Conquest of wyves is rone thoroughe this lande,
Cleyming of Right to haue the hyegher hande.
But if you list, of youre Regallye,
The olde testament for to modefye,
And that yee list asselen theyre request
That theos poure husbandes might lyf in rest,
And that theyre wyves in theyre felle might
Wol medle amonge mercy with theyre right. [150]
For it came neuer of nature ne raysoun
A lyonesse toppresse the lyoun,
Ner a wolfesse for al hir thyraunye
Ouer the wolf to haven the maystrye.
Ther beon nowe wolfesses moo thane twoo or three
The bookys recorde, wheeche tht yonder bee.
Seothe to this mater of mercy and of grace,
And or thees dotardes parte out of this place,
Vpon theyre compleynt to shape remedye,
Or they beo likly to stande in iupardye. [160]
It is no game with wyves for to pleye,
But for foolis, that gif no force to deye.

Takethe heed of thaunswer of the wyves.

Touching the substance of this hyeghe discorde,
We six wyves : beon ful of oon acorde,
Yif worde and chyding may vs not avaylle
We wol darrein it in chaumpcloos by bataylle,
Iupart oure right laate or ellys raathe.
And for oure partye, the worthy Wyff of Bathe
Cane shewe statutes moo than six of seven