| 695 | And countrefetid lettres in this wyse | |
| | The kyng Comaundith his Constabil anon | |
| | Vp peyne of hongynge on high Iuyse | |
| | That he ne sholde suffre in no wyse | |
| | Custaunce in his regne forto abyde | |
| 700 | Thre dayes and a quartir of a tyde | |
| | But in the same ship as he here fond | |
| | Here and her yong sone and al her geer | |
| | He sholde put and croude fro the lond | |
| | And charge hir that she come neuer aftir there | |
| 705 | O my Custaunce wel may thy gost haue feer | |
| | And slepyn in thy dreme be penaunce | |
| | Whan donegelde cast al this ordenaunce | |
| | This messanger on morow whan he wook | |
| | Vnto the Castel holdith the nexte way | |
| 710 | And vnto the Constabil he the lettris took | |
| | And whan that he this pitous lettre say | |
| | Ful often he sayde allas and wel a way | |
| | Lord crist quod he hou may this worlde endure | |
| | So ful of synne is many a creature | |
| 715 | O myghty god yf that it be thy wyll | |
| | Sithen thou art rightful Iuge hou may it be | |
| | That thou wolt suffre innocence to spylle | |
| | And wicked folk regne in prosperyte | |
| | O gode Custaunce alas so wo is me | |
| 720 | That I moot be thy turmentour or ellis dye | |
| | On shamful deth ther is non other remedye | |
| | Wepyn bothe olde and yonge in that place | |
| | Whan that the kyng this cursid lettre sent | |
