University of Virginia Library

Arthure

Bote to sigge ssortliche þer nas ver ne ner
Of prowesse ne of corteisie in þe world is per
Is los sprong so wide sone of his largesse
Of strengþe & of is corteisie & off is prowesse
To þe verrost ende of þe world þat such nas nour non
So þat oþere grete kinges doutede him echon
Biȝonde þe se in ech stude & dradde ver & ner
Þat hii come & binome hor londes oþer hor poer
Hii bigonne hor heiȝe tounes & strengþede vaste aboute
Hor castles & astori þat hii miȝte be Inne in doute
Þo þis gode tidinge com to þis noble arthure
Mid gode herte he wolde such tydinge yhure
He þoȝte come bi hom & bringe some to lure
& to winne al europe ȝif he miȝte dure
Þe þridde del of al þe world europe icluped is
Þat tylþ ver fram biȝonde rome to þe west worles ende ywis
Him þoȝte he adde yrest ynou no leng he nolde abyde
Is poer he let someny þat ysprad was wel wyde
& greiþede is noble ost & dude him in þe weye
& dude him so in to þe se & verst to norþweye
Nou was þe king of norþwey ded þerbiuore bi cas
& Lot þat was is oþom þulke kinges neueu was
& þe king him adde ymad is eyr þerbiuore longe
Ac þe men of norweye nolde vor prute him vnder uonge
Ac adde ymade anoþer mon king of þe londe
Þat aȝen þe king arthure hopede wel at stonde
Child wawein lotes sone þulke time nas
Bote tuelf ȝer & þe pope of rome þat child bitake was
To norisy þoru þe king arthure & þulke time riȝt
Þe pope bitok him armes & is owe honde made him kniȝt
As þe king arthure as ich sede to norþweye com
Þe king of þe lond aȝen him sone þen wey nom
Mid is poer & smite an bataile strong ynou
& ssedde blod in eiþer side & moche folc me slou
Ac hor poer of norweye ydo was anon
Þe king him sulf was sone aslawe & is men monyon
Þe brutons hom sturede þo & slowe & barnde uaste
So þat hii wonne al clene norþwey atte laste