Almachius, that herde of this doinge,
Bad fecchen Cecile, that he might hir see,
And alderfirst, lo! this was his axinge,
‘What maner womman artow?’ tho quod he.
‘I am a gentil womman born,’ quod she. 425
‘I axe thee,’ quod he, ‘thogh it thee greve,
Of thy religioun and of thy bileve.’