University of Virginia Library

Now forto munge forþer as þe mater falles.
whan þise [tidinges] were told to lasse & to more,
þat þo tvo trattes þat william wold haue traysted,
þo ladyes þat had him to loke & leren in ȝouþe,
þei wisten witterly þanne with-oute any lette,
þat þei schuld be do to deþe deulfulli in hast,
brent in briȝt fur to-drawe, or an-honged,
as þilk þat [were] worþi for þere wicked dedes—
Gloriauns & achillones þo tvo ladies hiȝten—
bliue þei hem bi-þout what bote miȝt hem help,
seþe here treson was kud & knowe al a-boute.
hastili þei hent hem on heiȝresse ful rowe
next here bare bodi & bare fot þei went,
& faire bi-fore william þei felle on knes boþe,
& goue hem in his grace for þat grete gilt,
& knoulecheden al þe cas how þei cast hadde,
to haue sotiliche sleyn him-self & his fader,
bi hest of þe kinges broþer þat bale to haue wrouȝt.
“lete vs, sire, haue þe lif wil our lord wold.
we meke vs in ȝoure merci at alle maner poyntes,
to sle vs or to saue wheþer ȝou god likes.
þat we ar worþi to þe deth wel we be a-knowe,
but wold ȝe graunt vs ȝour grace for goddes loue of heuen,
to put vs to sum place penaunce to wirche,
& late vs haue þe lif whil our lord wold,
þat we miȝt a-mende sum of our mis-gilt,
& for ȝour fad[er]e & for ȝou feiȝþli to preie.
ȝif ȝe worche so worchipe miȝt ȝe gete,
&, dere lord, of þe deth may no god dede falle,
bot a litel wicked wille þer-with wold be slaked.”
al þe barnage as bliue baden for hem ȝerne,
þat þei most in alle maner þat trespas amende.
& william þan wiȝtli here wille haþ graunted,
so þat þei wrouȝt in þat wise & wold be gode after.
sone were þe ladies to an hermitage brouȝt,
& liueden þere in god lif will our lord wold,
In penaunce & in prayeres priueli & loude,
til þei went of þis world whan god wold hem fecche.
now lete i here of þe ladies & lesteneþ a-noþer,
what bi-tidde of þis tale as þis store telleþ.