Til ther beo made examynacyoun
Of other partye, and inquysicyoun.
He considerethe, and makethe Raysoun his guyde,
As egal iuge enclyning to noo syde.
Not with standing, he hathe compassyoun
Of the poure housbandes trybulacyoun, [230]
So afft arrested with theyre wyves rokkes
Which of theyre distaves haue so many knokkes,
Peysing also in his regallye
The lawe tht wymmen allegge for theyre partye,
Custume, Nature and eeke prescripcyoun,
Statuyt vsed by confirmacyoun,
Processe and daate of tyme oute of mynde,
Recorde of Cronycles, witnesse of hir kuynde.
Wher fore the Kyng wol al this nexst yeere
That wyves fraunchyse : stonde hoole and entier, [240]
And that no man withstonde it ne withdrawe,
Til man may fynde some pcesse oute by lawe
That they shoulde by nature in theyre lyves
Haue souerayntee on theyre prudent wyves,
A thing vnkouthe, which was neuer founde.
Let men be ware ther fore, or they beo bounde.
The bonde is hard, who soo that lookethe weel.
Some man were leuer fetterd beon in steel.
Raunsoun might help his peyne to aswaage,
But whoo is wedded lyuethe euer in suage. [250]
And I knowe neuer, nowher fer ner neer,
Man that was gladde to bynde him prysonier,
Thoughe that his prysoun, his castell, or his holde
Wer depeynted with asure or with golde.