University of Virginia Library

Carausius rex.

A Stalwarde ȝong bacheler in þis lond was þo
Coraus was icluped þat couþe of muche wo
Vor þo he adde moche in worre ibe & ido gret maistrie
& him sulf moche ifonded he þoȝte do tricherie
He wende & bed leue þo of þe emperour of rome
To wite þe se aboute þis lond fram strange men þat come
& bi het hom þat ȝif þer of wel avouwed hii were
To ȝelde more god to rome þan al brutaine þuder bere
Þo þe conseil of rome leuede is vair biheste
& þat he was stalwardeman of gret poer mid þe meste
Þe emperour mid gode chartre & mid is owe ceel
Him ȝef of þe se aboute þe warde eueridel
Þis false man wende þo mid is chartre aboute
& of willeuol men him gaderede a gret route
& bi het hom god inou of porchas þat god hom sende
& porueiede hom gode ssipes & in to þe se wende
& wonne hom sone Moche god mid strengþe & quointise
& suþþe mid robberie bote hii miȝte in oþer wise
Of is porchas so large he was to men þat hem founde
Þat he adde a gret ost in a lutel stounde
Þe yles he robbede in þe se & þe hauenes suþþe aboute
So þat men of porchas come to him so gret route
Þat þer nas no prince vnneþe þat him miȝte at route
His poer wax Euere so þat ech lond him gan doute
So þat he spac mid heie men here of þisse londe
& bi het hom vaire inou & dude hom to vnderstonde
Þat ȝif hii buyde to him & to hor king him nome
Þat he wolde hom al out bringe of þe daunger of rome
& deliueri þis lond of romeins & of straunge men echon
Þat so fre lond as þis ne ssolde be naur non
Þat folc him made þo hor king vor he was so quointe man
& he bigan to worri anon vpe þe king basian
& hor eiþer aȝen oþer gaderede hor ost vaste
So þat hii come & smite an bataile atte laste