“ . . . Yf a marchaunt and a messager · metten to-gederes,
And scholde wende o way · where both mosten reste . . .
The marchante mote nede be lette (kept) · lengere then the messagere;
The messager doth na more · bote with hus mouthe telleth
Hus erande and hus lettere sheweth · and is a-non delyvered.
And thauh thei wende by the wey · tho two to-gederes,
Thauh the messager make hus wey · a-mydde the whete,
Wole no wys man wroth be · ne hus wed (pledge) take;
Ys no haiwarde yhote (bidden) · hus wed for to take:
Necesitas non habet legem.