This noble Prynce, moost royal of estate, Having an eyeghe to this mortal debate, First aduerting of ful hyeghe prudence, Wil vnavysed gyve here no sentence With oute counseylle of haste to procede By sodeyne doome, for he takythe heede 220 To eyther partye as iuge indifferent, Seing the paryll of hasty iugement. Pourposithe him in this contynude stryffe To gif no sentence ther of diffynytyff Til ther beo made examynacyoun Of other partye, and inquysicyoun. He considerethe, and makethe Raysoun his guyde, As egal iuge enclyning to noo syde. Not with standing, he hathe compassyoun Of the poure housbandes trybulacyoun, 230 So afft arrested with theyre wyves rokkes Which of theyre distaves haue so many knokkes, Peysing also in his regallye The lawe tht wymmen allegge for theyre partye, Custume, Nature and eeke prescripcyoun, Statuyt vsed by confirmacyoun, Processe and daate of tyme oute of mynde, Recorde of Cronycles, witnesse of hir kuynde. 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. The bonde is hard, who soo that lookethe weel. Some man were leuer fetterd beon in steel. Raunsoun might help his peyne to aswaage, But whoo is wedded lyuethe euer in suage. 250 And I knowe neuer, nowher fer ner neer, Man that was gladde to bynde him prysonier, Thoughe that his prysoun, his castell, or his holde Wer depeynted with asure or with golde. Explicit. GLOSSARY, STAGE DIRECTIONS, NOTES