Dat poenas laudata fides
To Lord Lucas of Ormeley
I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolisht lines to your Lordship, nor how the worlde will
censure mee for choos ing so strong a proppe to support so weake a burthen, onelye if your Honour
seeme but pleased, I account my selfe highly praised, and vowe to take advantage of all idle homes,
till I have honoured you with some graver labour.
She was a worthy worn man al hir lyve
Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve
Withouten oother compaignye in youthe-
But thereof nedeth nat to speke as nowthe.
And thrice had she been at Jerusalem.