University of Virginia Library

Whanne þe king of spayne spedli was faren,
william with him tok al his worþi meyne,
& his menskful moder & here maydenes alle,
& rides þurth þempire of rome richeli & faire,
to alle solempne cites & semliche holdes,
to knowe þe kuntres as a king ouȝt;
lauȝt omage of eche lud þat longed to þe reaume.
& whan þat dede was don deliuerli & sone,
Gode lawes þurth his lond lelly he sette,
& held hem so harde i hete þe for soþe,
þat robboures ne reuowres miȝt route none,
þat þei nere hastili hange or with hors to-drawe.
flatereres & fals men fram him sone he chased,
Lieres ne losengeres loued he neuer none,
but tok to him tidely trewe cunsayl euere,
þat al þe puple for him preide þe pore & þe riche;
so wisli he wrouȝt to sauen his reaume.
& ȝif he meke were of maneres meliors his quene,
was al swiche on hire side to telle þe tre[w]þe,
so gracious to goddes men & alle gode werkes,
so pitevows to þe pore hem prestili to help,
þat eche man hade ioye to here of here speke,
& busily for hire bede bi nyȝtes and daies.
& also williams moder þat menskful quene,
so god was & gracious to eche gomes paye,
so witty & willeful to wirche alle gode dedes,
þat eche burn hire blessed busili euer-more,
& heiȝli preiede to heuen king to hold here liues.
þan com here in mynde at þat mene while,
þat here sweuen was soþ þat sum time hire mette,
þat here riȝt arm redeli ouer rome a-teyned,
& lelli here lift arm laye ouer spayne.
þan wist sche wiȝtli what it be-tokened,
here sone þat regned in rome here riȝt arme ment;
þat here der-worþ douȝter was drawe to spayne,
here lif time to be þere ladi here left arm schewed.
God þanked sche godli of al his grete miȝt,
& his menskful moder þe milde quen of heuen,
þat out of bale hade hire brouȝt to blisse so faire.