University of Virginia Library

Cassibel rex.

Vor as þe ssipes wiþ gret eir come toward londe
In temese as þei al þe world ne ssolde hom atstonde
Þe pikes smite hom þoru out ar hii wuste wat hit were
& to dasste & drainte vourti ssipes þere
& a þousend gode kniȝtes þerinne were adreint
& al hor atir & tresour was also aseint
& so hii miȝte lerni wiche brutons were
Betere hom adde ibe at rome þan iiousted þere
Þe emperour wiþdrou him þo & bi anoþer ende
To londe he com wroþ inou þis lond vor to ssende
Þo king cassibel isei so muche folc vorlore
& adreint of is fon glad he was þeruore
& naþeles he was sori & made gret imone
Of hom þat ofscapede þat hii nere adreint echone
Þo þe romeins were icome to londe attelaste
Cassibel wiþ his poer aȝen hom sette vaste
Hii smite bataile strong inou þer was ido gret wo
& muche folc aslawe in eiþer half & of þe romeins mo
Vor þe brutons woxe vaste þe romeins bineþe were
Þo þe emperour isei þat his fare nas noȝt þere
Wiþ lute folc þat him was bileued to ssipe hii flowen vaste
Hit was folc of an gode londe þat hom so couþe agaste
Þe king cassibel anon vor ioie made his heste
Þat alle þe kniȝtes of is lond come to is feste
To londone at a certein day & hore wiues al so
Hor sacrefize to hor godes as riȝt was to do
Vourti þousend of ruþeren he let quelle þer to
& of fatte weþeren an hondred þousend al so
Of wilde bestes he let þritti þousend quelle
Of wilde foweles & of tame ne miȝte no tonge telle