O conquerour of Brutes Albioun!
Which that by lyne and free eleccioun
Ben verray king, this song to you I sende;
And ye, that mowen al our harm amende, 25
Have minde up-on my supplicacioun!
_The_ MSS. _are_: F. (Fairfax 16); Harl (Harl. 7333); Ff. (Camb. Univ.
Library, Ff. I.6): P. (Pepys 2006); Add. (Addit. 22139); _also_ Cx.
(Caxton's edition); Th. (Thynne, 1532). _I follow_ F. _mainly._
TITLE. _So in_ Cx. (_but with_ Un-to _for_ to); F. _om._ empty; P. La
compleint de Chaucer a sa Bourse Voide.
1. F. yow. 2. F. Complayn; Harl. P. Compleyne. 3. Harl. be; F. been. 4.
Add. That; P. But; _rest_ For. P. Add. but ye; F. Harl. but yf ye; Ff. but
yif ye; Cx. Th. ye now. 5. Add. leyd; F. layde. 7. F. Beeth; ageyne; mote.
8. F. hyt; nyght. 9. F. yow; sovne. 10. F. lyke; bryght. 11. _Read_ That of
yél-ownés-se. 12. F. lyfe; hertys. 14. F. ageyne; moote. 15. P. Cx. purs;
F. Add. purse. F. ben. 17. F. Oute; helpe; thurgh. 18. F. bene. 19. Harl.
P. Th. any; Add. eny; Cx. ony; F. is a.
21. F. Bethe; ayen; moote. F. Lenvoy de Chaucer; Harl. P. Lenvoye; Cx.
Thenuoye of Chaucer vnto the kynge. 23. F. Whiche. F. lygne; Harl. Cx. Ff.
P. lyne. 24. F. Been; kynge; yow. 25. F. alle myn harme; Ff. all_e_ oure
harmes; Harl. all oure harmous; P. Cx. all_e_ harmes.
* * * * *