‘Abyde, thou proudë sherif,’ he sayde,

‘Abyde, and speke with me;

Of some tidinges of oure kinge

I wolde fayne here of the.

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‘This seuen yere, by dere worthy God,

Ne yede I this fast on fote;

I make myn auowe to God, thou proudë sherif,

It is nat for thy gode.’

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