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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Appas traditor. |
 | The Story of England |  |
Appas traditor.
In al þys drechyng als þey gan dwelle,Of on Appas y schal ȝow telle:
Appas he highte, & was a Saxon,
& well couþe contreue a treson;
He ffeyned hym to be [a] leche,
& couþe speke diuerse speche.
A day to Pascent þis Appas spak,—
Treson he þoughte, & out hit brak,—
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“Bytwixt þe kyng & þe ys hatrede hot.
“What wiltow gyue me, & y schal go,
“Þe kyng Aurelyus for to slo?”
Passent seyde, “y schal gyue þe
“A þousand pound of god mone,
“Wyþy þy word be certayn
“To sey me when þou hast hym slayn.”
Appas seyde “wel y graunt;”
Seide Passent, “y holde couenaunt.”
Appas spak Latyn parfit,
& clad hym in a monkes habyt;
Als a monk he dide hym schaue,
Contenaunce couþe he ful wel haue.
Venyn for salue wyþ hym he nam,
Als a monk to court he cam;
ffor yueles he couþe medicine make,
Þe kyng he seyde he wolde vndertake:
‘ȝyf he wolde do after his queyntise,
‘Sone he scholde do hym vp ryse.’
He tasted his pous, saw his vryn,
He seide he knew his medycyn.
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