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Rh

And on the battlement contrive

An engine formed to cast and drive

As well behind, as eke before,

Such precious stones from out his store

As thou heard at full related,

And pleasantly enumerated,

Good wines in barrels, casks and tuns,

And heavy bags, not scanty ones,

Stuffed well with bezants, crowns, and marks,

Then nought he need to heed our barks

Or fear our bites. But doth he not

Possess such stores ’twere well I wot

Their worth he gave us, nor with lies,

Excuses vain, or fallacies.

Attempt our cozening, or we’ll bring

Against him such a grievous string

Of crimes that if not burned alive,

He will but wretchedly survive,

Beneath a penance of a kind

That heavier tax than doles he’ll find.

It is not by external show

Of weed you may these traitors know,

But whoso from their toils would be

Preserved, must mark their jugglery;

For Christ’s most holy faith were marred

But for the careful watch and ward

Of Paris University,

E’en as I now relate to ye.

Twelve hundred years and fifty-five

Had fled since Christ stood forth alive

On earth for men, when first was seen

(None will naysay my words, I ween)

VOL. II.