Measour is Treasour: British Library Harley 2255 Verses

Data Dictionary

Folio 144 Verso

Compare Witnesses: •

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To knighthood longith the chirche to suppoorte •
Wydewys and maydenys and poore folk to diffende •
Men in ther ryght / knyghtly to recounfoorte •
To comoun profight / myght and day entende •
ther lyff / ther good / manly to dispende •
To punysshe exorcioun raveyne and ecħ robbour •
And brynge alle / vnto correccioun •
That be froward / vnto the Iust mesour •

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Trewe Iuges / and sergeauntis of the lawe •
ffor hate or frenshuppe / they shal ther doomys dresse •
With oute excepcioun / and ther hand with drawe •
ffro meede and yifftes / alle surffetys to represse •
Holde trouthe / and sustene Rightwisnesse •
Mercy preferre / alwey to for Rigour •
That fals for sweryng / haue there noon interesse •
ffor lak of trouthe / and lak of Iust mesour •

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So Egally / ther doomys to avaunce •
Of god and trouthe / alwey to takyn hede •
And cambises to haue in remembraunce •
That was slayn / be cause that he took meede •
Of poore folk the causys they shałł speede •
To moordre nor theffte / they shal doo no favour •
In al ther doomys / of conscience to dreede •
That ryght goo not bak / aquite nor mesour •