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 Octa, filio Hengysty. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De Octa, filio Hengysty.
Octa, Hengystes sone þat was,When Aurelius furgaf his trespas,
& had hym gyuen, & his meyne,
Londes y þe norþ contre;
When he wyste þat he was ded
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Of hym he gaf nought, þat was newe,
Til hym þoughte he neuere be trewe.
What dide þis schrewe, þe false Octa?
Conseilled wyþ his cosyn Ebessa,
Wyþ alle þo of his owen kynde,
& oþer Saxons þat þey myght fynde;
& fele of þo wyþ hem went
Þat scaped atte slaughter of Passent;
Þat fro Vter handes fled,
Þey com til Octa, & he þem led.
By-ȝonde Humber al þe land
Octa tok vntil hys hand,
Al til Scotland in lengþe & bred.
To ȝork syþen al þey ȝed,
Þat [toun] for to bysege & to wyn;
Þey defended hem faste wyþyn;
Þe kyng þe sege wolde remewe,
Þe toun a-geynes þeym rescuwe;
He þoughte nought longe fort abyde,
Bot gadered folk on ilka syde.
When he was comen, he abod nought,
Bot on þe Payens bataille sought;
& þe Payens egre & stout,
Þorow þe Bretons held þem out;
Payens & Cristen, many were slawen,
& many a sowle fro body drawen.
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