John Lydgate

“ For theyre vertu of parfyte pacyence Partenethe not to wyves nowe adayes, Sauf on theyre housbandes for to make assayes. Ther pacyence was buryed long agoo, Gresyldes story recordethe pleinly soo. It longethe to vs to clappen as a mylle, No counseyle keepe, but the trouth oute telle. We beo not borne by hevenly influence Of oure nature to keepe vs in sylence. 180 For this is no doute, euery prudent wyff Hathe redy aunswere in al suche maner stryff, Thoughe theos dotardes, with theyre dokked berdes Which strowtethe out as they were made of herdes, Haue ageyn hus a gret quarell nowe sette. ”

“ With suche a metyerde she hathe shape him an hoode. And Colyn Cobeller, folowing his felawe, Hathe hade his part of the same lawe, For by the fayth that the preost him gaf His wyff hathe taught him to pleyne at the staff. Hir quarter strooke were so large and rounde That on his rigge the towche was alwey founde. 60 Cecely Sourechere, his owen precyous spouse, Kowde him reheete whan he came to house. Yif he ought spake whanne he felt peyne, Ageyne oon worde alweys he hade tweyne. Sheo qwytt him euer, ther was no thing to seeche, Six for oon, of worde and strookes eeche. ”

“ Loo yit theos fooles, god gyf hem sory chaunce, Wolde sette hir wyves vnder gouuernaunce, Make vs to hem for to lowte lowe: We knowe to weel the bent of Iackys bowe. Al that we clayme, we clayme it but of right. Yif they say nay let preve it out by ffight. 200 We wil vs grounde not vpon womanhede. Fy on hem, cowardes. When hit komethe to nede, We clayme maystrye by prescripcyoun, Be long tytle of successyoun Frome wyff to wyff, which we wol not leese. Men may weel gruchche, but they shal not cheese. Custume is vs for nature and vsaunce To set oure housbandes lyf in gret noysaunce. ”

“ Wher fore the Kyng wol al this nexst yeere That wyves fraunchyse : stonde hoole and entier, 240 And that no man withstonde it ne withdrawe, Til man may fynde some pcesse oute by lawe That they shoulde by nature in theyre lyves Haue souerayntee on theyre prudent wyves, A thing vnkouthe, which was neuer founde. Let men be ware ther fore, or they beo bounde. ”