| | For her acqueyntaunce was nat alwey nouthe | |
| | They were alle his approwers priuely | |
| | He took hym self a gret prouffit therby | |
| 45 | His maister knew not alwey what he wan | |
| | Withouten maundementis of lewd men | |
| | He coude sompne on peyne of cristis curs | |
| | And they were glad forto fillen his purs | |
| | And make hym grete festis at the nale | |
| 50 | And right as Iudas hadde pursis smale | |
| | And was a theef right such a thef was he | |
| | His maister hadde but half his dute | |
| | He was yf I shal yeue hym the laude | |
| | A theef a Sompnour and eke a baude | |
| 55 | He hadde eke wenchis at his retenu | |
| | That whether sir Robert or sir hue | |
| | Or Iacke or Raaf or who so that it were | |
| | That lay by hem they tolde hym in his ere | |
| | Thus were the wenchis and he of on assent | |
| 60 | And he wolde fet a faynyd maundement | |
| | And sompne hem to the Chapitre bothe two | |
| | And pyle the man and lete the wenche go | |
| | Than wolde he say frend I shal for thy sake | |
| | Do stryke her out of oure lettris blake | |
| 65 | The dar nomore as in this caas trauayle | |
| | I am thy frend there I may the auaylle | |
| | Certeyn he knew of bribours meny mo | |
| | Than possible is to telle in yeris two | |
| | For in this worlde nys dogge for the bowe | |
| 70 | That can an hurt dere from an hool knowe | |
