But atte laste she, for his worthynesse,
And namely for his meke obeysaunce,
Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce
That pryvely she fil of his accord
To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord,
Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Franklin’s Tale. Because Arveragus is worthy and meekly obedient, Dorigen agrees to take him for her husband and her lord. She in turn would be subservient to him.