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. I trowe the bakoun was neuer of hem fette Awaye at Dounmowe in the Pryorye. They weene of vs to haue ay the maystrye. Ellas theos fooles let hem aunswere here to, Whoo cane hem wasshe, who can hem wring alsoo, 190 Wryng hem, yee wryng, so als god vs speed, Til that some tyme we make hir nases bleed, And sowe hir cloothes whane they beothe to rent, And clowte hir bakkes til some of vs beo shent. 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. Humbelly byseching nowe at oon worde Vn to oure liege, and moost souerein lord, 210 Vs to defende of his regallye, And of his grace susteenen oure partye, Requering the statuyt of olde antiquytee That in youre tyme it may confermed bee. The complaynte of the lewed housbandes wt the cruwell aunswers of theyre wyves herde, the kyng yivethe ther vpon sentence and iugement.