XV
There lay an old wyfe in that place,
A lytle besyde the fyre,
Whych Wyllyam had found[665] of charytye
More than seven yere.
XVI
Up she rose, and forth shee goes,
Evel mote shee speede therfore!
For shee had sett no foote on ground
In seven yere before.
XVII
She went unto the Justice Hall,
As fast as she could hye:
‘Thys night,’ shee sayd, ‘is come to town
Wyllyam of Cloudeslyè.’
XVIII
Thereof the Justice was full fayne[666],
And so was the Shirife also:
‘Thou shalt not trauaile hither, dame, for nought,
Thy meed thou shalt have or thou go.’
XIX
They gave to her a ryght good goune,
Of scarlate, [and of graine]:
She toke the gyft, and home she wente,
And couchèd her doune agayne.