From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 785-805

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 778-784:
About the king's mother's badness

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 785-805: The king's return letter is falsified

785	This messager comth fro the kyng agayn,
	And at the kynges moodres court he lighte
	And she was of this messager ful fayn,
	And plesed hym in al that ever she myghte.
	He drank, and wel his girdel underpighte.
790	He slepeth, and he fnorteth in his gyse
	Al nyght until the sonne gan aryse.

785	This messenger came from the king again,
	And at the king's old mother's court did light,
	And she was of this messenger full fain
	To please him in whatever way she might.
	He drank until his girdle was too tight,
790	He slept and snored and mumbled, drunken-wise,
	All night, until the sun began to rise.

Eft were hise lettres stolen everychon

And countrefeted lettres in this wyse,

"The king comandeth his constable anon

795 Up peyne of hangyng and on heigh juyse

That he ne sholde suffren in no wyse

Custance inwith his reawme for t'abyde,

Thre dayes and o quarter of a tyde.

Again were his letters stolen, every one,

And others counterfeited, in this wise:

"The king commands his constable, anon,

795 On pain of hanging by the high justice,

That he shall suffer not, in any guise,

Constance within the kingdom to abide

Beyond three days and quarter of a tide.

But in the same ship as he hir fond,

800 Hire, and hir yonge sone, and al hir geere,

He sholde putte, and croude hir fro the lond,

And chargen hir she never eft coome theere."

O my Custance, wel may thy goost have fere,

And slepynge in thy dreem been in penance,

805 Whan Donegild cast al this ordinance.

But in the ship wherein she came to strand

800 She and her infant son and all her gear

Shall be embarked and pushed out from the land,

And charge her that she never again come here."

O Constance mine, well might your spirit fear,

And, sleeping, in your dream have great grievance

805 When Donegild arranged this ordinance.

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 806-840:
The messenger returns to the king's court