University of Virginia Library

Imperator Claudius. Aruiragus rex.

At a lute toun þat was þo bi este walis
Þat vpe seuerne stod ispoused hii were iwis
Þe king louede is wif anon so purliche & so vaste
Þat al is herte onliche on hire on he caste
Vor honur of þe mariage þe emperour & he
Þere as heo was ispoused rerde a gret cite
& after þe emperoures name þat claudius was
He let þis cite clupie claucestre vor þis cas
& þe emperour biȝet suþþe in þulke toun bicas
An sone þat me clupede glou þat gret man suþþe was
& hei duc of al þulke stude he clupede þen toun iwis
After his name gloucestre as he ȝut icluped is
Aboute foure & twenty ȝer as þis clerkes vnderstode
After þat oure louerd was idon on þe rode
Gloucestre þoru þe emperour verst þus arerd was
& souþhamptone þer bivore ȝe abbeþ ihurd þat cas
Seinte peter þer biuore so muche so it were
Pope was at rome verst cristendom to lere
& sende seint Marc þe ewangelist in to egypt vor to preche
Þen gospel þat he adde imaked & cristendom to teche
Seint poul ek þulke time to cristendom wende
Seint denis & monye oþer as oure louerd aboute him sende
Seinte peter vif & twenti ȝer pope bileuede so
Vorte it was þe laste ȝer of þe emperour nero
Þo þe emperour adde in þis lond is wille ido inou
He let þe king al iworþe & to rome aȝen drou
Þe king let diȝte þo þis lond nobliche wiþ alle
& let bulde vp grete tounes þat were ney adoun ivalle
Þo claudius þe emperour to is ende was ido
After him was emperour þe luþer man nero