KNIGHT

Master merchant I here you right well But now in presumpsion me think you excel To call yourself noble in presence here I wys men know what your ancestors were And of what great stock descendid you be Your fadyr was but a black smyth perde ¶Marry I am a gentleman I would you know And may dispend yearly v.C. mark land And I am sure all that you have in hand Of yearly rend is not worth v. marks ¶Yet art thou but a churl and I have a skorn Thou shuldist continued ̄ pare with me a gentleman born ¶Marry I call them gentlemen that be Born to great lands by inherytaunce As mine ancestors by continued ̄ tynuaunce Have had this v.C. year of whom now I Am descended and command lynyally Bearing the same name and arms also That they bore this v.C. year ago Mine ancestors also have ever be Lords Knights and in great authority Capteyns in the war and governors And also in time of peas great rulers And thine were never but artysycers As smythꝭ masonꝭ carpentars or weuars ¶I deny that ever thauncestours of thine Did ever give to the ancestors of mine At any time any thing except that they Gafe some what therefore other beware or money I grant that the artificers do make it But be cause commonly they have little wit Gentlemen that have lands & dominion Of all such riches have most possession For reason will ever it should so be wise men to have folys in captivity yes I wis lewd Iauell I would thou knewist it Mine ancestors have had more wisdom & wit Than thine have had & could do also Many things that thine could never do for in the country at sessyons and size They have be elect to be Justice And for theyer wit and great dyscressyon They have Jugged and done correction Upon thine ancestors artificers That have made false warys & been dysseyuers And help for to maintain every thing That is to the common weith pteynyng They have been also in time of war Both in this land & other courreys far Dukrs & leders of the hold army And by their wyttis & warly policy Study forecast & diligent travail Have wone many a great fyld & battle And thine ancestors that were there were never able to bear shyld nor spear And were never but soldyars & pioneers Nor never had wisdom to be rulers But because mine ancestors have ever be Discrete & wise they have had anctoryte And I say that good reason agreth to it For though the fader have no great wit The soon that is wise should never the more Loose his land or authority therefore For he that by study dylygens & pain Great lands or possessions does attain His own life is to short & to light For to take the fruit of his merit Reason would therefore that after his life His heirs before strangers have p ̄ rogatyfe And the continued ̄ tynuaunce of such possessions Maketh noble men & gentle conditions And they whose Blood hath long continued As gentlemen so they should be honoured And so mine ancestors long time have be Great possyssyoners and in authority Therefore considering my great lineage My Blood my noble birth and parentage Thou art not able to compare w to me Neither in gentleness nor in nobility Avant kanker de churl from whence continued ̄ mist thou Avant knave get the out of the gate Or I shall lay my sword on thy pate Thou art not honest I tell the plainly To make any quarrel here so suddenly To ꝑturb our continued ̄ munycacyon ¶No sir I pray the than tell me why ¶As touching my self I dare make compison Of as noble deeds as he hath any done For I am & have been one of the chivalry At the continued ̄ maundement of my prince euerredy And every time of war have be captain And leder of a .M. men or twain And w to Horse & harness spear and Shield Have Ioydyd my body in every field The rentꝭ of my lands have spend liberally And kept a great house continually And help to ponyssh thieves & bribers alway To the great tranqaylyte of my country And you master merchau ̄ to wit never take labour Except it be for your ꝓffet and lucoure If thou canst answer my reason do what sayest thou thereto Thy self let see yes marry no man in reason can that deny ¶Then show thy reason therein or thou go ¶We will not be far hens P. then I will not fail Then far well for a season a Due Then fare you well both I dare say as true As some that be tied in newgate Let us take now some recreation And come again here and keep our pointment