University of Virginia Library

[The First Part.]

Lordings, & you will hold you still,
a gentle tale I will you tell,
all of knights of this countrye
the which haue trauelled beyond the sea,
as did a knight called Sir Degree,
one of the best was ffound him before.
that time in England dwelled a King,
a stout man in manners and all thinge,
both in Armour and on the sheeld
he was much doubted in battell & in ffeild.
there was noe man in verament
that Iusted with him in turnament
that out of his stirropps might stirr his ffoote,
he was soe strong without doubt.
the King had no more Children but one,
a daughter white as whales bone;
that mayd hee loued as his liffe;
her mother was dead, the Queene his wiffe;
in trauell of Chyld shee dyed, alas!
& when this mayd of age was,
Kings sonnes her wooed then,
Emperoures, Dukes, & other men,
for to haue had her in Marryage
for loue of her great heritage.
but then they King he made answer,
“that neuer man hee shold wedd her
with-out hee might with stout Iustinge
the King out of his sadle bringe,
to make him loose his stirropps too.
many one assayd, & cold not doe;
but euery yeere, as right itt wold,
a great ffeast the King did hold
vpon his Queenes mourning day,
the which was buryed in an abbey.
soe vpon a day the King wold ryde
vnto an abbey there besyde,
to a dirges & masses both,
the pore to ffeed, & the naked to cloth.
his owne daughter shee with him rode,
& in the fforrest shee still abode,
& sayd, ‘downe shee must light,
better her clothes to amend right.’
a-downe they be light all three
her damsells, & soe did shee.
a ffull long stond they there abode
till all they men away rode.
They gatt vp, & after they wold,
but they cold not they right way hold;
the wood was roughe & thicke I-wis,
& they tooke their way all amisse.
they rode south, they rode west,
vnto the thicke of that fforrest,
& vnto a bane thé came att Last.
then varryed they wonderous ffast,
ffor thé wist amisse they had gone,
& downe thé light euery one.
the wheather was hott affore none;
thé wist not what was best ffor to haue done,
but layd them downe vpon the greene.
some of them ffell on sleepe, as I weene,
& thus they fell on sleepe euerye one
sauing the Kings daughter alone,
& shee went fforth to gather fflowers
& to heare the song of the small ffowles.
soe long shee did fforth passe
till that shee wist not where itt was.
then can shee cry wonderous sore,
shee weeped & wrange her hands thore,
& sayes, “alacke that I was borne!
her in this fforrest I am fforlorne,
& wilde beasts will me rende
or any man may mee ffind!”
they way to her damsells shee wold haue came,
but shee wist not how to come.
then shee was ware of a Ioyfull sight:
a-fore her there stood a ffayre Knight
that was wellfauored of ffoote & hand;
there [was] not such a one in all the Land;
& by the rich clothing that hee had on,
hee seemed to be a gentleman.
soe stout a man then was hee,
he sayes, “Madam, god yee see!
be yee dread arright of nought;
I haue noe armour with me brought,
but I haue loued you this many a yeere,
& now that I haue ffound you here
you shall bee my Lemman ere I goe,
whether itt turnes to wayle or woe.”
but then no more adoe cold shee,
but wept and cryed, and cold not fflee.
anon he began her to behold,
& he did with her whatsoeuer hee wold,
& there hee bereft her of her maydenhead.
& right before her the Knight stoode:
& hee sayes, “Madam gentle & ffree,
now with child, Madam, I doe thinke you bee,
& well I wott hee will be a knaue;
therfore my good sword he shall haue,
my sword heere vpon my hand,
therewith the Last I did kill a Gyant,
& I brake the poynt of itt in his head,
& here in the fforrest I haue him Layd.
take itt vp now, dame, ffor itt is heere;
thou speakes not with mee this many a yeere;
yett peraduenture they time may come
that I may speake with my owne sonne,
& by this sword I may him ken.”
hee kist his loue, & went then;
the knight passed as hee come.
all weeping the Ladye the sword vp nume,
& shee went fforth sore weeping,
& there shee ffound her mayds sleeping.
shee hid the sword as well as shee might,
& called them vp anon-right,
& tooke their horsses euerye one,
& began to ryde fforth anon.
then they were ware att the Last,
many a Knight came pricking ffast;
ffrom they King they were sent
to witt which way his daughter went.
they brought them into the right way,
& rodden ffayre vnto the Abbey.
there was done service and all thinge,
with many a Masse, with rich offeringe;
& when these masses were all done,
& come to passe the hye noone,
the King to his pallace did ryde,
And much people by his syde,
& after, euery man was glad & blythe.
this Ladye swooned many a sithe,
& euer her belly waxed more & more;
shee weeped & wrang her hands ffull sore.
soe vpon a day shee can sore weepe,
& a mayd of hers tooke good heede
& said, “Madam, ffor St. Charytye,
why weepe yee soe sore? tell itt mee!”
“mayden, if I shold tell itt before,
if thou shold mee beraye I were but Lore;
ffor euer I haue beene meeke & mild,
& trulye now I am with chyld;
& if any man itt vnder-yeede,
men wold tell in euerye steade
that mine owne ffather of mee itt wan,
ffor I neuer loued any other man.
& if my ffather he might know itt,
such sorrow his hart wold gett
that hee wold neuer merry bee,
ffor all his loue is Layde on mee.”
“O gentle Lady, greeue itt nought;
stilly itt shall bee fforth brought;
there shall none know itt certainlye,
truly, Madam, but you and I.”
the time was come that shee was vnbound,
& deliuered whole and sound.
a ffayre man Chylde there was borne:
glad of itt was the Lady fforlorne.
this mayd serued her att her will,
& layd the Child in a cradle,
& wrapped him in clothes anon,
& was ready till haue gone.
then was this Child to with mother hold;
shee gaue itt 20li: in gold,
and 10li: in siluer alsoe;
vnder his head shee can itt doe;
& much itt is that a Child behoues.
with itt shee giues a payre of gloues,
& bade the child wed no wiffe in Lande
without those gloues wold on her hand;
& then the gloues wold serue no where,
sauing the mother that did him beare.
a letter with the Child put shee,
with the gloues alsoe perdye:
then was itt in the Letter writt,
whosoeuer itt found, shold itt witt,—
‘ffor gods loue, if any good man
This litle Child ffind can,
gett him to be Christened of the preists hand,
& helpe him ffor to liue on Land
with this siluer that is heare,
till the time that hee may armoure beare;
& helpe him with his owne good,
ffor hee is come of a gentle blood.’
& when that they had all this downe,
the Mayd shee tooke her way right soone:
with this Child in the cradle, and all thinge,
shee stale away in an eueninge,
& went her way, & wist not where,
through thicke and thinn, & through bryar.
then shee was readylye ware anon
of an hermitage made in stone,
a holy man that there was wooninge,
& thither shee went without Leasinge.
& when shee came to the hermitts dore,
shee sett the cradle there before,
& turned againe anon-right,
& came againe the same night.
the hermitt wakened in the morrow,
& eke his knaue alsoe.
the Hermitt sayd, “Lord, I crye thee mercye!
methinke I heare a younge chyld crye.”
this holy man his dore vndid,
& ffound the Child in that stead.
there he lift vp the sheete anon,
& looked on the litle groome;
then held he vp his right hand,
& thanked Iesus christ in that stond,
& bare the child into the Chappell.
ffor ioy of him hee wronge the bell,
And layd vp the gloues & the treasure,
& christened the child with much honor,
& in the worshipp of the holy Trinytye
he called the childs name Sir Degree;
ffor Degree, to vnderstand I-wis,
a thing that almost lost itt is;
as a thing that was almost lost agoe,
therfore he called his name soe.
the Hermitt he was a holy man of liffe,
& he had a sister which was a wiffe,
& sent this child to her full raue
with much moné by his knaue,
& bade that shee shold take good heede
the litle child to Nourish & ffeede.
this litle Chyld Degree,
vnto the Cytye borne was hee.
the goodman & the wiffe in ffere
kept the child as itt their owne were
till the time 10n: winters were come & spent;
then to the hermitt they him sent.
the hermitt longed him to see;
then was [he] a ffayre child & a ffree,
& he taught this child of clarkes Lore
other 10 winters without more;
& when hee was of 20 yeere,
hee was a man of great power,
a staleworth man in euerye worke,
& of his time a well good clarke.
then he tooke [him] his fflorence & his gloues
that he had kept ffrom [him] in his house,
& gaue him his owne letter to reade.
hee looked there-in the same steade;
“hermitt,” hee sayd, “ffor St. Charytye,
was this letter made by mee?”
“I, Sir,” hee sayes, “by him that mee deeme shall,
thus I you ffound;” and told him all.
he sett him on his knees ffull blythe,
& thanked the hermitt often sythe;
& he gaue the hermitt halfe of the golde;
& the remnant vp did hee ffoulde.

[The Second Part.]

Then sayes Degree, “I will not blinne
till I haue ffound my ffather or some of my kinne.”
“to seeke thy kinne thou mayst not endure
without horsse or good armour.”
then sayd Degree, “by St. Iohn,
horsse nor harnesse Ile haue none,
but a good bitter in my hand,
mine enemyes therewith to withstand,
A full good sapline of an oke;
& home therewith Ist sett a str[o]ke,—
haue hee neuer soe good armour him on,
or be hee neuer soe tall a man,—
I shall him ffell to the ground
with this same batt in that stond.”
the Child kissed the hermitt thoe,
& alsoe tooke his leaue to goe.
fforth went Degree, the sooth to say,
throughout a fforrest halfe a day;
he heard noe man, nor saw none,
till itt passed the hye noone;
then heard hee great stroakes ffall
that made great noyse withall.
ffull soone he thought that thing to see,
to witt what the stroakes might bee.
there was an Erle stout & gay
was come thither that same day
to hunt ffor a deere or a doe,
but his hounds were gone him ffroe.
& there was a Dragon ffeirce and grim,
ffull of ffyer & alsoe of venim,
with a wyde throate, & tushes great,
vpon the Erle can he beate;
& as a Lyon were his ffeete;
his tayle was long & ffull vnmeete;
betweene his head & his tayle
22 ffoote without ffayle.
his belly was like a whole tunn,
itt shone ffull bright againe the ssunn.
His eyen as bright as any glasse,
his scales as hard as anye brasse;
& therto hee was necked like a horsse,
& bare his head vpp with great fforce;
hee was to looke on, as I you tell,
as thoe hee had beene a ffeende of hell;
many man hee had shent,
& many a horsse hee had rent;
& to this Erle hard battell he began,
but hee defended him like a man,
& boldlye stroke on him with his sword;
but of his stroakes he was not affeard,
ffor his skin was as hard as anye stone,
where-ffore hee cold him noe harme done.
& when the Erle degree see,
he sayd “helpe, ffor Charytye!”
then answered Sir Degore,
“gladlye!” he sayes, and god before.
when the dragon of Degree had a sight,
hee left the Erle, & came to him right.
then the Child that was soe younge
tooke his staffe that was soe stronge,
& smote the dragon on the crowne
that in the wood hee ffell downe.
the dragon recouered anon-right,
& hitt the Child with such might
with his tayle in that tyde,
that hee ffell downe vpon his side.
then degree recouered anon-right,
& defended him with much might;
with his staffe that was soe longe
he broke of him ffoote and bone
that itt was wonder ffor to see.
hee was soe taughe hee might not dye,
yett hee hitt him on the crowne soe hye
that hee made his braines out fLye.
then the Erle was glad & blythe,
& thanked Degree often sithe,
& he prayed him hee wold with him ryde
vnto the pallace there beside;
& there he made him a Knight,
& made him good cheere that night;
rents, tresure, & halfe of his Land
hee wold haue seized into his hand,
& alsoe his daughter to be his wiffe,
& all his lands after his liffe.
& then Sir Degree thanked him hartilye,
and prayed him, “of his curtesye
to lett his women affore him come,
wiues, mayds, more and some,
& alsoe your daughter eke;
& if my gloues be ffor them meete,
or will vpon of any of their hands,
then wold I be ffaine to take my Lands;
& if my gloues will not doe soe,
I will take my leaue and goe.”
all the women were out brought
that thereabout might be sought,
& all assayd the gloues then,
but they were ffitt for no woman.
Sir Degree tooke his gloues thoe,
& alsoe tooke his leaue to goe.
the Erle hee was a Lord of gentle blood,
hee gaue Sir Degree a steede ffull good,
& therto gaue him good armour
which was ffaire and sure,
& alsoe a page his man to bee,
& a hackney to ryde on trulye.
then fforth went Sir Degree, the sooth to say,
many a mile vpon a summers day.
soe vpon a day much people he mett;
he houed still, & ffayre them grett;
he asked the squier what tydinge,
& wence came all those people rydinge.
the squier answered verament,
he sayd, “they came ffrom the parlament.
& when they parlaiment was most planere,
the King lett cry both farr & nere
‘If any man durst be soe bold
As with the King Iust wold,
he shold haue his daughter in marryage,
& all his lands & his herytage.’
itt is a land good and ffayre,
& the king thereto hath no heyre.
certaine no man dare grant thereto;
many a man assayd, & might not doe,
for there is no man that rides to him
but hee beates them with stroakes grim;
of some hee breakes the necke anon;
of some he brakes backe and bone;
some through the bodye hee glyds;
& some to the death hee smites.
vnto him may a man doe nothinge,
such a grace euer hath our Kinge.”
Sir Degree stood in a study then,
& thought hee was a mighty man,
“& I am in my younge blood;
& I haue horsse & armour goode,
& as I trow I haue a good steede;
I will assay if I can speede;
& if I can beare that King downe,
I shalbe a man of great renowne;
& if hee mee ffell can,
there knowes no body who I am.”
thus in the Citye his inne he takes;
he rested him, & merry makes.
soe on a day the King hee mett,
he kneeled downe, & faire him grett,
& sayd, “my Lord, thou King of much might!
my Lord hath sent mee to thee right
to warne you how itt must bee:
my Lord will come & ffight with yee;
to Iust with thee my Lord hath nomm.”
the King sayd, “hee shalbe welcome,
be hee Knight or Barrowne,
Erle, duke, or Churle in towne:
theres no man Ile fforsake;
who all may winn, all let him take.”
soe on the Morrow the day was sett,
the King aduised much the bett,
but there was not any liuing man
that Sir Degree trusted vpon;
but to the church that day went hee
to heare a Masse to the trinitye;
& to the ffather hee offered a ffloren,
& to the sonne another ffine;
the 3d. to the holy ghost hee offered;
the preist in his masse ffor him hee prayed.
& when the Masses were done,
vnto his inne hee went ffull soone,
where hee did arme him well indeed
in rich armor good att need.
his good steed he began to stryde;
he tooke his speare, & fforth gan ryde.
his man tooke another spere,
and after his Master did itt beare:
thus in the ffeild Sir Degree abode then,
& the King came with many men.

[The Third Part.]

Many came thither readylye
ffor to see their iusting trulye;
& all that euer in the ffeild were,
they sayd & did sweare
that ‘ere that time thé neuer see
soe ffayre a man with their eye
as was that younge Knight Sir Degree;’
but no man wist ffrom wence came hee.
They rode together att the last
vpon their good steeds ffull ffast:
to dashe him downe he had meant,
& in his sheild sett such a dint
that his good speare all to-brast;
but Sir Degree was strong, & sate fast.
then sayd the King, “alas, alas!
this is a wonderffull case.
there was neuer man that I might hitt
that might euer my stroake sitt!
this is a man ffor the nones!
he is a man of great bones!”
they rode together then with great randome,
& he had thaught to haue smitten the child downe,
& he hitt Sir Degree soone anon
Right vpon the brest bone,
that his horsse was reared on hye,
& Sir Degree he was ffallen nye,
& yett Sir Degree his course out yode,
& waxed angrye in his moode;
he sayd, “alacke! I haue mist yett,
and hee hath mee twyse hitt;
by god I will aduise better,
I will not long be his debtor!”
then they rode together with much might,
& in their shields their speres pight;
& in their sheelds their speres all to-broke
vnto their hands with that stroke.
& then the King began to speake,
“giue me a speare that will not breake,
& he anon shall be smitten downe
If hee were as strong as Sampson.
& if hee bee the devill of hell,
I shall him downe ffell;
& if his necke will not in too,
his backe shall, ere I doe goe.”
the King tooke a spere stiffe & strong,
& Sir Degree another strong & longe,
& stoutlye to the King hee smitt.
[The] King ffayled; Sir Degree him hitt,
he made the Kings horsse turne vp his ffeete,
& soe Sir Degree him beate.
then there was much noyse & crye;
the King was sore ashamed welnye,
& well I wott his daughter was sorrye,
ffor then shee wist that shee must marrye
vntill a man of a strange countrye
the which before shee neuer see,
& to lead her liue with such a one
that shee neuer wist ffrom whence hee came.
the King sayd then to Sir Degore,
“come hither, my ffayre sonne, me before,
ffor if thou were as a gentle a man
as thou art seeming to looke vpon,
& if thou coldest witt & reason doe
as thou art doughtye man too,
I wold thinke my Lands well besett
if itt were 5 times bett;
ffor words spoken I must needs hold.
afore my Barrons that beene soe bold,
I take thee my daughter by the hand,
& I cease thee into my Land
to be my heyre after mee,
in Ioy and blisse ffor to bee.”
great ordinance then there was wrought,
& to the church dore they were brought,
& there were wedd in verament
vnto the holy Sacrament.
& looke what ffolly hapened there!
that he shold marry his owne mother,
the which had borne him of her syde!
& hee knew nothing that tyde;
shee knew nothing of his kinne,
nor yett shee knew nothing of him,
but both together ordayned to bed,
yet peraduenture they might be sibb.
this did Sir Degree the bold,
hee weded her to haue & hold.
itt passed on the hye time of noone,
& the day was almost done;
to bed were brought hee and shee
with great myrth and solempnytye.
Sir Degree stood & behold then,
& thought on the hermitt, the holy man,
that hee shold neuer [wed] ffor-thy
neither wydow nor Ladye
with-out shee might the gloues doe
lightlye on her hands towe.
“alacke!” then sayes Sir Degree,
“the time that euer I borne shold bee!”
& sayd anon with heauy cheere,
“rather then all my Kingdome heere
that is now ceazed into my hands,
That [I were fayre out of this lande.”]
the King these words hard thoe,
& sayes, “my sonne, why sayst thou soe?
is there ought against thy will
either done or sayd, that doe thee ill,
or any man that hath misdoone?
tell mee, & itt shall be amended soone.”
“no, Lord,” sayes degree then,
“but for this marryage done has beene.
I will not with no woman meddle,
neither wiffe, widdow, nor damsell,
without shee may these gloues doe
Lightly vpon her hands tow.”
& when they Lady can that heere,
anon shee changed all her cheere,
for shee knew that the gloues longed to her,
& sayes, “giue me the gloues, fayre Sir.”
shee tooke the gloues in that steede,
& lightly vpon her hands them did.
then shee fell downe & began to cry;
says, “Lord god, I aske thee mercy!
I am the mother that did you beare,
& you are mine owne sonne deere!”
Sir Degree tooke her vp thoe
ffull lightly in his armes towe.
then either of other were ffull blythe,
& kissed together many a sithe.
the King of them had much marueile,
& at the noyse without fayle,
& was abashed of their weepinge.
“daughter! what meanes this thing?”
“father,” shee sayd, “will you itt heere?
you wend that I a mayden were.
no, truly, ffather, I am none!
for itt is 20 winters a-gone.
this is my sonne, god doth know,
& by these gloues see itt, Lowe!”
shee told him altogether there
how hee was begotten of her.
& then bespake Sir Degree,
“O sweet mother!” sayd hee,
“where is my fathers wooninge,
or when heard you of him any tydinge?”
“sonne,” shee sayd, “by heauen Kinge
I can tell you of him noe tydinge.
but when thy father from me went,
a poyntles sword he me Lent,
& hee charged me to keepe itt then
till that time thow wert a man.”
shee feicth the sword anon tho,
& Sir degree itt out drew:
Long & broad itt was, pardye;
there was not such a one in that country.
“now truly,” sayes Degree then,
“hee that weelded itt was a man!
but if god of heauen hee may keepe,
night nor day I will not sleepe
till that time I may my father see,
in Christendome if that hee bee.”

[The Fourth Part.]

He made [him merry that ilk night,]
& on the morrow when itt was day light
hee went to the Chirch to heare a masse,
& made him ready for to passe.
the King sayd, “my next kinne,
I will giue thee Knights with thee to winne.”
“Gramercy, Lord,” sayes Degree then,
“but with me shall goe no other man
But my knaue that may take heede
of my armour & of my steede.”
hee leapt on his horsse, the sooth to say,
& forthe he rode on his Iourney.
many a mile & many a way
hee rode forth on his palfrey,
& euermor hee rode west
vntil hee came to [a] forrest.
there wild beasts came him by,
& Fowles song therto merrely.
they rode soe Long that itt grew to night;
they sun went downe, & fayled light.
soone after thé found a castell cleere,—
a Lady truly dwelled there,—
a fayre Castle of lime & stone,
but other towne there was none.
Sir Degree sayd to his knaue that tyde,
“wee will to yonder castle ryde,
& all night abyde will wee,
& aske Lodging ffor Charity.”
the bridge itt was undrawen thoe,
they gates they stood open alsoe.
into they castle they can speede,
but first they stabled vp their steede,
& thé sett vp their hackney.
enoughe they found of corne & hay.
they yode about & began to call
both in the court & in the hall;
but neither for loue nor awe,
liuinge man they none sawe;
but in the middst of the hall floore
they found a fayre fyer in that hower.
his man sayes, “leaue Sir,
I haue wonder who hath made this ffyer?”
“but if hee come againe to night,
I will him tarry, as I am true knight.”
hee sett him downe vpon the desse,
& hee made him well att ease.
soone after hee was ware of one
that into the dore gan to come:
3 maydens ffayre & ffree
were trussed vp aboue the knee;
2 of them bowes did beare,
& other towe charged were
with venison that was soe good.
then Sir Degree vp stoode,
& blessed them anon-wright.
but they spake not to the Knight,
But into a chamber they be gone,
& they shut they dore ffull soone.
anon then after that withall
a dwarffe came into the hall:
4 foote was they lenght of him;
his visage was both great & grim;
the hayre that on his head was,
looked as yellowe as any glasse;
with milke white Lace & goodly blee,
ffull stoutly then Looked hee;
hee ware a sercote of greene,
with blanchmere itt was ffringed, I weene;
hee was well cladd & well dight,
his shoes were crooked as a Knight;
& hee was large of ffoote & hand
as any man within the Land.
Sir degree looked on him thoe,
& to him reuerence he did doe;
but he to him wold not speake a word,
but made him ready to lay the bord.
he Layd on clothe, & sett on bread,
alsoe wine white and red;
torches in the hall hee did light,
& all things to supper he did dight.
anon then with great Honor
there came a Lady forth of her bower,
& with her shee had mayds 15
that were some in red, & some in greene.
Sir degree ffollowed anon-right,
but they spake not to the Knight;
they yode & washed euery one;
& then to super wold shee gone,
that ffayre Lady that was soe bright.
att middest of the messe shee sate downe right,
& of euery side her maydens 5,
ffayre & goodlye [as any were] aliue.
“By god,” then sayes Sir Degree,
“I haue you blessed, & you not mee;
but you seeme dumbe. by St. Iohn
I will make you speake & I can!”
Sir Degree cold of curtesye;
he went & sett him before the Ladye.
& when hee had taken his seate,
hee tooke his kniffe & cut his meate.
ffull litle att [supper] eates hee,
soe much hee beholds this Mayden ffree;
hee thought shee were the fayrest Ladye
that euer before hee did see.
& when that they had supped all,
the dwarffe brought watter into the hall;
thé yode & washed euery one,
& then to Chamber wold shee gone.
“now trulye,” sayes Degree, “& after I will
to looke on this Ladye all my ffill.”
soe vpon the stayres the way hee nome,
& soone into the Chamber hee come.
the Lady that was ffayre and bright,
vpon her bed shee sate downe right,
& harped notes sweete and ffine.
her mayds ffilled a peece of wine;
& then Sir Degree sett him downe
ffor to heare the harpe sound;
& through the notes of the harp shrill
he layd him downe and slept his ffill.
that ffaire Lady that ilke night
shee bade couer the gentle Knight;
& rich clothes on him they cast,
& shee went to another bed att Last.
& soe on the morrow when itt was day,
the Lady rose, the sooth to say,
& into the chamber they way can take.
shee sayd, “Sir Knight, arise and wake!”
& then shee sayd all in game,
“you are worthye ffor to haue blame!
ffor like a beast all night you did sleepe;
& of my mayds you tooke no keepe.”
& then bespake Sir Degree,
“mercy, madam, & fforgiue mee!
the notes that thy harpe itt made,
or else the good wine that I had.
but tell me now, my Ladye hend,
ere I out of this chamber wend,
who is Lord in this Lande,
or who holds this castle in his hand,
& whether you be mayd or wiffe,
& in what manner you lead your liffe,
& why you [have] soe manye women
alone with-out any men.”
“Sir,” shee sayd, “I wold you tell
& if you wold amend itt well.
my ffather was a bold Barron,
& holden Lord ouer tower & towne,
& hee had neuer child but mee,
& I am heyre heere in this countrye;
& there hath woed [me] many a Knight
& many a Squier well dight;
but there then woones there beside
a stout Gyant, & hee is ffull of pryde,
& hee hath me desired long and yore;
& him to loue I can neuer more;
& hee hath slaine my men eche one,
all sauing my sorry dwarffe alone.”
as shee stood talking, shee fell to the ground
& swooned there in that stond.
& then her Damsells about her come
& comfort her, & her vp nome.
the Ladye wakened, & looked on Sir Degree.
“O Leaue Dame!” then sayes hee,
“be not adread while I am here;
ffor I will helpe thee to my power.”
“Sir,” shee sayes, “all my Lands
I doe itt ceaze into your hands,
& all my goods I will thee giue,
& alsoe my body while I doe liue,
& ffor to bee att your owne will
earlye, late, lowde, and still,
yea and your Leman ffor to bee,
to wreake mee vpon my enemye.”
then was Sir Degree ffaine to ffight
to defend this Ladye in her wright,
& ffor to sloe the other Knight
& winne the Ladye that was soe bright.
& as thé stood talking in ffeere,
her damsells came with a heauy cheere,
& bade “draw the bridge hastilye;
for yonder comes your enemye;
without you itt draw soone, anon
hee will destroye vs euerye one.”

[The Fifth Part.]

Sir Degree hee start vp anon
& thought to make him readye soone,
& out of a window hee him see;
then to his horsse ffull soone did hye.
soe stout a man as hee was one,
in armor say shee neuer none.
then Sir Degree rode fforth amaine
ffor to ryde this Gyant againe:
Thé smote together hard in soothe
that Sir Degrees horsse backe brake in 2.
“thou hast,” sayes Sir Degree, “slaine my good steede,
but I hope Isl quitt well thy meede!
to sloe thy steed nought I will,
but ffight with thee all my ffill.”
then they ffoughten on ffoote in ffeere
with hard strokes vpon helmetts Cleere.
the Gyant hee gaue Sir Degree
huge strokes that were great plentye,
and Sir Degree did him alsoe
till his helmett & basenett were burst in 2.
the Gyant hee was agreeued sore
because he had of his blood fforlore,
& such a stroke he gaue Sir Degree thoe
that to the ground he made him goe.
Sir Degree recouered anon-right,
& such a stroke hee gaue that Knight,
& vpon the crowne soe hee itt sett,
that througe his helme and basenett
he made his sword to goe through his head,
& then the gyant ffell downe dead.
this Ladye lay in her castle,
& shee saw the whole battell,
& shee was glad to see that sight
as euer the bird was of daylight.
then Sir Degree came into the hall,
& against him came the damsell,
& shee thanked him ffor his good deed,
& into her chamber shee did him lead,
& vnarmed him anon thoe,
& kist a 100 times and moe,
& sayd, “Sir, now all my Lands
I doe ceaze into thy hands,
& all my goods I doe thee giue,
& my bodye the whilest I liue,
& ffor to bee att your owne will
earlye, late, lowd, and still.”
he sayd, “Madam, godamercye
ffor all the ffavour you haue granted mee!
but I must into ffarr countryee,
more aduentures ffor to see
vntill this 12 monthes be agoe,
& then I will come you toe.”
hee betooke her to the heauen King.
the Lady wept att their departinge.
hee leaped on his horsse, the soothe to say,
& rode fforth on his Iourney;
& euermore he rode west
till a Lane he ffound in a fforrest,
& there came to him [pricking a] Knight
That well was armed, & on his horsse dight
in armour that wold well endure,
with ffine gold and rich azure,
& 3 bores heads where therin,
the which were of gold ffine;—
itt might well bee his owne, soones ffell,
ffor once hee woone them in battell;—
& he sayd, “villaine! what doest thou here
within my fforrest to sloe my deere?”
Sir Degree answered him with words meeke,
& sayes, “of thy deere I take noe keepe,
but I am an aduenturous Knight,
& I am goinge to seeke warr & ffight.”
his ffather answered & sayd sans ffell,
“if thou be come ffor to seeke battell,
buske thee shortlye in a stonde,
ffor thy ffellow thou hast ffounde.”
then looke what ffolly happened that tyde!
the sonne againe the ffather did ryde,
& neither knew of other right;
& thus they began to ffight.
they smote together soe hard in soothe
that their horsses bacckes brake bothe;
& then they ffought on ffoote in fere
with hard strokes vpon helmetts cleere.
& this his ffather amarueyled was
of his sword that was poyntles,
& sayd to him anon-right,
“abyde awhile, thou gentle Knight!
where was thou borne, in what Land?”
“Sir,” hee sayd, “in England.
a Kings daughter is my mother;
but I cannott tell who is my ffather.
“what is thy name?” then sayes hee.
“Sir, my name is Degree.”
“O Sir Degree, thou art right welcome!
ffor well I know thou art my sonne.
by that sword I know thee heere;
the poynt is in my poteuere.”
hee tooke the poynt & sett itt tooe,
& they accorded both tooe.
soe long they haue spoken together,
both the sonne and the ffather,
that they haue both accorded att one,
the ffather & the sonne alone.
then went fforth Sir Degree
with his owne ffather trulye.
vntill they might England see,
they drew thither as they wold bee;
& when they to the Kings palace were come,
they were welcome with all and some.
& there they Ladye spyed them ouer a wall,
& to them shee began to call,
& shee sayd, “my deere sonne, Sir Degree,
thou hast thy ffather brought with thee!”
“now thankes be to god!” sayd the Kinge,
“ffor now I know with-out leasinge
who is Degrees ffather indeede.”
the Ladye swooned in that steade.
then shee & her sonne were parted in twaine,
ffor hee & shee were to nye of kinne;
& then this Knight wedded that ffayre Ladye
before all the Lords in that countrye.
& then went fforth Sir degree,
& soe did the King & all his meanye;
vnto the castle thé roden in ffere—
with a companye right ffayre—
where dwelled this Ladye bright
which before he wan in ffight.
& there Sir Degree marryed that gay Ladye
before all the nobles in that countrye.
& thus came the Knight out of his care.
god grant vs all well to ffare!

[Part I.]

[Part II.]

[Part III.]

[Part IV.]

[Part V.]

[Part VI.]