University of Virginia Library

Cassibel rex.

Þo þer nas oþer wey bote stonde al out to dome
Þe erl of anoþer wei bi þouȝte him ilome
& as he & is conseil stable conseil nome
Þe lettres he sende to Iuli þe emperour of rome
To Iuli emperour of rome androge erl of kent
Gretinge & stable loue after wraþþe sent
Sire wite to soþe þat sore ofþinkþ it me
Þat ich abbe vor oure kinges loue iholde aȝen þe
Þat ȝif mi poer nadde ibe þou addest him ouercome
Ac vor he aþ now þe maistrie such prute him haueþ inome
Þat nou me þoru wam he aþ of þe þe maistrie
Driue he wolde out of his lond mid grete vileinie
Ich him abbe iholde in is lond & mi mede þer of is
Þat he me wole driue of is lond vnofserued iwis
Vor oure godes ich take to witnesse þat oþer gult non þer nis
Bote þat inelle mi neueu þat a lute dude amis
Bitake him to Iugement to hongi oþer to drawe
Ac ich wolde to sauui lif & lume bringe him to ech lawe
Þer vore ich bidde þat ich mowe mi stat holde þoru þe
& þat þou vp him brutaine mowe winne þoru me
& ne þench þou sire noþing þat ich treson þenche
Vor siker þis is þe soþe wei wiþ oute eni mis wrenche
& god wole þat men ofte be in wraþþe & in sore
Þat after hor grete wraþþe hor loue be þe more
Þo þe emperour hurde þis he ne truste wel þer to
Wiþ oute siker ostage such þing to do
Þe erl þritti noble men þat were of is blode
Sende him & is owe sone þat were ostages gode