University of Virginia Library

William with his wieȝes is wiþ-in þe cite nobul,
haþ conquered wiþ clene strengþe þe kinges sone of spayne,
& passeþ with him & his puple to þe paleys euen,
with al mirth vpon molde þat man miȝt deuise.
þe quen him mett mekli wiþ maidenes fele,
& meliors & here dere douȝter to deme þe soþe,
wiþ alle worschip & wele william þei receyued,
wiþ clipping & kesseng & alle couþe dedes.
& william þan wiȝtly wiþ-oute eny more,
þe kinges sone of spayne spakli to hire ȝalde,
to putte in hire prisoun & peyne him as hire liked.
& curtesli to þat kniȝt gan sche knele þanne,
forto þonk him þroli of þat faire ȝeft;
for he was man vpon molde þat sche most hated,
& hade hir do most duresse for hire douȝter sake.
hastili in-to þe halle wiþ hem þan sche went,
& ladde william as lord loueli in londe;
& as bliue þe burdes brouȝt him to hire chaumber,
& vn-armed him anon & after-ward him cloþed
as komly as any kniȝt vnder crist þort bene.
seþen ȝede to sitte same to solas & to pleie
at a wid windowe þat was in þe chaumber,
& gonne mekli to mene of many gode wordes.
& as þei saddest in here solas seten þat time,
þe quen hertli gan bi-hold þe kene ȝonge kniȝt,
& here þouȝt þat time þat in þe world was neuer
a liuande lud so lelli liche oþer,
as þat komli kniȝt to þe king ebrouns,
þat was lord whil he liued & þat lor[d]chipe welte.
& swiche a sorwe to hire sone sank to herte,
þat wiȝtli gan sche wepe wonderly sore.
whan william saw hire wepe wroþli he seide,
“for seynt mary loue, madame whi make ȝe þis sorwe?
ȝe schuld now make ȝow merie ȝour mene to glade,
þat feynt ar for-fouten in feld & for-wounded.
to summe schuld ȝe ȝif now ȝiftes ful gode,
& to summe by-hote þe bliþer hem to make.
Mater now haue ȝe moche mirie to bene;
ȝe han now on in hold þurth him haue ȝe schulle
wel ȝour worchep a-ȝein as ȝe walt euer.”