But now it greveth me to remembre these dyvers sentences, in 160 janglinge of these shepy people; certes, me thinketh, they oughten to maken joye that a sothe may be knowe. For my trouthe and my conscience ben witnesse to me bothe, that this (knowinge sothe) have I sayd, for no harme ne malice of tho persones, but only for trouthe of my sacrament in my ligeaunce, by whiche 165 I was charged on my kinges behalfe. But see ye not now, lady, how the felonous thoughtes of this people and covins of wicked men conspyren ayen my sothfast trouth! See ye not every wight that to these erroneous opinions were assentaunt, and helpes to the noyse, and knewen al these thinges better than I my-selven, 170 apparaylen to fynden newe frendes, and clepen me fals, and studyen how they mowen in her mouthes werse plyte nempne? O god, what may this be, that thilke folk whiche that in tyme of my mayntenaunce, and whan my might avayled to strecche to the forsayd maters, tho me commended, and yave me name of 175 trouth, in so manyfolde maners that it was nyghe in every wightes eere, there-as any of thilke people weren; and on the other syde, thilke company somtyme passed, yevinge me name of badde loos: now bothe tho peoples turned the good in-to badde, and badde in-to good? Whiche thing is wonder, that 180 they knowing me saying but sothe, arn now tempted to reply her olde praysinges; and knowen me wel in al doinges to ben trewe, and sayn openly that I false have sayd many thinges! And they aleged nothing me to ben false or untrewe, save thilke mater knowleged by the parties hem-selfe; and god wot, other mater 185 is non. Ye also, lady, knowe these thinges for trewe; I avaunte not in praysing of my-selfe; therby shulde I lese the precious secrè of my conscience. But ye see wel that false opinion of the people for my trouthe, in telling out of false conspyred maters; and after the jugement of these clerkes, I shulde not hyde the 190 sothe of no maner person, mayster ne other. Wherfore I wolde not drede, were it put in the consideracion of trewe and of wyse. And for comers hereafter shullen fully, out of denwere, al the sothe knowe of these thinges in acte, but as they wern, I have put it in scripture, in perpetuel remembraunce of true meninge. 195 For trewly, lady, me semeth that I ought to bere the name of trouthe, that for the love of rightwysnesse have thus me +submitted. But now than the false fame, which that (clerkes sayn) flyeth as faste as doth the fame of trouthe, shal so wyde sprede til it be brought to the jewel that I of mene; and so shal I ben 200 hindred, withouten any mesure of trouthe.'