Eeke Thome Tynker, with alle hees pannes olde And alle the wyres of Banebury that he solde, His styth, his hamour, his bagge portatyf, Bare vp his arme whane he faught with his wyff: He foonde for haste no better bokeller, Vpon his cheeke the distaff came so neer. 120 Hir name was cleped Tybot Tapister. To brawle and broyle she nad no maner fer, To thakke his pilche stoundemel nowe and thanne Thikker thane Thome koude clowten any panne. Nexst Colle Tyler, ful hevy of his cheer, Compleynethe on Phelyce his wyff the wafurer Al his bred with sugre nys not baake, Yit on his cheekis some tyme he hathe a caake So hoot and nuwe, or he can taken heede, That his heres glowe verray reede 130 For a medecyne whane the forst is colde, Makyng his teethe to ratle that beon oolde. This is the compleynt that theos dotardes oolde Make on theyre wyves that beon so stoute and bolde, Theos holy martirs preued ful pacyent, Lowly beseching, in al hir best entent, Vnto youre noble ryal magestee, To graunte hem fraunchyse and also liberte Sith they beothe fetird and bounden in maryage, A saufconduct to sauf him frome damage. 140 Eeke vnder support of youre hyeghe renoun Graunt hem also a proteccyoun. Conquest of wyves is rone thoroughe this lande, Cleyming of Right to haue the hyegher hande. But if you list, of youre Regallye, The olde testament for to modefye, And that yee list asselen theyre request That theos poure husbandes might lyf in rest, And that theyre wyves in theyre felle might Wol medle amonge mercy with theyre right. 150 For it came neuer of nature ne raysoun A lyonesse toppresse the lyoun, Ner a wolfesse for al hir thyraunye Ouer the wolf to haven the maystrye. Ther beon nowe wolfesses moo thane twoo or three The bookys recorde, wheeche tht yonder bee. Seothe to this mater of mercy and of grace, And or thees dotardes parte out of this place, Vpon theyre compleynt to shape remedye, Or they beo likly to stande in iupardye. 160 It is no game with wyves for to pleye, But for foolis, that gif no force to deye. Takethe heed of thaunswer of the wyves. Touching the substance of this hyeghe discorde, We six wyves : beon ful of oon acorde, Yif worde and chyding may vs not avaylle We wol darrein it in chaumpcloos by bataylle, Iupart oure right laate or ellys raathe. And for oure partye, the worthy Wyff of Bathe Cane shewe statutes moo than six of seven Howe wyves make hir housbandes wynne heven, 170 Maugre the feonde and al his vyolence. 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.