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 |
Consilium exploratorum. |
The Story of England | ||
Consilium exploratorum.
Þen ches þey men þat couþe swilk dede;To go þider þey gaf þem mede:
To Wyrolhram þey bad hem go,
& fonde þe kyng for to slo.
In pouere wede þey dide þem dight,
& þyder þey come byn seuenyght;
Alle manere langage þey couþe
Þat semeþ wel in traytours mouþe.
Þey ȝede aboute þe court to spye
Wher þey myght do þer trayterye.
So yuel þey spedde of þer pray,
Þat þey ne myght come þer þe kyng lay.
So longe al wey to þe court þey ferde,
Þat þey perceyued & often herde
Þat for certeyn was hit told,
Þe kyng drank nought bot water cold,
Þat was best for his peyne,
& euere of o welle certeyne
Þat sprong vp byside his halle,
& beste water forby alle;
Non oþer þyng þought hym so god,
Þat best ageyn his yuel stod.
When þo þat his deþ so sought,
Wiþ þer wyles auailled nought,
Þey wente & venymed þat welle
Of þat he drank, als þey herd telle.
The Story of England | ||