TRUE REPORT

¶Rise up Servus, for I have herd, ear this some men to say, The soar that sudden taken is, does soonest wear away. And oft the painter in his works, to show the fairer White, Does set the blackest black of all, against it over right. And I have herd, and so have you, our mistress often say, Why Lord dost thou love me so well, that live in wealth always, Grant to me God once in my life, a little piece of thrall, But stand by me good Lord I say, let me not sink nor fallen. And this hath God I warrant Thee, done for to show his might, And though her case do now seem crookte, he will set it aright. You see that time wears fast away, and we have much to do, Let us go home and nothing say, as nought at all we knew. ¶By my troth I think more gravity consists in your continued e, Then abides in your heart, or goes thorough your throat, You may be honest and sober, but your countenance does give, That you will grow worse and worse, so long as you do live. ¶Ill Report troth will be troth whosoever say no, And thou must be hanged before thou do go. ¶Marry then is it he that I come for. ¶True Report, I am the very same. ¶Thou art a false wretch, and not my Cousin I swear, He would have Ill and true to be Cousin's, is not this good gear, ¶ Exore tuo to iudeco, thou hast be and old thief, ¶Fie on him Knave, away with the villain, ¶Guiltless man, yes assuredly, and mark what I do tell, Thou shalt see them die shamefully, and she shall do full well, Why God himself hath spoken this, the fruit showeth every tree, And mark if since thou kn west her First, where is one such as she She serveth God devoutly still, she helpeth eke the poor, And to aid them that want relief, she goes from door to door, And now in this her greatest need, she does upon God call, I promise Thee I trust in God, he will not let her fallen, ¶Except I be deceived much, that same is Ill Report, That stands in yonder scarlet gown, and prates in such a sort, Come nea and we will see in deed, whither it be he or no, For if it be, I ll thee true, he shall no further go. For why the Judge hath given in charge, where so we could him spy, We should for his demerits sake, hang him by and by. ¶Such a definition herd you never I trow, Sir you can make a Silligismus in Buccardo.