| | Thogh that he mighte lyue a thousand yeer | |
| 260 | In al the worlde of falsnes nys his peer | |
| | For in his termys he wil hym so wynde | |
| | And speke his wordis so slily and so kynde | |
| | Whan he comen shal with ony wight | |
| | That he wol make hym dote anon right | |
| 265 | But it a fend be as hym self is | |
| | Ful many aman hath he begilid er this | |
| | And wol yf he lyue may a whyle | |
| | And yet men ryde and goon meny a myle | |
| | Hym forto seke and haue his aqueyntaunce | |
| 270 | Not knowynge of his fals gouernaunce | |
| | And yef you list to yeue me audience | |
| | I wil it telle here in your presence | |
| | But worshipful chanons religious | |
| | Ne demyth not that I slaundir your hous | |
| 275 | Al though my tale of a Chanon be | |
| | Of euery order sum shrewe is parde | |
| | As god forbede that al a Companye | |
| | Sholde rewe a singuler mannys folie | |
| | To sklaunder you is no thing myn entent | |
| 280 | But to correcte is that I ment | |
| | This tale was not only told for you | |
| | But eek for othir mo I wot wel how | |
| | But among cristis apostill twelue | |
| | Ther was no traitour but Iudas hym selue | |
| 285 | Than why sholde the remenant haue a blame | |
| | That giltlees were be you I say the same | |
| | Saue only this yf ye wol herkyn me | |
