The Story of England by Robert Manning of Brunne, A.D. 1338. Edited from mss. at Lambeth Palace and the Inner Temple, by Frederick J. Furnivall |
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De exilis Saxonum. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De exilis Saxonum.
Ageyns his fader & þe Saxons;ffoure tymes þey bataille nomen,
& euere þe Saxoyns were ouer-comen;
Þe firste bataille was vpon Derewent,
Þer were þe Saxons alle y-schent;
Þat oþer at Berforde, att a brok,
Þer þe Saxons eft bataille tok,
Þer was Hors & manye anoþer
Ageyn Catyger, Vortymeres broþer;
Gretly þey ȝernde ilk oþer tasayle,
& boþe were slayn at þat bataille.
Þe þridde tyme in Kent, at an hauen;
To þer schipes þer þey were drawen;
Þer wer þey so harde byset,
Þey fledde to þe yle of Tanet;
ffro byȝonde Humber, vnto þat ylde,
Was no Saxon so bold ne wylde,
Þat he ne dide hym þyder chace,
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Þe Bretons folewed þem & slowe;
Þo þat ascaped, to þe hil þey drowe.
I þe yle þey assailled þem þer-ynne
Wiþ botes, as þey myghte þem wynne;
By þe se syde on þem þey carf;
O þe oþer syde for hunger þey starf.
Þan sey Saxons on ilk syde wo,
& þoughte best were to wende þer-fro;
Þey sente her sonde to ffortyger,
‘Þat he wolde so sende to Vortymer,
‘To gyue hem leue a-wey to wende
‘Wyþouten slaughter, as he was hende;
‘ffor þey ne leften nyght ne day
‘Þem tasaille wyþ strong afray:
‘His trewes, þer-fore, fond vs to gete.’
Þen drowe þe Saxons alle to a fflete,
& dight þer schipes, & sette vp sayl,
Left wyf & childre, & oþer porayl:
On þis manere a-wey þey scaped,
Ouer se til oþer land þeym raped.
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