe that kareyne hauntid, That he ne with his lynage ne lovyd full sone. For wherso they ferde, be fryth or be wones, Was non of hem all that him hide myghth, But cam with him a reclayme fro costis aboughte, And fell with her fetheris flat uppon the erthe, As madde of her mynde, and mercy besoughte. They myghte not aschonne the sorowe they had served, So lymed leves were leyde all aboughte, And panteris prevyliche pight uppon the grounde, With grennes of good heere that God himself made, That whereso they walkid, they waltrid dounwardis; And evere hoved the Egle on hie on the skyes, And kenned clerliche, as his kynde axith, Alle the prevy poyntis that the pies wroughth. [Passus Tercius] Now leve we this beu brid till I restore, For mater that my mynde is meved in now, That whi the hie hertis her hele so mysside, That pasture axid rith to here pure wombis, I wolle schewe as I sawe, till I se better; And if I walke out of the wey, I wolle me repente. Now herkeneth, hende men, how that me thynkyth, Savynge sovereynes and sages avise, That the moste myscheff uppon molde on Is demed the dede ydo ageins kynde. Yit clereth this clause no thinge my wittis, Without more mater what it mene wolde. I mene of the hertis that hautesse of yeris, That pasture prikkyth and her prevy age, Whan they han hoblid on the holte an hundrid of yeris, That they feblen in fleissh, in felle and in bones. Her kynde is to kevere if they cacche myghth Adders that harmen alle hende bestis: Thoru busschis and bromes this beste, of his kynde, Secheth and sercheth tho schrewed wormes That steleth on the stedis to stynge hem to deth. And whanne it happeth the herte to hente the edder, He putyth him to peyne, as his pray asketh, And fedith him on the venym, his felle to anewe, To leve at more lykynge a longe tyme after. This is clerlie hir kynde, coltis nat to greve, Ne to hurlle with haras, ne hors well atamed, Ne to stryve with swan, though it sholle werre, Ne to bayten on the bere, ne bynde him nother, Ne to wilne to woo that were hem ny sibbe, Ne to liste for to loke that her alie bledde; This was ageins kynde, as clerkis me tolde — Propter ingratitudinem liber homo reuocatur in seruitutem, ut in stimulo compunccionis, et in lege ciuili - 36 And therfor the hertis here hele so myssid, And myghte nat passe the poynte of her prime age. Now constrew ho-so kunne — I can saie no more, But fare I wolle to the fowle that I beffore tolde. Off all billid breddis that the bough spareth, The propirté of partriche to preise me lustith, 37 That in the somer seson whan sittinge nyeth, That ich foule with his fere folwith his kynde, This brid by a bank bildith his nest, And heipeth his eiren, and hetith hem after. And whane the dame hath ydo that to the dede longith, And hopith for to hacche or hervest begynne, Thane cometh ther a congioun with a grey cote, As not of his nolle as he the nest made, Another proud partriche, and precyth to the nest, And prevylich pirith till the dame passe, And sesith on hir sete with hir softe plumes, And hoveth the eyren that the hue laide, And with hir corps kevereth hem, till that they kenne, And fostrith and fodith till fedris schewe, And cotis of kynde hem kevere all aboughte. But as sone as they styffe and that they steppe kunne, Than cometh and crieth hir owen kynde dame, And they folwith the vois at the frist note, And leveth the lurker that hem er ladde, For the schrewe schrapid to selde for her wombis, 38 That her lendys were lene and leved with hunger. But than the dewe dame dineth hem swythe, And fostrith hem forthe till they fle kunne. "What is this to mene, man?" maiste thou axe, "For it is derklich endited for a dull panne; Wherffore I wilne, yif it thi will were, The partriche propurtés by whom that thou menest?" A, Hicke Hevyheed, hard is thi nolle To cacche ony kunnynge, but cautell bigynne! Herdist thou not with eeris how that I er tellde How the Egle in the est entrid his owen, And cried and clepid after his owen kynde briddis, That weren anoyed in his nest and norished full ille, And well ny yworewid with a wronge leder? But the nedy nestlingis, whan they the note herde, Of the hende Egle, the heyer of hem all, Thei busked fro the busches and breris that hem noyed, And burnisched her beekis and bent to-him-wardis, 39 And folowid him fersly to fighte for the wrongis; They bablid with her billis, how thei bete were, And tenyd with twiggis two and twenty yeris. Thus lafte they the leder that hem wrong ladde, And tyned no twynte, but tolled her cornes, And gaderid the grotus with gyle, as I trowe. Than folwid they her fre fader, as good feith wolde, That he hem fede shulde and fostre forther, And bringe hem out of bondage that they were broughth inne. Thanne sighed the swymmers, for the swan failid, And folwid this faucon thoru feldus and tounes, With many faire fowle, though they feynte were, And hevy for the hirte that the hors hadde. Yit they ferkyd hem forth as faste as they myghte, To have the Egles helpe of harme that they hadde; For he was heed of hem all and hieste of kynde To kepe the croune, as cronecle tellith. He blythid the beere and his bond braste, And lete him go at large, to lepe where he wolde. But tho all the berlingis brast out at ones, As fayne as the foule that flieth on the skyes That Bosse was unbounde and brouute to his owen. They gaderid hem togedir on a grette roughte, To helpe the heeris that had many wrongis; They gaglide forth on the grene, for they greved were That her frendis were falle thoru felouns castis. They mornyd for the morthir of manfull knyghtis, That many a styff storme withstode for the comunes; They monside the marchall for his myssedede, That evell coude his craft whan he clothed the stede. And evere as they folwide this faucon aboughte, At iche mevinge fotte, venyanunce they asked On all that assentid to that synfull dede. Arere now to Richard and reste here while, For a prevy poynt that persith my wittis, Of fauutis I fynde that frist dede engendre Cursidnesse and combraunce amonge the yonge lordis, And the wikkid werchinge that walmed in her daies, And yit woll hereafter, but wisdom it lette. That were a lord of lond that lawe hathe in honde, That to lyghtliche leveth or lewté apere, The tale of a trifflour in turmentours wede, That nevere reed good rewle, ne resons bookis! 40 For ben they rayed arith, they recchith no forther, 41 But studieth all in strouutynge and stireth amys evere; For all his witte in his wede ys wrappid for sothe, 42 More than in mater to amende the peple that ben mysled. For I say for myself, and schewe, as me thynchith, That ho is riall of his ray, that light reede him folwith. Yit swiche fresshe foodis beth feet into chambris, And for her dignesse endauntid of dullisshe nollis, And, if thou well waite, of no wight ellis. Qui mollibus vestiuntur in domibus regum sunt: in Euangelio 43 Than waite mo wayes, how the while turneth With gyuleris joyfull for here gery jaces: And for her wedis so wyde, wise beth yholde. They casteth hem to creaunce, the courte for to plese, And hopen to be hied in hast, yif they myghthe, Thoru swiche stif strouutynge, that stroyeth the rewme; 44 But here wey is all wronge ther wisdom is ynned, For they lepith als lyghtly at the longe goynge, Out of the domes carte, as he that throff nevere. For they kepeth no coyne that cometh to here hondis, But chaunchyth it for cheynes that in Chepe hangith, And settith all her silver in seintis and hornes, And for-doth the coyne and many other craftis, And maketh the peple for pens-lac in pointe for to wepe. And yit they beth ytake forth and her tale leved, And for her newe nyseté nexte to the lordis, Now, be the lawe of Lydfford, in londe ne in water, Thilke lewde ladde oughte evyll to thryve That hongith on his hippis more than he wynneth, And doughteth no dette, so dukis hem preise, But beggith and borwith of burgeis in tounes Furris of foyne and other felle-whare, And not the better of a bene, though they boru evere. And, but if the slevis slide on the erthe, Thei woll be wroth as the wynde and warie hem that it made; And but yif it were elbowis adoun to the helis, Or passinge the knee, it was not acounted. And if Pernell preisid the plytis bihynde, The costis were acountid, paye whan he myghth. The leesinge so likyde ladies and other That they joied of the jette and gyside hem therunder; And if Felice fonde ony faute thenne of the makynge, Yt was ysent sone to shape of the newe. But now ther is a gyse, the queyntest of all, A wondir coriouse crafte, ycome now late, That men clepith kerving the clothe all to pecis, That sevene goode sowers sixe wekes after Moun not sett the seemes, ne sewe hem ageyn. But ther is a proffith in that pride that I preise evere, For thei for the pesinge paieth pens ten duble That the clothe costened, the craft is so dere. 45 Now if I sothe shall saie, and shonne side tales, Ther is as moche good witte in swyche gomes nollis As thou shuldist mete of a myst fro morwe tyll even. Yit blame I no burne to be, as him oughte, In comlich clothinge, as his statt axith; But to ledyn her lust all here lyff-daies 46 In quentise of clothinge for to queme Sir Pride, And everemore stroutynge and no store kepe, And iche day a newe devyse; it dullith my wittes That ony lord of a lond shulde leve swiche thingis, Or clepe to his conceill swiche manere cotis, That loveth more her lustis than the lore of oure Lord. And if a lord his lyverey lyste for to geve, Ther may no gome for goodnesse gette therof but lite For curtesie, for comlynesse, ne for his kynde herte, But rather for his rancour and rennynge overe peple, For braggynge and for bostynge and beringe uppon oilles, For cursidnes of conscience and comynge to the assises. This makyth men mysdo more than oughte ellis, And to stroute and to stare and stryve ageyn vertu. So clerlie the cause comsith in grette, Of all manere mysscheff that men here usyn. For wolde they blame the burnes that broughte newe gysis, And dryve out the dagges and all the Duche cotis, And sette hem aside and scorne of hem telle, And lete hem pleye in the porche and presse non ynnere, Ne no proude peniles with his peynte sleve; And eke repreve robbers and riffleris of peple, Flateris and fals men that no feith useth. And alle deabolik doeris, dispise hem ichone, And coile out the knyghtys that knowe well hemself, That were sad of her sawis and suffre well couude, 47 And had traveilid in her tyme and temprid hemself, And cherliche cheriche hem, as cheff in the halle For to ordeyne officeris and all other thyngis, Men shuld wete in a while that the world wolde amende; So vertue wolde flowe whan vicis were ebbid. But now to the mater that I before meved, Of the gomes so gay that grace hadde affendid And how stille that steddeffaste stode amonge this reccheles peple, 48 That had awilled his wyll, as wisdom him taughte: For he drough him to an herne at the halle ende, Well homelich yhelid in an holsum gyse, Not overelonge, but ordeyned in the olde schappe, With grette browis ybente and a berde eke, And ywounde in his wedis, as the wedir axith. He wondrid in his wittis, as he well myghthe, That the hie houusinge herborowe ne myghte Halfdell the houshould but hales hem helped; But for craft that he couude caste thenne, or bethenke, He myghte not wonne in the wones, for witt that he usid, But, arouutyd for his ray and rebuked ofte, He had leve of the lord and of ladies alle For his good governaunce to go or he drank. Ther was non of the mené that they ne merveilid moche How he cam to the courte and was not yknowe. But als sone as they wiste that Witt was his name, And that the kyng knewe him not, ne non of his knyghtis, He was halowid and yhuntid and yhotte trusse, And his dwellinge ydemed a bowe-drawte from hem, And ich man ycharchid to schoppe at his croune; Yif he nyhed hem ony nere, than they had him nempned. The portir with his pikis tho put him uttere, And warned him the wickett while the wacche durid; "Lete sle him!" quod the sleves that slode uppon the erthe, And alle the berdles burnes bayed on him evere, And schorned him, for his slaveyn was of the olde schappe. Thus Malaperte was myghtffull and maister of hous, And evere wandrid Wisdom without the gatis. "By Him that wroughte this world!" quod Wisdom in wrath, "But yif ye woll sumtyme I walke in amonge you, I shall forbede you burnesse the best on this erthe, That is, governance of gettinge and grace that him follwith: 49 For these two trewly twynned yet nevere." And so it fell on hem, in feith, for faughtis that they usid, That her grace was agoo for grucchinge chere, For the wrong that they wroughte to Wisdom affore. For tristith, als trewly as tyllinge us helpeth, That iche rewme under roff of the reynebowe 50 Sholde stable and stonde be these thre degrés: By governaunce of grete and of good age; By styffnesse and strengthe of steeris well y-yokyd, That beth myghthffull men, of the mydill age; And be laboreris of lond that lyfflode ne fayle. 51 Thanne wolde reule, if reson where amongis us, That ich leode lokide what longid to his age, 52 And nevere for to passe more oo poynt forther To usurpe the service that to sages bilongith, To become conselleris er they kunne rede, In schenshepe of sovereynes, and shame at the last. For it fallith as well to fodis of twenty four yeris, 53 Or yonge men of yistirday to geve good redis, As becometh a kow to hoppe in a cage! It is not unknowen to kunnynge leodis That rewlers of rewmes around all the erthe Were not yffoundid at the frist tyme To leve al at likynge and lust of the world, But to laboure on the lawe, as lewde men on plowes, And to merke meyntenourz with maces ichonne, And to strie strouters that sterede ageine rithis, 54 And alle the myssedoers that they myghte fynde, To put hem in preson, a peere though he were; And not to rewle as reremys and rest on the daies, And spende of the spicerie more than it neded, Bothe wexe and wyn, in wast all aboughte, With deyntés ydoublid and daunsinge to pipis, In myrthe with moppis, myrrours of synne. Yit forbede I no burne to be blithe sum while; But all thinge hath tyme, for to tempre glees: For caste all the counntis that the kyng holdith, And loke how these lordis loggen hemself, And evere shall thou fynde, as fer as thou walkiste, That wisdom and overewacche wonneth fer asundre; 55 But whanne the governaunce goth thus with tho the hous gie shulde, And letith lyghte of the lawe and lesse of the peple, And herkeneth all to honour and to ese eke, And that ich wyght with his witt waite on him evere, To do hem reverence aright, though the rigge brest. This warmnesse in welth with wy uppon erthe Myghte not longe dure, as doctourz us tellith. For ho-so thus leved his lyff to the ende, Evere wrappid in welle, and with no wo mette, 56 Myghte seie that he sawe that seie was nevere: That hevene were unhonge out of the hookis, And were boun at his bidding yif it be myghte. But clerkis knew I non yete that so couude rede In bokis ybounde, though ye broughte alle That ony wy welldith wonnynge uppon erthe; For in well and in woo the werld evere turneth. Yit ther is kew-kaw, though he come late, A new thing that noyeth nedy men and other, Whanne realles remeveth and ridith thoru tounes, And carieth overe contré ther comunes dwelleth, To preson the pillourz that overe the pore renneth; For that were evene in her weye if they well ride. But yit ther is a foule faughte that I fynde ofte: They prien affter presentis or pleyntis ben yclepid, And abateth all the billis of tho that noughth bringith; 57 And ho-so grucche or grone ageins her grette willes May lese her lyff lyghtly and no lesse weddis. Thus is the lawe lovyd thoru myghty lordis willys, That meyneteyne myssdoers more than other peple. For mayntenaunce many day — well more is the reuthe! — Hath yhad mo men, at mete and at melis, Than ony Cristen kynge that ye knewe evere: For, as reson and rith rehersid to me ones, Tho ben men of this molde that most harme worchen. For chyders of Chester where chose many daies To ben of conceill for causis that in the court hangid, And pledid pipoudris alle manere pleyntis. 58 They cared for no coyffes that men of court usyn, But meved many maters that man never thoughte, And feyned falshed, till they a fyne had, And knewe no manere cause, as comunes tolde. 59 Thei had non other signe to schewe the lawe But a prevy pallette her pannes to kepe, To hille here lewde heed in stede of an hove. They constrewed quarellis to quenche the peple, And pletid with pollaxis and poyntis of swerdis, And at the dome-gevynge drowe out the bladis, And lente men lyverey of her longe battis. They lacked alle vertues that a juge shulde have: For, er a tale were ytolde, they wolde trie the harmes, Withoute ony answere but ho his lyf hatid. 60 And ho-so pleyned to the prince that pees shulde kepe, Of these mystirmen, medlers of wrongis, He was lyghtliche ylaughte and yluggyd of many, And ymummyd on the mouthe and manaced to the deth. They leid on thi leigis, Richard, lasshis ynow, And drede nevere a dele the dome of the lawe. Ther nas rial of the rewme that hem durste rebuke, Ne juge ne justice that jewis durste hem deme For oute that thei toke or trespassid to the peple. This was a wondir world, ho-so well lokyd, That gromes overegrewe so many grette maistris; For this was the rewle in this rewme while they here regnyd. Though I satte sevenenyght and slepte full selde, Of many mo wrongis they werched than I write couude; For selde were the serigauntis soughte for to plete, Or ony prentise of courte preied of his wittis, The while the degonys domes weren so endauntid, Tille oure Sire in His see above the seven sterris, Sawe the many mysschevys that these men dede, And no mendis ymade, but menteyned evere Of him that was hiest, yholde for to kepe His liegis in lawe, and so her love gette. He sente for his servauntis that sembled many, Of baronys and baccheleris, with many brighth helmes, With the comunes of contres they cam all at ones; And as a duke doughty in dedis of armes, In full reall aray he rood uppon hem evere, Tyll Degon and Dobyn, that mennys doris brastyn, And were ydubbid of a duke for her while domes, 61 Awakyd for wecchis and wast that they usid, And for her breme blastis buffettis henten. Than gan it to calme and clere all aboughte, That iche man myghte, ho-so mynde hadde, Se, be the sonne that so brighte schewed, The mone at the mydday meve, and the sterris, Folwinge felouns for her false dedis, Devourours of vetaile that foughten er thei paide. [Passus Quartus] For where was evere ony Cristen kynge that ye evere knewe That helde swiche an household be the halfdelle As Richard in this rewme, thoru myserule of other, That alle his fynys for faughtis, ne his fee-fermes, Ne for-feyturis fele that felle in his daies, Ne the nownagis that newed him evere — As March and Mounbray, and many mo other, 62 Ne alle the issues of court that to the kyng longid, Ne sellynge, that sowkid silver rith faste, Ne alle the prophete of the lond that the prince owed, Whan the countis were caste with the custum of wullus, 63 Myghte not areche ne his rent nother, To paie the pore peple that his purvyours toke, Withoute preiere at a parlement a poundage biside, And a fifteneth and a dyme eke, And with all the custum of the clothe that cometh to fayres? And yet, ne had creaunce icome at the last ende, With the comunes curse that cleved on hem evere, They had be drawe to the devyll for dette that they owed. And whanne the reot and the reevell the rent thus passid, 64 And no thing ylafte but the bare baggis, Than felle it afforse to fille hem ageyne, And feyned sum folie that failid hem never, And cast it be colis with her conceill at evene, To have prevy parlement for proffitt of hemself, And lete write writtis all in wex closid, For peeris and prelatis that thei apere shuld, And sente side sondis to schrevys aboughte To chese swiche chevalleris as the charge wold, To schewe for the schire in company with the grete. And whanne it drowe to the day of the dede-doynge, That sovereynes were semblid and the schire-knyghtis, Than, as her forme is frist, they begynne to declare The cause of her comynge and than the kyngis will. Comliche a clerk than comsid the wordis, And pronouncid the poyntis aperte to hem alle, And meved for mony more than for out ellis, In glosing of grette, lest greyves arise. 65 And whanne the tale was tolde anon to the ende, Amorwe thei must, affore mete, mete togedir, The knyghtis of the comuneté and carpe of the maters, With citiseyns of shiris, ysent for the same, To reherse the articlis and graunte all her askynge. But yit for the manere to make men blynde, Somme argued agein rith then a good while, And said, "We beth servauntis and salleré fongen, And ysent fro the shiris to shewe what hem greveth, And to parle for her prophete and passe no ferthere, And to graunte of her gold to the grett wattis By no manere wronge way but if werre were; And if we ben fals to tho us here fyndyth, Evyll be we worthy to welden oure hire." 66 Than satte summe as siphre doth in awgrym, That noteth a place, and no thing availeth; And some had ysoupid with Symond overe even, And schewed for the shire and here schew lost; 67 And somme were tituleris and to the kyng wente, And formed him of foos that good frendis weren, That bablid for the best and no blame served Of kynge ne conceyll ne of the comunes nother, Ho-so toke good kepe to the culorum. And somme slombrid and slepte and said but a lite; And somme mafflid with the mouth, and nyst what they ment; And somme had hire and helde therwith evere, And wolde no forther affoott for fer of her maistris; And some were so soleyne and sad of her wittis That er they come to the clos acombrid they were, That thei the conclucion than constrewe ne couthe, No burne of the benche of borowe nother ellis, 68 So blynde and so ballid and bare was the reson. And some were so fers at the frist come That they bente on a bonet and bare a topte saile Affor the wynde fresshely to make a good fare. Than lay the lordis alee, with laste and with charge, And bare aboughte the barge and blamed the maister, That knewe not the kynde cours that to the crafte longid, And warned him wisely of the wedir-side. Thanne the maste in the myddis at the monthe-ende, Bowid for brestynge and broughte hem to lond; For ne had thei striked a strake and sterid hem the better, And abated a bonet or the blast come, They had be throwe overe the borde backeward ichonne. 69 And some were acombrid with the conceill before, And wiste well ynow how it sholde ende, Or some of the semblé shulde repente. Some helde with the mo how it evere wente, And somme dede rith so and wolld go no forther. Some parled as perte as provyd well after, And clappid more for the coyne that the kyng owed hem Thanne for comfforte of the comyne that her cost paied, And were behote hansell if they helpe wolde To be servyd sekirly of the same silvere. And some dradde dukis, and Do-well forsoke . . . |
(see note) prayer where priests; mass; (see note) Bristol; (see note) i.e., in the town's center called; common Suddenly; arose strange great wonder; might seem to assess for fearful things bitter; words of both sides who reigned; (see note) Henry advanced from the east land; everywhere rose up; quickly in the same way later on disturbed; were true surpassed my understanding; experience; (see note) astonishing deeds gathered; considered is known throughout pity; reformed misfortune; misrule; then pity; suffering; Wales also; longer liege; possessed little; (see note) whole heart did not know clearly; happen; (see note) (see note) leader; i.e., the kingdom write; treatise, to instruct apprise him beseech; (see note) fill complain a bit; dispensation whatsoever happens to him if he pleases to look over a page or two composed; correct; misdeeds comfort; nothing else spirit; be gladdened by sorry; grieved; redeemed; (see note) any; bears; (see note) If; consider; act soul (best part) ought; liege's rightfully; reason; advice counsel, if I could strove; five wits (see note) work; instruct; (see note) on guard against wilfulness comes into your hands; once read it quickly a hundred lines relish some of it, read all of it reproach; cross; (see note) find fables feigned; profit what is wrong; (see note) As yet; secret; shall be longer Until wiser men have scrutinized it lawful teaching; delightful certainly; should please best take away; their troubles; renew if; middle discover faults eighty and more; (see note) youth always thinks; (see note) old men think it sometimes pore over it in private; prove interpret each; significance; (see note) harm them a bit Nor; most noble; realm health; friends is written; angry king, whose subject I should be; (see note) meant nothing ill anger no person saved advice; clear whoever is distressed; soul man consequent effects unadvised; pity yourself through; deceits; waste quickly deprived; dear (see note) cares; renewed greed has broken; (see note) Greed is the root of all evil remains most stably fear; blows; bad judgments monetary credit; tricks; guile robbing; people executed; says no taxing; towns in peacetime pitiless gangs; ransacked By appraising of pole-axes; (see note) debt; dice, judge darkly set down; head; (see note) There is not great need; muse insane; know little could describe; words fealty; avails little persons; deceivers; (see note) armor; hail-showers; (see note) wallowed; pampered sight; except pleasure and ease correct no wrong; afoot pleasures; sovereignty their; one tear; let fall became king; before; (see note) believe gems with special properties; (see note) precious pearls red; right; judge gems; jewels peace; penalty goodly engraved; about carried; weight precious feared; (see note) committed; evil loyalty; locked; peers sapphires; sought out Powdered over; where; (see note) patterned; decorated made think name; those; nearest; (see note) secretly rode; royalty from husbandmen took; they pleased (see note) none; dare complain; their fear; dukes tabor (drum); (see note) restitution; what; did wrong plead accomplices; evil fellowship; (see note) single your subjects woe; did not know; complain from the old days (see note) dukes' crimes; forthright cracked; it parceling out; peers seized; glowered first; neither; (see note) wisely done, as you believed faults; worsened guarded; knew had not; (see note) deceit; troubled; (see note) unless; harvest has come in; (see note) Blame not; (see note) heed construe; (see note) issues; put forward emperors; (see note) throne as a lord ought; (see note) discussion in common principal advisors; chose too young; years; govern such; (see note) (see note) realized; at once believe their teachings punishment at a later time protection; appealed to To get a remedy of their own grievances (Sk) respect believe; could not rule striking down (see note) pretense; troubles; remove; (see note) health trust very; version urged; spoke to be called lords their working acted appropriately; should first one who instigated you high on the gallows miscreants; discouraged advised; mischief emboldened; men; become strong; (see note) stirred you up stoutly I wonder; in truth livery (see note); men in various places provided; guile prevented; (see note) harts; antlered; nature many; ran; realm none when you needed; name fierceness; folly; flee away stood astonished eagle; brought; (see note) season; passed high molting; drew near (see note) fields here and there whole herd; (see note) (see note) Now I wish to learn who could instruct me kind of caused; mark; liege-men; (see note) breadth whoever; stumbled; woods paths; where retainers' breasts; (see note) livery; destroyed the law encountered more; enough oppressed; (see note) with whom they dwelt man plumage; skins of the poor To demand any redress for their misdeeds scorned; each one high up; breasts part brooches Subjects; evil deeds; (see note) townsfolk one; score simple; received; (see note) served no purpose all were with you hinds; adhered to no other Until; separation; (see note) widespread; ruined; broth ignorant; (see note) wish to know; it came about; (see note) possessed; desire; (see note) (see note) ready; run; bidding a person; wish living prevented; of lords found; (see note) (see note) feeble; weak; default unsteady; grown; thighs; (see note) sufferings bear the burden; banner belongs; annoy Neither; nor advisedly; approve; (see note) Displease not your judge you wish; lead; distress Show; shield if; the better for you then I think maintainer; marks (badges) lords' livery; damage boaster; fierce surely Loyal; life, living on reward; turn corrupt judge a legal conflict If; judge; redeemed badge; annual salary foundation purpose; give (see note) (see note) purpose intent receiving intention thickly spread around; (see note) trustworthy; others destroyed reason; harmed districts; (see note) by their identifying uniform special mark surpassing; (see note) judge discretion deceived; false harts/hearts greyhound (see note); offended group of hounds; (see note) highly; horned-deer; (see note) pleases you to take pity; (see note) young deer; ribs; thin lack; food; flatterers steal their wiles; waste poverty spurred them on did not know nor who vexed confounded; stopped So that; freezing; ate harts (antler-deer); taken none; young deer ready; grown; (see note) strong head; beast should winter's weather; washed; snows bedeviled their eyes may you know in which sun never shines nurtured; provided food to bestowed; one benefice afflictions moderation; mean; yearn; (see note) (see note) by eating roots; survived; (see note) bird spread its protect them; nature Just; domestic hens; hatch cherish; chickens; chill; (see note) noble; most genteel; (see note) autumn; brood over noble feathers; fledged; (see note) dwell venom; foully; dealt remedy; told; truths; (see note) battered; bird; (see note) men on the green scruff; riff-raff spoke; metal; crusher; (see note) limbs; dearest; (see note) (see note) kites; (see note) (see note) flew down pull; prey; head from blear-eyed scoundrel; stole (see note) poor folks' rags; fastened; (see note) flutter (to be anxious) rogue should be bound; (see note) person wretch; rag-man; (see note) woodland; stream Seized; inheritance; belonged cruelly caught; baited wrongs hovered was not; crow; fed on carrion kindred; humiliated; (see note) wood; dwellings a call to return; regions; (see note) evade; deserved; (see note) leaves spread with lime; (see note) traps; set snares; hair stumbled on high saw clearly; requires strategems; magpies beautiful bird; return to the subject; (see note) ponders health; failed food; stomachs show i.e., stray listen; noble Except; wise men's opinion on earth; (see note) committed; done contrary to nature's laws (see note) stateliness; (see note) incites; manifest hobbled; wood weaken; flesh; skin recover; catch noble creatures; (see note) brooms Seeks; wretched snakes sneak up; horses chances; seize; adder death; prey requires; (see note) feeds; skin to renew live in greater happiness colts; injure; (see note) hurtle at stallions; tamed shall go to war bait; bear; nor bind desire misfortune; near kin desire to see their allies (see note) their recovery condition construe whoever can proceed; bird beaked; avoids; (see note) egg-laying nears mate by gathers together its eggs; warms; (see note) mother before the beginning of autumn villain; (see note) closely cropped head so presses observes; leaves seizes; seat broods over; eggs; mother bird body; covers; hatch feeds; feathers coats grow strong; know how to walk their own birth mother sound skulker; earlier led [astray] loins; thin; weakened rightful mother feeds; quickly fly obscurely written; head partridge's qualities head learning unless trickery begins [it] ears; said earlier own possessions; (see note) abused very nearly destroyed heir; (see note) hurried; briars; troubled twittered; beaks; beaten oppressed; rods; (see note) left; misgoverned them lost not a jot; taxed their grain; (see note) money; guile; (see note) noble water birds; (see note) fields; towns; (see note) injury; (see note) hastened themselves forth because of their injuries head chronicle; (see note) gladdened; bear; broke; (see note) leap But then all the bear cubs burst; (see note) glad; bird; (see note) Bear; brought great company heirs cackled; aggrieved friends; fallen; evil strategems mourned; murder strong cursed; Earl Marshall; (see note) knew; blindfolded; horse; (see note) each step (moving foot), vengeance Let us return obscure (hidden); pierces; (see note) faults; first did oppression deeds; boiled up unless; forestalls That would be That too easily trusts before loyalty is shown trifler; tormentor's clothes strutting; stir up trouble it seems to me; (see note) regal; raiment; poor advice gaily dressed people are fetched; (see note) display admired; foolish pates consider; person (see note) wheel beguilers; changeable ribbons are deemed resort to credit quickly favored where; lodged leap as; in the end; (see note) hangman's cart; thrived exchange; Cheapside ornaments (see note); drinking horns clip the coins (see note); ploys lack of money favored; believed foolishness law of no standing; (see note) That ignorant hips; earns fears; provided that burgesses Furs of marten; furs bean; borrow sleeves (see note) curse unless; heels; (see note) Pernell (see note); pleats fashion so pleased apparel; disguised; (see note) fault; (see note) refashioned soon to the new style fashion; most stylish (see note) call slashing; pieces; (see note) seamstresses Might; fix; seams profit; apprise; (see note) shun digressions common sense; men's heads encounter in a mist person attractive; estate requires exquisiteness; gratify strutting vainly; assets costume coats (i.e., men) their pleasures; teachings livery; give running flattering; (see note) going to court; (see note) commences in the nobility; (see note) slashed fashions; German; (see note) (see note) enter no further penniless person; painted; (see note) reprove; despoilers diabolical agents select (see note) labored; restrained cheerfully cherish; chief appoint know mentioned men so wanton; offended controlled drew; nook modestly covered; sensible costume conceived; style eyebrows; beard wrapped building lodge Half of; unless cabins; (see note) dwell; place; discretion; (see note) banished; dress; (see note) permission; (see note) before company; marveled knew; i.e., Wisdom hooted at; sent away; (see note) bow-shot away ordered; chop; head came any closer; identified pikes; outside denied; gate; lasted (see note) beardless boys scorned; hood dominating; (see note) outside men; best thing divided happened; faults; had gone; grudging conduct did; before trust; plowing helps us be stable; ranks; (see note) the nobility well-paired oxen powerful were among; (see note) one step destruction (see note) advice cow; (see note) discerning people created; (see note) live; pleasure unlettered strike maintainers (see note) prison; peer of the realm bats; (see note) spices [candle] wax; wine; waste dainties multiplied; dancing buffoons person; festive merriment reckon; accounts lodge themselves (see note) administer think lightly heed only; leisured folk (i.e., powerful) back break; (see note) glow of wealth; any person; (see note) last; learned men what was never seen off its hinges; (see note) ready yet; (see note) man possesses living weal reversal; (see note) annoys nobles travel wander; where imprison; looters exactly flaw demand; pleadings; (see note) (see note) their powerful wills (?) pledges; (see note) brought low miscreants undone more earth; work brawlers; were chosen; (see note) (see note) coifs; wear brought up; issues concocted falsehood; settlement (see note) head-piece; heads; protect cover; lawyer's coif contrived (legal) disputes; squelch pleaded their cases judgment drew allowed men to experience; clubs; (see note) powers of evaluation legal case; assess the damages men like this, provokers quickly seized; goaded; (see note) silenced; menaced laid; subjects; lashings noble punishment; judgment anything; stole; against serving-men sat up a week; (see note) (see note) serjeants-at-law apprentice; requested churls'; esteemed throne; stars; (see note) amends; (see note) safeguard subjects assembled young knights; helmets districts formidable royal; rode against doors break down (see note) night revels; (see note) bitter; received blows had a mind to See move Pursuing criminals provisions half such a household fines; faults; fee farms (see note) forfeitures many; befell estate fees (see note); renewed profits from fines; belonged drained profit; owned suffice; revenue purveyors; took from (see note) tax per pound (see note) fifteenth; tenth (taxes) (see note) cloth customs credit been extended (see note) cleaved drawn; devil left; empty bags it became necessary feigned; madness contrived; tricks sealed with wax peers of the realm messages; sheriffs; (see note) knights represent; nobility drew; action their; according to initial protocol Appropriately; commenced issues; openly money; anything else Next morning; dinner; meet shire-knights; discuss citizens; same purpose go over; all their demands (see note) receive a salary what is troubling them speak; profit people there were war those who fund us zero; arithmetic; (see note) (see note) tattletales; (see note) informed; foes talked; observed paid close attention; meaning mumbled; knew not payment; clung do no more; fear; masters sullen; (see note) end; addled could not construe bald aggressive; (see note) spread an extra sail; bore a top sail journey to leeward; heavy cargo; (see note) put about (see note); (see note) belonged windward-side midships Bent to breaking taken in a reef; steered struck sail; storm troubled knew Before; company the majority openly; proved spoke up; (see note) expenses promised reward compensated assuredly feared; (see note) |