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Le Bone Florence of Rome

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LE BONE FLORENCE OF ROME.

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LE BONE FLORENCE OF ROME.

1

As ferre as men ryde or gone
A more chyualrous town þen Troy was oon
Jn londe was neuyr seen
Nor bettur knyȝtys þen came of hyt
Jn all thys worlde was neuyr ȝyt
For bothe hardy and kene
Then came oon hyght awdromoche
The furste byger of Anteoche
And enhabyted cuntreys clene
Antenowre was of þat barmeteme
And was fownder of Jerusalem
That was wyght wyth owtyn wene

2

Helemytes hyght the thryd troyon
And was a stronge man of blode and bone
That fro Troye came to Awfryke
Eneas be schyp gate to Rome
The chefe Cyte of Crystendome
Then was ther none hyt lyke
Vn to þe tyme þat þe Emperowre syr Garcy
Werryd on hyt and herkenyth why
That many a oon sore can syke

Of Costantyne þe nobull was he
A doghtyar knyght þar not be
Jn batell for to stryke

3

Another Emperowre reygned at Rome
Syr Otes þe grawnt hyght þat gome
That wyght was vndur schylde
A feyre lady he had to wyfe
That on a day loste hur lyfe
That worthy was to welde
And dyed of a maydyn chylde
That aftur waxe boþe meke and mylde
So fayre was seen but selde

4

Whan þe Emperys was dedd
The Emperowre was wylde of redd
He gart crysten thys chylde bryȝt
And callyd hur florens þys maydyn feyre
Boþe hys doȝtyr and hys heyre
Jn þys worlde was not soche a wyȝt
Wolde ye lythe y schoulde yow telle
Of þe wondurs þat there befelle
A bowte in cuntreys ryght
For þre dayes hyt reyned blode
And bestys faght as þey were wode
Bothe wylde and tame wyth myght

5

Fowlys in the fyrmament
Eyther odur in sondur rente
And felle dedd to þe grownde
Hyt sygnyfyed þat aftur come
Grete trybulacyons vn to Rome
Schulde many a man confownde
As was for þat maydyn small

Owte takyn Troye and Rownsevall
Was neuyr in þys worlde rownde
Syr Otes þe nobull Emperowre
Gart norysch þe chylde wyth honowre
And kept hur hole and sownde

6

He set to scole that damysell
Tyll sche cowde of þe boke telle
And all thynge dyscrye
Be þat she was xv yere olde
Wel she cowde as men me tolde
Of harpe and sawtrye
All hur bewteys for to neuyn
Myght no man vndur heuyn
For sothe nomore may J
To mykyll bale was sche borne
And many a man slayn hur forne
And in grete batels can dye

7

When syr Garcy herde seye
That þe Emperowre of Rome had soche a may
To hys doghtur dere
He waxe hasty as the fyre
And gart sembyll þe lordys of hys empyre
That bolde and hardy were
He seyde ofte haue ye blamed me
For y wolde not weddyd bee
Y have herde of a clere
Florens þat ys feyre and bryght
Jn all þys worlde ys not soche a wyȝt
Y wyll hur haue to my fere

8

As þe Romans trewly tolde
He was a hundurd yerys olde
And some boke seyth mare
He was arayed in ryche parell
Of sylke and golde wyth owtyn fayle
All whyte was hys hare
He seyde syrs wendyþ ouyr þe see
And bydd þe Emperowre of Rome sende me
Hys doghtur swete and sware
And yf he any gruchyng make
Many a crowne y schall gare crake
And bodyes to drowpe and dare

9

Hys flesche trembylde for grete elde
Hys blode colde hys body vnwelde
Hys lyppes blo for thy
He had more mystyr of a gode fyre
Of bryght brondys brennyng schyre
To beyke hys boones by
A softe bath a warme bedd
Then any maydyn for to wedd
And gode encheson why
For he was bresyd and all to brokyn
Ferre trauelde in harnes and of warre wrokyn
He tolde them redylye

10

When ye haue þe maydyn broght
That ys so feyre and worthely wroght
Sche schall lygg be my syde
And taste my flankys wyth hur honde
That ys so feyre y vndurstonde
Yn bedde be me to byde

Sche schall me boþe hodur and happe
And in hur louely armes me lappe
Bothe euyn and morne tyde
Byd hur Fadur sende hur to me
Or y schall dystroye hym and hys cyte
And þorow hys remes ryde

11

A prowde garson þat hyght acwrye
He was borne in vtalye
The Emperowre aftur hym sende
And forty lordys wryttes wyth ynne
That were comyn of nobull kynne
Jn message for to wende
And forty stedys wyth þem he sente
Chargyd wyth golde for a presente
And say hym as my frende
That y grete wele syr Otes þe graunt
And byd hym sende me hys doghtur aveaunt
That ys curtes and hende

12

He cawsyd þem to hye as þey were wode
Wyth schyppes soone in to þe flode
They rechyd ouyr the depe
Spaynysch stedys wyth þem þey ledd
And cloþys of golde for back and hedd
That men myght vndur slepe
Aye the wynde was in the sayle
Ouyr fomes þey flett wyth owtyn fayle
The wethur þem forþe can swepe
The furste hauyn þat euyr þey hente
Was a towne þey calde awtrement
That folke þem feyre can kepe

13

Soon ther tresowre vp they drowe
And ther stedys strong y nowe
And made ther schyppys tome
They lefte a burges feyre and wheme
All ther schyppys for to ȝeme
Vn to ther gayne come
They passed þorow pole and chawmpayn
Euyr speryng ther gatys gayne
Vn to the cyte of Rome
They entyrde yn at þe ȝatys wyde
Full ryally þorow þe cyte þey ryde
And dredyd no wrang dome

14

Thes xlti messengerys as y yow say
Euery oon rode in feyre array
Ther sadyls schone full bryght
Ther brydyls glyteryng all of golde
Ther was neuyr frescher vpon molde
Made be day nor nyght
A stede of spayne y vndurstande
Euery lorde ledd in hys hande
Bothe full prest and wyght
All was couyrde wyth redd sendell
The caryage be hynde as y yow telle
Came wyth þe tresur ryght

15

Thorow þe towne þe knyghtys sange
And euyr þer bryght brydyls range
Makeyng swete mynstralcy
Lordys and ladyes of grete astate
And odur many well y wate
At wyndows owt can lye

And euyr þe formast speryd þe wayes
Vn to þe Emperowrs paleys
Full ryall was that crye
Feyre þey were resseyuyd thore
Wyth hym þat was full wyse of lore
Hys doghtur sate hym bye

16

Jn a robe ryght ryall bowne
Of a redd syclatowne
Be hur Fadur syde
A coronell on hur hedd sett
Hur cloþys wyth bestys and byrdys were bete
All a bowte for pryde
The lyghtnes of hur ryche perre
And þe bryghtnes of hur blee
Schone full wondur wyde
There were kyngys in that halle
Erlys and dewkys who rekenyth all
Full a hundurd that tyde

17

Thes xlti messengerys at ones
Entyrd in to þes worthy wones
And came in to the halle
Syr Acvrye haylsyd þe Emperowre
And hys doghtyr whyte as flowre
That feyrest was of all
He askyd of whens þat þey myght bee
Of costantyne þe nobull are we
Feyre syrrys mote yow be falle
A present we haue broght in hye
Fro owre Emperowre syr Garcy
Stedys in to thy stalle

18

And xl horsys chargyd ryght
Wyth cloþys of golde and besawntys bryght
Jn to thy tresory
He byddyth wyth owte avysement
That þy doghtur be to hym sent
For to lygg hym by
Hys body ys bresyd hys bones are olde
That sche may kepe hym fro þe colde
Haue done now hastelye
Jn comely cloþyng sche shall be cledd
J haue grete hope he wyll hur wedd
Sche ys a feyre lady

19

And yf þou sende hur not soone
Hastelye wyth owten wone
Then ryseth ther a stryfe
Ellys wyll he nygh þe nere
Wyth hys ryche powere
And feche hur as hys wyfe
He wyll dystroye þy bygly landys
And slee all þat before hym standys
And lose full many a lyfe
Haue done he seyde hastelye in hye
An answere muste we gyf Garcy
At home when we can ryve

20

The Emperowre seyde as a man hende
Ye schall haue an answere or ye wende
And calde þe steward hym tylle
The ȝonder knyghtys to chawmbur ye lede
Of all thynge that they haue nede
Serue them at ther wylle

They are syr Garcys messengerys
And go we to owre cowncell perys
And leue them bydyng stylle
To loke what beste ys for to doo
Soche tyþyngys ys comyn vs too
Loke whedur we wyll fulfylle

21

The Emperowre hys doghtur be þe hande hent
And to a chaumbur they wente
Hys cowncell aftur hym ȝede
And askyd yf sche wolde sent þer tylle
For to be at syr Garcyes wylle
And sche seyde Jhesu for bede
Sche seyde be god þat boght me dere
Me had leuyr þe warste bachylere
Jn all my Fadurs thede
Then for to lye be hys bresyd boones
When he coghyth and oldely grones
J can not on hys lede

22

Hur Fadur lykyd hur wordys wele
So dud hys cowncell euery dele
And blessyd hur for hur sawe
They seyde yf that Garcy come
Jn euyll tyme he hedur nome
Hedurward for to drawe
The garsons be not so doghtye
But mony of þem soone schall dye
Yf we to gedur plawe
Go we hens owre redd ys tane
Odur cowncell kepe we nane
Be ryght nodur be lawe

23

The Emperowre came in to þe halle
The messengerys had etyn all
And stode to byde an answare
He seyde syrs wendyth hame
For here schall ye haue no game
God for bede hyt so ware
Take the tresowr þat ye broght
But my doghtur gete ye noght
For all yowre bostefull fare
We schall stonde owre chawnce vn to
Whedur he come or not so do
Full mekyll we schall not care

24

Then Acurye can say
Jn the begynnyng of maye
My lorde wyll buske hym to ryde
And take the somer before hym clene
And dystroye thy londys all be deene
Who ys he þat schall hym byde
Then answeryd syr Engraveyne
We schall founde to knok a geyne
For all hys grete pryde
The Emperowre comawndyd no man schulde do
Harme the messengerys vn to
They toke ther leue that tyde

25

Than the messengerys all to gedur
Wyth þe tresowre þat þey broȝt thedur
Went home a gayne
Also tyte as syr Garcy sawe
Wyt ye well he lyste not to lawe
But mornyd in mode and mayne

Alther furste he toke hym tome
To spere the Estyrs of Rome
To telle hym acurye was fayne
Syr hyt ys feyre bygged wyth halles and bowrys
We tolde the vij hundurd towrys
So Cryste me saue and sayne

26

And ther lorde syr Otes the graunt
Wyth mekyll worschyp þey hym avaunt
Of curtesye he ys the welle
And ther to trewe as any stele
For þy syr men loue hym wele
Mony wyth hym to dwelle
He ys bothe ware and wyse
And geuyth þem gyftys of pryce
The certen sothe to telle
And hys doghtur þe feyrest þynge
That euyr was seen wolde or ȝynge
Made of flesche and felle

27

Thogh a man sate on a wyght palfreye
All the longe somers day
A vysyd myght he be
For to ryde Rome a bowte
And come yn where he went owt
Hyt were a grete yurne
Euery day in the yere
The feyre ys þere lyke playnere
Amonge the folke so free
Syxty dewkys are calde hys perys
And twenty þousande bachyleres
Longyth to that cyte

28

Of þe Emperowrs pales y wyll yow say
Ther ys no soche in þe worlde to day
Stondyng vndur heuyn
The pyllers þat stonde in þe halle
Are dentyd wyth golde and clere crystalle
And ther to feyre and euyn
They are fyllyd wyth syluyr as cryste me couer
And þere ys peyntyd wyth ynne and ouer
The dedly synnes seuyn
There was peyntyd wyth þyngys sere
That men myȝt mewse on many a yere
Or he hyt scryed wyth steuyn

29

There comyth watur in a condyte
Thorow a lyon rennyth hyt
That wroght ys all of golde
And þat standyþ in þe myddys of þe halle
A hundurd knyȝtys and ladyes smalle
Myght wasche there and þey wolde
All at ones on that stone
Many oþer waturs come þorow þe town
That fresche are vpon folde
Jn myddys þe cyte ys oon rennande
Tyger hyt hyght y vndurstande
As men there vs tolde

30

The effect of Rome y haue yow tolde
And of þe beste barons bolde
That lygge there wyth ynne
But of þe feyrenes of þe maye
J can not telle mony a day
Ne noght y wyll be gynne

But syr he seyde also mote y the
Thyn eyen mon sche neuyr see
To welde ȝyt nodur to wynne
Full grete othys Garcy hath sworne
Many a þousand schall dye þerforne
Or y of my brethe blynne

31

Or þre monythys and a halfe be gone
I schall dystroye hys landys euerychon
And wynne hys doghtur wyth were
Then he made to sende owt wryttys wyde
In hys londe on euery syde
Messengerys can them bere
And Florence Fadur at hame
Ordeygned hys men on the same
Wyth armowre schylde and spere
And þus begynneth a bale to brewe
Many a man therfore myght rewe
And wemen hyt dud grete dere

32

Syxty þousand sembelde þen
Of garsons and of odur men
To Garcy in that stownde
They set vp seylys and forþe þey rode
And ay hym selfe wyth owten bode
The formaste forthe can fownde
Syxty myle fro Rome ryved they
Hyt went nere on þe thrydd day
Ther was not oon drowned
They tyght þer pavylons in a stede
The brode felde waxe all redd
So glemed golde on þe grownde

33

The medowe was callyd narumpy
The water of Tyber rennyng by
There Garcyes pavylon stode
All þe cloþys were of sylke
The ryche ropys were ryȝt swylke
The boosys were redd as blode
Ther was no beest þat yede on fote
But hyt was portreyed þere y wote
Nor Fysches swymmyng in flode
Fyftene pomels of golde þere schoon
An Egyll and a charbokull stone
Wyde the lyghtnes ȝode

34

The Emperowre of Rome lay on hys walle
And hys doghtur gente and small
Florence the feyre sche hyght
And sye the garsons assay þer stedys
Sterne men in stele wedys
The medowe all can lyght
He seyde y haue golde y nogh plente
And sowdears wyll come to me
Bothe be day and nyght
Now schall y neuyr my golde spare
But faste vpon þys warre hyt ware
God helpe me in my ryght

35

The kynge of Hungary þat tyme was dedd
And lefte hys sonnes wylde of redd
Syr Mylys and syr Emere
Ther modur was weddyd to a stedd
A genste all the baronage redd
As ye schall further here

To a lorde that wonnyd there by
Syr Justamownde of surry
That sterne was to stere
The kynge of naverne toke þes chyldur two
And made þem knyghtys bothe tho
And manhode can them lere

36

Tyll hyt felle oones on a day
They wente to a medowe to playe
To lerne them for to ryde
Syr Emere bare in hys schylde
A whyte dowve who so be helde
A blakk lyon be syde
The whyte dowve sygnyfyed
That he was full of knyght hedd
And mekenes at that tyde
The lyon þat he was ferse and felle
Amonge hys enmyes for to dwelle
And durste beste in batell byde

37

A wery palmer came þem by
And seyde syrrys y haue ferly
That ye wyll not fare
J haue bene at grete Rome
To seke seynt petur and thens y come
Straunge tythyngys harde y thare
Ther ys an Emperowre þat hyght Garcy
Js logyd in the Narumpy
Wyth syxty thousande and mare
He seyth þe Emperowre of Rome schall not leue
But yf he to hym hys doghtur geue
That ys so swete of sware

38

Than syr Mylys and syr Emere
Toke wyth them forty in fere
That were comyn of gentyll kynne
To grete Rome euyn they rode
And at a burges hows a bode
And there they toke ther ynne
They speryd of þer oste and þer ostes
Of þer tythyngys more and lesse
Or euyr they wolde blynne
They fownde hyt as þe palmer tolde
They seyde wyth Otes dwelle þey wolde
Whedur hyt were to lose or wynne

39

Fyve thousande on þe morne Garcy sent
Of hys men verament
Wele arayed in ther gere
As nere as þey durste for dowte
Fyfty of them yssewed owte
For to juste in werre
That sawe syr mylys and Emere
Wyth þer ferys bothe in fere
They thoght them for to feere
They passyd owt at a posterne
Os men þat schoulde of batayle lerne
Wyth armowre schylde and spere

40

Thes fyfty had for justed soone
And slewe þem down wyth owten mone
All that wolde a byde
Oon came prekyng owt of þe prees
To syr Emere euyn he chese
But soone was fellyd hys pryde

Syr Emere reysyd hys spere on hyȝt
Thorow þe body he bare þe knyght
And downe he felle that tyde
Than þey faght hande ouyr hedd
Many oon þere þer lyuys leuydd
That came on Garcyes syde

41

The Emperowre of Rome lay on hys wall
And hys doghtur gent and small
Florence feyre and free
Sche seyde Fadur wyth mylde steuyn
To vs ys comyn helpe fro heuyn
Fro god in mageste
Yondur ys a nobull knyght
That styrryth hym styfly in þe fyght
Be holde and ye may see
Wyth þe whyte dowve and þe blak lyon
The beste þat comeþ he strykeþ down
Helpe that he rescowde bee

42

The Emperowre calde syr Egravayne
And syr Sampson þat was hym gayne
Armed well and ryght
A hundurd men wyth þem he toke
Vp they lepe so seyth þe boke
On stedys stronge and wyght
All þat were lefte onslayne
Fledd vn to þer strenkyþ agayne
Hyt was a semely syght
Then swere Garcy in full grete yre
That he wolde brenne all Rome wyth fyre
On the morne yf that he myght

43

Then syr Mylys and syr Emere
Wyth þer forty felows in fere
Come the Emperowre beforne
They salutyd hym full ryally
And hys doghtur þat stode hym by
He askyd where they were borne
They answeryd hym full curteslye
We were þe kyngys sonnes of Hungary
Owre Fadur hys lyfe hath lorne
And hedur are we come to the
As sowdears yf mystyr bee
We speke hyt not in skorne

44

God and seynt petur of Rome
Ȝylde yow yowre hedur come
The Emperowre can sey
So doghtely as ye haue be gonne
Was neuer men vndur þe sonne
So lykyng to my paye
Then þe maydyn þankyd þem efte
He þem wyth helde wyth þem þey lefte
To mete then wente thay
The Emperowre set syr Mylys hym by
Emere cowde more of curtesye
And he ete wyth the maye

45

Sche þoght hym a full curtes knyȝt
Feyre yonge semely and wyght
Hur harte to hym can ȝylde
Syr Mylys seyde þe Emperowre too
And ye wolde at my councell doo
Ye schoulde not fyght in fylde

But close þe ȝatys and þe bryggys vp drawe
And kepe vs clene owt of þer awe
And owre wepons wyghtly welde
And kepe þe town boþe nyght and day
Tyl þey be wery and wende a way
Syr Emere hym be helde

46

Emere seyde Mylys vn to
So myght a sympull grome do
Kepe an holde wyth ynne
But we wyll manly to þe felde
And syr Garcy batell ȝelde
To morne or þat we blynne
Then þey made crye þorow þe Cyte
That no man schoulde so hardy bee
That waryson wolde wynne
But folowe þe standarde where hyt goys
And freschly fyght vpon owre foys
Bothe the more and the mynne

47

Than syr Garcy wyth mekyll pryde
Made to crye þe same on hys syde
Amonge the barons bolde
The kynge of Turkay he seyde than
Thou art a full madde man
And fayleste wyt for elde
Syr Otes þe graunt hath noght gylte
Let therfore no blode be spylte
For hym that all schall welde
Nay he warnyd me hys doghtur schene
And þat hath tymberde all my teene
Full dere hyt schall be selde

48

A Roman stode be syde and harde
To þe towne full soone he farde
And tolde the Emperowre
The maydyn mylde vp sche rase
Wyth knyghtys and ladyes feyre of face
And wente vn to a towre
There sche sawe ryght in þe feldys
Baners brode and bryght scheldys
Of cheualry the flowre
They nowmberde þem xl Ml men
And a hundurd moo þen hur fadur had þen
That were ryght styffe in stowre

49

Allas seyde that maydyn clere
Whedur all þe ȝonde folke and þere
Schoulde dye for my sake
And y but a sympull woman
The terys on hur chekys ranne
Hur ble be ganne to blake
Put me owt to olde Garcy
Yf all þes men schulde for me dye
Hyt were a dolefull wrake
Hur Fadur seyde hyt schulde not bee
Hors and armowre askyd hee
And soone hys swyrde can take

50

He lepe on hys stede bandynere
And in hys honde he hent a spere
And rode a bowte all nyght
To the lordys of the towne
And bad þey schulde be redy bowne
Tymely to the fyght

They set þer standard in a chare
And feele folke wyth hyt can fare
That hardy were and wyght
Syxe lordys and syr Egravayne
To be all ther chefe tayne
And kepe hyt well and ryght

51

The standarde was of whyte yvar
A dragon of golde ordeygned þerfore
That on the ouyr ende stode
That sygnyfyed that Otes ware
Jn the felde as bolde as any bare
And a sterne man of mode
The vawe warde and þe myddyll soone
And þe rerewarde owte of Rome
The grete oost remouyd and ȝode
Be then had Garcy takyn hys place
And soone wyth ynne a lytyll space
Ranne bowrnes all on blode

52

Than syr Otes þe graunt can calle
On herawde and hys knyghtys all
Jn myddys of the prees
Who so beryth hym beste to day
A geyne syr Garcy as y yow say
That wyrkyth me þys vn pees
J schall geue hym a feyre flowre
Of grete Rome to be Emperowre
Aftur my dyssees
And wedde Florens my doghtur bryȝt
As y am trewe crysten knyght
Certen wyth owtyn lees

53

Syr Emere askyd hys lorde þe kynge
Yf he myght haue þe furste rydynge
And he grauntyd hym tylle
Owt of Garcyes oost came oon
A prowde Garson hyght bresebon
A wykkyd man of wylle
When syr Emere wyth hym mett
A stronge dynte on hym he sett
Thorow hys armowre stylle
He fonde no socowre at hys schylde
But dedd he felle downe in þe fylde
Hys harte blode can owte spylle

54

Be þat þe grete oost be gan to sembyll
Trumpes to blowe and stedys to trembyll
Harde to gedur they yede
Ryche harburgens all to rusched
And stele helmes all to dusched
And bodyes brake owt to blede
Hedys hopped vndur hors fete
As hayle stones done in þe strete
Styckyd was many a stede
For Florence loue þat feyre maye
Many a doghty dyed that day
In Romance as we rede

55

Then syr Garcy wyth mekyll pryde
Made knyghtys on hys own syde
Syxty yonge and feyre
The warste of þer Fadurs were barons
And oght bothe towres and townes
And all were they ryght heyre

When Emere and hys men wyth þem mett
Stronge dyntys on them he sett
Among þem can they store
At þe furste wynnyng of þer schone
So tyte of lyuys were they done
That all deryd not a pere

56

Then Garcy yede nere wode for yre
And arayed hys batels in þat bere
And fared as he wolde wede
He bad þer dyntys schulde be wele wared
That no Roman on lyue be spared
Thowe þey wolde rawnsome bede
A geyne hym came syr Otes þe graunt
A doghty knyght and an aveaunt
On bondenore hys stede
When Garcy sye þat hyt was hee
He seyde syrrys also mote y the
We two muste do owre dede

57

Thou art wele strekyn in age y trowe
But y am ferre elder then thou
We two muste juste in werre
Hyt ys sethyn y armyd ware
Seuyn yere and some dele mare
And eyther toke a spere
So harde to gedur can þey ryde
Owt of þer sadyls þey felle be syde
And graspyd to odur gere
Wyth scharpe swyrdys faght þey þen
They had be two full doghty men
Gode olde fyghtyng was there

58

Garcy hyt Otes on the helme
That vpon hys hedd hyt can whelme
Hyt sate hym wondur sare
Syr wyth þys dynte y chalenge Rome
And þy doghtur bryght as blome
That brewyd hath all thys care
When þat y haue leyn hur by
And done hur schame and vylenye
Then wyll y of hur no mare
But geue hur to my chaumburlayne
Tho wordys made Otes vn fayne
And tyte he gaf an answare

59

God and seynt petur of thys towne
Let neuyr Rome come in thy bandome
And saue my doghtur sownde
Owre fyghtyng ys not endyd ȝyt
On the helme Garcy he hyt
That he felle to the grownde
There had syr Garcy bene tane
But þer came Garsons many oon
And rescowed hym in þat stownde
Syr Emere horsyd hys lorde a gayne
And loouyd god he was not slayne
And faste to fyght they fownde

60

Syr Emere lokyd a lytyll hym fro
And sawe hys brodur suffur woo
Jn a stowre fyghtande
The grekys had fyred hym a bowte
That he myght on no syde owte
But styffely can he stande

He rescowde hym full knyghtly
Many a doghty made he to dye
That he a bowte hym fande
Euyll quytt he hym hys mede
For Mylys was þe falsyst lede
That euyr leuyd in lande

61

When he had rescowde hys brodur Mylon
Of hys fomen came thretty bowne
Stelyng on hym stylle
All þer sperys on hym þey sett
He drewe hys swyrde wyth owten let
And Mylys fledde to an hylle
He seyde brodur also mote y the
Thou schalt not be rescowde for me
Loke whedur that he dud ylle
But stryked yn at a nodur stowre
And mett hys lorde þe Emperowre
Layeng on wyth gode wylle

62

Mylys he seyde where ys þy brodur
At the deuyll quod the todur
J trowe beste that he bee
He ys be lefte wyth syr Garcy
A geyn yow he tolde me why
He myght geve more then ye
Be god he seyde þat all may
He ys false that dar y lay
Trewly trowe ye me
The Emperowre lykyd hyt ylle
And leyde vpon wyth gode wylle
Tyll he myght the sothe see

63

Forthe then lokyed þe Emperowre
And sawe syr Emere in a stowre
Fyghtyng a genste hys foys
He stroke þe stede wyth þe spurrys
He spared nodur rygge nor forows
But euyn to hym he goys
All that he a bowte hym fonde
He and hys men broght to grownde
That neuyr oon vp rose
And there was Mylys preuyd false
Wyth hym and odur lordys alse
And loste all hys gode lose

64

Than Emere toke harte hym too
Full doghtely then can he doo
Florence hym be helde
And tolde hur maydyns bryght of ble
Jn the felde beste doyth he
Wyth þe whyte dowve in hys schylde
And þer to the black lyon
Sche cryed to hym wyth grete sowne
Thou be my Fadurs belde
And þou schalt haue all thy desyre
Me and all þys ryche Empyre
Aftur my Fadur to welde

65

When he harde þe maydyn bryght
Hys hedd he lyfte vpon hyght
The wedur waxe full hate
Hur Fadur nere hande can talme
Soche a sweme hys harte can swalme
For hete he waxe nere mate

When that þey had so done
A quarell came fleyng soone
And thorow the hed hym smate
They sende aftur þe pope symonde
And he schrofe hym and hoselde on þat grounde
And assoyled hym well y wate

66

As soone as þe Emperowre ȝyldyd þe goost
A prowde garson came in haste
Syr synagote hyght hee
And broght an hundurd helmes bryght
Of hardy men þat cowde well fyght
Of felde wolde neuyr oon flee
Emere stroke in to that stowre
And many oon made he for to cowre
And slewe them be two and thre
Soone there aftur was he tane
And knyghtys kene wolde hym haue slayne
But ther souereygn bad let bee

67

Vn to syr Garcy haue hym seen
J trowe hys lyfe he wyll hym leen
He ys so feyre a knyght
Leve we syr Emere in the stowre
And speke more of the Emperowre
How they on a bere hym dyght
And how þey broght hym to þe towne
Wyth owten belle or procescon
Hyt was a drery syght
They layned hyt fro þer enmyes whyll þey myȝt
And fro Florence þat worþy wyght
Hys own dere doghtur bryght

68

Soone þe standard yn þey dud lede
And baners bryȝt þat brode dud sprede
The Romans lykyd ylle
And seyde þey schulde vpon þe morne
Fyght wyth Garcy yf he had sworne
That hyely was on hylle
Florence lay in a cornell
And hur maydyns as y yow telle
That was curtes of wylle
They seyde men brynge yn a bere
And þat wyth a full mornyng chere
But all was hoscht and stylle

69

Then can feyre florence sayne
Ȝondur ys be gonne an euyll bargayn
Y see men brynge a bere
And a knyght in handys leede
Bondynowre my Fadurs stede
Then all chawngyd hur chere
Sche and hur maystres Awdygon
Went in to þe halle allone
Allone wyth owten fere
And caste vp þe cloþe þen was hyt so
The lady swowned and was full woo
Ther myght no man hur stere

70

Allas sche seyde þat y was borne
My Fadur for me hys lyfe haþ lorne
Garcy may haue hys wylle
All my brode landys and me
That y welde in crystyante
Ther myght no man hur stylle

Lordys and ladyes þat þere ware
Tyll hur chaumbur can they fare
Lorde that them lykyd ylle
Knyghtys and squyers þat þere was
Wrange þer hondys and seyde allas
For drede sche schulde hur spylle

71

Dewkys and Erles þer hondys wronge
And lordys sorowe was full stronge
Barons myght haue no roo
Who schall vs now geue londys or lythe
Hawkys or howndys or stedys stythe
As he was wonte to doo
Syr Garcy went crowlande for fayne
As rampande eyen do in þe rayne
When tythyngys came hym too
He bad hys men schulde make þem bowne
And hastelye go stroye vp þe towne
My byddyng that ye doo

72

Slo þem down where ye þem mete
And fyre fasten in euery strete
Loke now that taste
J schall wyrke as haue y yoye
As kynge Maynelay dud be troye
And stroye hyt at the laste
When þey harde þat were wyth ynne
To þe ȝatys can they wynne
And barryd them full faste
And they wyth owte yngynes bende
And stones to þe walles þey sende
And quarels wyth alablaste

73

They wyth ynne wolde haue gone owte
Ther souereygn marred þem for dowte
And made þem to kepe ther holde
They sygned to þe ȝatys of þe towne
And hundurd men in armes bowne
That hardy were and bolde
The pope came wyth owten delyte
And enteryd the Emperowre tyte
They wepte bothe ȝonge and olde
The boke seyþ god þat vs boght
Many myrakyls for hur he wroght
Many a oon and thyck folde

74

So longe logyd the sege there
That þey wyth ynne nere famysched were
Euyll lyfe can they lede
They were not ordeygned þerfore
They had golde in warme store
But mete was þem full nede
All þey cowncelde Florence to take
Oon of thes lordys to be hur make
That doghty were of dede
For mayntene and vpholde
A gayne syr Garcy þat burne bolde
The towne leuyth all in drede

75

And Awdegone hur cowncelde soo
Oon of thes lordys for to too
Syr Mylys or syr Emere
And let hym wedde yow wyth a rynge
Ther Fadur was a ryche kynge
Knowyn bothe farre and nere

Ye but now ys syr Emere tane
And Garcys men haue hym slayne
Seyde that maydyn clere
Ye be hove to haue a nodur
Take Mylys þat ys hys eldyst brodur
Hyt ys my cowncell wyth owten were

76

To syr Mylys Awdegon went
And askyd yf he wolde assent
To wedde that maydyn free
That ys whyte as lylly flowre
And be lorde and Emperowre
The grettyst in Crystyante
But god for bede and seynt myghell
That þou vndurtake hyt but þou do well
And trewe man thynke to bee
To hys speche answeryd he noght
But stylle he stode and hym be þoght
And seyde y schall avyse me

77

Avyse þe seyde þat maydyn feyre
For to be my Fadurs heyre
Lyghtly may y thynke
Be hym þat suffurde woundys fyve
J schall neuyr be thy wyfe
To suffur dethys dynte
Kyngys and Dewkys haue me askyd
And all þer londys wolde haue geue me at þe laste
And many a ryall thynke
Forþe he yede wyth syghyng and care
That he had geuyn þat fowle answare
For sorowe nere wolde he synke

78

Thys whyle had synagot takyn Emere
And broȝt hym be fore syr Garcy in fere
And seyde we haue tane a knyght
A genste yow fyghtyng in þe stowre
We refte hym hors and armowre
But he ys an hardy wyght
Felowe he seyde what dyd þou there
Syr wyth my lorde on þe to were
That now to dedd ys dyght
As sowdears my brodur and y
We haue noght ellys to leue by
Owre fadur for dyd owre ryght

79

Syr Phelyp of Hungary owre fadur was
Now ys he dedd therfore allas
Owre modur weddyd ys newe
Jn to Surry to syr Justamownde
That ys a bowte vs to confownde
And owre bytter bales to brewe
He hath dysheryted vs wyth owt lees
That we had leuyr warre nor pees
Per chawnce þat may hym rewe
Syr Synagot cowncelde syr Garcy soo
Syr delyuyr hym qwyte and let hym goo
He semyth couenawnt and trewe

80

Than answeryd syr Garcy
When y toke trewage of Turky
Thy Fadur in stede stode me
Therfore y schall let the goo
And geue hym all ye toke hym fro
Emere knelyd on hys knee

Syr when y come in to þe towne
J and my men muste be bowne
To greue bothe thyn and the
Ye godys forbode þat þou spare
But of þy warste wylle euyr mare
Garcy thus seyde he

81

What wenyst þou wyth þy bragg and boost
For to dystroye me and myn hoost
He toke hys leue and yede
Syr synagot gaue hym all to gedur
Be þe leste þonge þat he bare þedur
Emere lepe on hys stede
He ledd hym þorow þe pavylons all
Tyll he came nere to Romes walle
And paste the moost drede
Than þey wyth ynne were full fayne
That þey had getyn þe gome a gayne
Ther blysse be ganne to brede

82

And a gayne syr Emere they went
And broght hym before þat lady gente
And askyd yf he wolde
Wedde the beste of hur elde
And all hur londys for to welde
A geyne Garcy to holde
And helpe to venge hur Fadurs dedd
He dud ryght as the lady bedd
That hardy was and bolde
He seyde preuely muste me do
Tyll þe baronage be sworne vs to
Bothe the yonge and the olde

83

Syr Sampson and syr Egravayne
Syr Clamadore and syr Alayne
Wyste of that bargen newe
They went aftur syr Geffrey of pyse
And syr Barnarde of mownt devyse
Tho syxe were gode and trewe
They made þem to swere þey schulde be lele
And syr Emers counsell heyle
And Florence feyre of hewe
Thus he tylleþ þem be fowre and fyve
All þey had sworne to hym be lyve
Then Mylys hym selfe can rewe

84

The pope came as ye may here
For to crowne syr Emere
And them wyth a rynge
Sche seyde now are ye Emperowre of Rome
The grettyst lorde in Crystendome
And hedd of euery kynge
Ȝyt schall ye neuyr in bedde me by
Tyl ye haue broght me syr Garcy
For no maner of thynge
Or lefte hym in þe felde for dedd
Be hym y sawe in forme of bredd
When þe preest can synge

85

Emere the Emperowre can say
J schall do all that y may
But charge me wyth no mare
Then þey wysche and to mete be gone
Of mynstralcy we kepe none
We haue no space to spare

Nodur harpe Fedyll nor geest
But ordeygn yow wyth moost and leest
That wyth me wyll fare
And brynge my stede bondynere
And feche me forþe boþe schylde and spere
Full tyte þen were þey thare

86

Than was there no lenger bode
But vp þey lepe and forthe þey rode
To preke aftur ther praye
When worde came to syr Garcy
A sory man was he for thy
That weddyd was þat may
That was whyte as lylly flowre
And syr Emere crowned Emperowre
Allas then can he say
That euyr y let þat traytur goo
When he was in my bandome soo
Me dawyd a drery day

87

Ther was lefte no man in þat town
To kepe the lady of renowne
That was of temporalte
That myght wyth ony wepon wyrke
Owt takyn men of holy kyrke
At home they let them bee
They be ganne at þe nerre syde
And slewe down all þat wolde a byde
Trewly trowe ye me
On felde þey faght as þey were wode
Ouyr þe bentys ranne the blode
All tho dyed that wolde not flee

88

Then on the felde þey freschely faght
Many oon ther dethe there caght
That came on Garcyes syde
Syr Garcy toke hym to the fyght
Wyth an hundurd in harnes bryght
He durste no lenger byde
Of all þe men he þedur broght
Many on lyue leuyd he noght
To schypp went they that tyde
They set vp sayle and forþe are gone
To Costantyne þe nobull towne
Also faste as they myght glyde

89

Also soone as syr Emere wyste
Welnere for sorowe hys herte breste
That he in schyppe can lende
He bad syr Mylys turne a gayne
Syr sampson and syr Egravayne
For y wyll aftur wende
Take an hundurd men of Armes bryȝt
And kepe my lady day and nyght
That ys curtes and hende
Say to hur y am on the see
Chasyng aftur myn olde enmye
That slewe hur derrest frende

90

Syr Mylys seyde to þes hundurd all
Thys herytage to me wyll falle
My brodur comyþ neuyr a gayne
J wyll wedde the yonge bryde
He slepyd neuyr be hur syde
Nor hath hur not by layne

All that wyll assent to me
Grete lordys schall they bee
To graunt hym þey were fayne
Sampson seyde þat wyll y neuyr doo
Falsehedd my lorde vn to
The same seyde Egravayne

91

All þey assentyd but they two
The todur parte was þe moo
And þat was þere well seen
Soche wordys among þem can falle
They presyd a bowte syr Sampson all
And slewe hym in that tene
They made syr Egraveyne to swere soon
Or þey wolde wyth hym þe same haue done
To wete wyth owten wene
Sone a bere haue they ordeygned
And the dedd corse þer on leyde
The sorte was false and kene

92

And seþyn to Rome þey hym broght
And tolde Florence worthyly wroght
That Emere laye there dedd
When þat sche had swowned twyes
And there aftur syghed thryes
Sche wepyd in that stedd
Mylys seyde my lady fre
Thy cowncell wyll þat y wedde þe
Hyt was my brodurs redd
Sche seyde y wyll weddyd bee
To a lorde that neuyr schall dye
That preestys schewe in forme of bredd

93

Furste þen was my Fadur slayne
And now my lorde ys fro me tane
Y wyll loue no ma
But hym þat boght me on þe rode
Wyth hys swete precyus blode
To hym y wyll me ta
Then Mylys made xij armed knyȝtys
To kepe the pales day and nyghtys
Sche myght not come them fra
And also swythe syr Egravayne
Went to þe pope þe soþe to sayne
To telle he was full thra

94

How that Emere was ouyr þe see
Chasyng Garcy to hys cuntre
And Mylys wolde haue hys wyfe
He had a hundurd to hys assent
And hyght þem londys lyþys and rente
But Sampson hath loste hys lyfe
And broght hym home vpon a bere
And tolde Florence hyt was Emere
All Rome he hath made ryfe
And certys y am sworne þem too
Holy Fadur what schall y do
That turned were all thys stryfe

95

Then þe Pope was not lothe
To assoyle hym of hys othe
For hyt to Falsehed can clyne
Syr y schall telle þe a sekyr tale
Hyt ys bettur brokyn then hale
J set my sowle for thyne

Than he gart arme of þe spyrytualte
And of the seculers hundurdys thre
Or euyr wolde he blynne
To þe pales he made þem to brynge
For to dystroye that false weddyng
The matrymony was not fyne

96

All þat they wyth false Mylys fonde
They bonde þem boþe fote and honde
But they wolde slee not oon
Mylys set hys back to a pyllere
And seyde all schulde dye þat came hym nere
But smartely was he tane
And put in an hye towre
Be þe reuerence of þe Emperowre
That was made of lyme and stane
And twenty of þes odur ay in a pytt
Jn stokkes and feturs for to sytt
Or euyr Pope Symonde blanne

97

Than þe Pope and Egravayne
To telle þe lady were full fayne
Hur lorde was on the see
To Costantyne the nobull strekk
All the lasse can sche recke
Tho all bryghtenyd hur blee
They went to þe bere wyth owten wone
And caste vp þe clothe and sye sampson
That semely was to see
They dud wyth hym as wyth þe dedd
They beryed hym in a ryall stedd
Wyth grete solempnyte

98

All thys whyle was syr Emere
Chasyng Garcy as ye schall here
As the Romans tolde
But Garcy had getyn hys pales before
And vetaylyd hyt wyth warme store
Hys wylys were full olde
Syr Emere set hys sege þer to
Full doghtely þere can he doo
That hardy was and bolde
Wyth men of Armes all a bowte
That he myght on no syde owte
But hamperde hym in hys holde

99

And þus þey segyd Garcy wyth strenkyth
Jn hys pales large of lenkyth
The Romaynce had ther wylle
Of Costantyne þe nobull cyte
Jn ther poscescyon for to bee
That many oon lykyd ylle
Syr Emere comawndyd euery man
To brooke wele þe tresur þat þey wan
So myght they þer cofurs fylle
When syr Garcy sawe all yede to schame
He callyd to Emere be hys name
Downe at a wyndowe stylle

100

Syr he seyde also mote y the
Thou holdyst full wele þat þou hyghtyst me
When y let the goo
A geyn to Rome as men may lythe
Had y wetyn what schulde haue be sythe
Thou schuldyst not haue skapyd soo

But syn y qwyte claymed the þore
Ȝyt muste þou be of mercy more
Thou graunt þat hyt be soo
ix thousand pownde y schall geue þe
To wende home to thy cuntre
And wyrke me no more woo

101

Nay be hym þat lorde ys beste
Tyll y haue þys londe conqueste
And efte be crowned newe
And yf my men wyll so als
For y trowe þer be noon fals
And yf þer be þem selfe schall rewe
Synagot seyde be godys wayes
He wyll holde that he says
He ys hardy and trewe
J rede we do vs in hys wylle
And ȝylde þys Empyre hym tylle
Or he vs more bale brewe

102

Ther ys not y vndurstonde
An hundurd knyghtys in þy londe
Moo then thou haste here
Slewe he þem not vp at Rome
Jn euyll tyme we thedur come
Or þat thy lore can lere
When þat þou went Florence to wowe
Ouyr þe stremes þou madyste vs to rowe
And boght thy pryde full dere
Many a chylde lefte þou thore
Fadurles for euyr more
And wedows in cuntreys sere

103

There þey openyd þer ȝatys wyde
Syr Garcy came down þat tyde
Wyth a drawyn swyrde in hys hande
And wyth a keye of golde clere
And ȝyldyd vn to syr Emere
Hyt sygnyfyed all the lande
They ledd yn hys baner wyth honowre
And sett hyt on the hyest towre
That þey castell fande
And soone vpon that odur day
They crowned hym Emperowre y saye
Ther durste no man a genste hym stande

104

Then he gave londys to knyghtys kydde
And newe men in offyce dydd
The lande to stabull and stere
He seyde vn to syr Garcye
Syr ye muste wende home wyth me
Yf that yowre wylle were
For to see Rome wyth ynne
That ye wende some tyme to wynne
And Florence þat ys to me dere
Hyt schall turne yow to no grefe
Whether he were lothe or lefe
Forthe they wente in fere

105

Soche a nave or þere was oon
Was neuyr seen but þat allone
When hyt was on the see
Then Emere þoght on Mylys hys brodur
And on Florence feyreste of odur
At them then wolde he bee

He seyde vn to syr Garcy
And to odyr lordys þat stode hym by
To Hungary soone wyll wee
Justamownde for to forfare
And crowne Mylys my brodur þare
For kyndyst heyre ys hee

106

A messengere to londe wanne
That some tyme rode and some tyme ranne
Tyll he came Rome wyth ynne
He tolde Florence bryght of hewe
How hys lorde was crownyd newe
And the Empyre can wynne
And wyth hym bryngyth olde Garcy
The lady fayne was sche for thy
Sche was comyn of gentyll kynne
Sche gafe hym for hys newe tythandys
Worthe a baronry of landys
Or euyr wolde sche blynne

107

Lorde that ys bothe god and man
Gyf þe Emperowre had wetyn þan
The treson of hys brodur
That he dud in hys absence
To Sampson and to feyre Florence
And Egravayne the todur
The lady went vp to a towre
Be reuerence of þe Emperowre
And wyth hur many odur
And toke hym downe þat cursyd thefe
That afturward dud hur grete grefe
Ther was neuyr no sawe sotheyr

108

The lady preyed syr Egravayne
And odur lordys þat þey wolde layne
The treson of the knyght
And all that he hath done to me
All for geuyn schall hyt bee
For godys loue moste of myght
Sche set hym on a gode palfray
And bad hym wende vpon hys way
A genste hys brodur ryght
When that he came to the see
A false lesynge there made hee
Of Florence feyre and bryght

109

Syr Egravayne sadylde hys stede
And hyed hym aftur a gode spede
He hopyd that he wolde lye
When Mylys sawe the Emperowre
He felle downe in a depe fowre
Fro hys hors so hye
Emere seyde Mylys what eylyth the
Syr thus thy wyfe hath dyght me
For y seyde y schulde hur be wrye
When y fonde Egravayne lygyng hur by
Jn preson put sche me for thy
And sorowe hath made me to drye

110

The Emperowre smote down wyth hys hedd
All hys yoye was fro hym revydd
Of Florence that he hadd
All þe lykyng of hys longe trauayle
Was a way wyth owten fayle
Jn sorowe was he stadde

All the lordys that were hym by
Recowmforde hym full kyndely
And bad hym not be a dradd
Tyll we the sothe haue enqueryd
Bothe of lewde and of lernydd
Thes wordys ȝyt made hym gladd

111

Then came Egravayne wyth owten lees
Faste prekynge in to the prees
The sothe he wolde haue tolde
But Mylys owte wyth a swyrde kene
And wolde Egravayne tene
But he a mantell can folde
Ofte sythys a bowte hys arme
And kepyd hym wele fro any harme
That hardy was and bolde
The Emperowre bad put þem insondur
And of yow schall bye þys blundur
Whych hath the wronge in holde

112

Syr Egravayne seyde syr now y schall
Telle yow a full sekyr tale
And ye wyll here hyt wele
Syr when ye went vn to þe see
Ye lefte an hundurd men and vs thre
Armed in yron and stele
To kepe Florence tyll ye came a gayne
And þat made my brodur sampson slayne
And wroght hath myn vn hele

113

Vnnethe were ye on the see
When Mylys seyde here standyth he
That ye for euyr were gone

He seyde he wolde be Emperowre
And wedde yowre lady whyte as flowre
That worthy ys yn wone
He had an hundurd at hys assente
And hyght þem londys and ryche rente
That made syr Sampson slone
And broght hym home on a bere tree
And tolde Florence that hyt was ye
Then made sche full grete moone

114

And when he wolde hur haue wedde
Faste away fro hym sche fledde
And wolde haue stolyn a waye
Then Mylys made to arme xij knyghtys
To kepe þe place day and nyghtys
And wach a bowte hur lay
And certys y was to them sworne
And ellys had my lyfe be lorne
The certen sothe to saye
J went to þe Pope and tolde hym sa
And he assoyled me a pena et culpa
Wyth owtyn any delay

115

Then he gart arme an hundurd clerkys
Doghty men and wyse of werkys
To þe pales he can þem brynge
They bonde þe false boþe honde and fote
And in pryson caste þem god hyt wote
And þer yn cam þem thrynge
And Florence let owt Mylys nowe
For to wende a genste yow
Be Jhesu heuyn kynge

Thys wyll wytnes pope Symond
He wolde not for a þousand pownde
Telle yow a lesynge

116

Ye schall come home as y yow say
Be to morne that hyt be day
And thys was at the none
The Emperowre in þys whylys
Drewe a swyrde to syr Mylys
But lordys helde hym soone
He badd false traytur flee
That þou neuyr þy brodur see
For wykkydly haste þou done
Euyn to Rome a geyne he rode
Hastely wyth owten bode
Or euyr he wolde a wey gone

117

To feyre Florence can he saye
A lesyng þat hur wele can paye
My lorde byddyth that ye schall
Come a gayne hym in þe mornynge
Blythe þer of was þat maydyn ȝynge
And trowed hys false tale
Sche sente to the pope ouyr nyght
And bad he schulde be tymely dyght
Wyth mony a cardynale
And sche ordeygned hur meyne als
And went wyth hym þat was false
And passyd bothe downe and dale

118

When þey came wyth owte the cyte
Mylys seyde my lady free
We two muste ryde faste

And let the pope and hys meyne
Come be hynde the and me
For thus then ys my caste
That þou may speke wyth my lorde þy fylle
And wyth Garcy wykkyd of wylle
And be nothynge agaste
For when þe Emperowre þe Pope can see
Mekyll speche wyll ther bee
And þat full longe wyll laste

119

Mylys sche seyde god ȝylde hyt the
That y soone my lorde may see
Thou makyste me full fayne
The ryght wey lay euyn este
And he lad hur sowthe weste
And thus he made hys trayne
Tyll þey came downe in a depe gylle
The lady seyde we ryde ylle
Thes gatys þey are vngayne
J rede we lyght vn to þe grownde
And byde owre Fadur þe pope a stownde
He seyde nay be goddys payne

120

Thou schalt hym see neuyr mare
Tho þe lady syghed wondur sare
And felle of on hur palfray
He bete hur wyth hys nakyd swyrde
And sche caste vp many a rewfull rerde
And seyde ofte wele a saye
Schall y neuyr my lorde see
No be god that dyed on tre
The false traytur can saye

Vp he hur caste and forþe þey rode
Hastely wyth owten any a bode
Thys longe somers day

121

They were nyghtyd in a wode thyck
A logge made that traytur wyck
Vndur nethe a tree
There he wolde haue leyn hur by
And sche made hur preyer specyally
To god and mary and free
Let neuyr thys false fende
My body nodur schame nor schende
Myghtfull in mageste
Hys lykyng vanysched all a way
On þe morne when hyt was day
Ther horsys bothe dyght hee

122

Vp he hur caste and forthe þey rode
Thorow a foreste longe and brode
That was feyre and grene
Tyll eyder odur mekyll care
The lady hungurd wondur sare
That was bryght and schene
Sche had leuyr a lofe of bredd
Then mekyll of þe golde redd
That sche be fore had seen
To hyt drewe to þe euenynge
Then they herde a belle rynge
Thorow þe grace þat godd can lene

123

A holy Armyte fownde he there
To greve god full loþe hym were
For he had seruyd hym aye

Thedur they wente to aske mete
The Armyte seyde soche as y ete
Ye schall haue dere damysell y say
A barly lofe he broght hur too
And gode watur full fayne was scho
That swete derworthe maye
Therof the yonge lady ete
Sche thoght neuyr noon so swete
Be nyght nodur be day

124

Mylys ete ther of als
He seyde hyt stekyth in my hals
J may not gete hyt downe
Chorle god yf þe schames dedd
Brynge vs of thy bettur bredd
Or y schall crake thy crowne
Be god he seyde þat boght me dere
J had no bettur thys .vij. yere
The wykkyd man þo made hym bowne
Jn at the dore he hym bete
And sethyn fyre vpon hym sete
Ferre fro euery towne

125

The holy Armyte brente he thare
And lefte that bygly hows full bare
That semely was to see
The lady be ganne to crye and ȝelle
And seyde traytur þou schalt be in helle
There euyr to wonne and bee
He made þe lady to swere an othe
That sche schulde not telle for lefe nor loþe
Neuyr in no cuntre
Fro whens þou came nor what þou ys
Nor what man broght þe fro þy blysse
Or here y schall brenne the

126

To make þat othe þe lady was fayne
And þere he wolde by hur haue layne
But sche preyed god to be hur schylde
And ryght as he was at assaye
Hys lykyng vanyscht all a waye
Thorow þe myght of mary mylde
Tymely as the day can dawe
He led hur thorow a feyre schawe
Jn wodes waste and wylde
Euyn at vndurne lyghtyd he
Downe vndur a chesten tre
The feyrest in that fylde

127

He seyde þou haste wychyd me
J may not haue to do wyth the
Vn do or thou schalt a bye
Sche answeryd hym wyth mylde mode
Thorow grace of hym þat dyed on rode
False traytur thou schalt lye
He bonde hur be þe tresse of þe heere
And hangyd hur on a tre there
That ylke feyre bodye
He bete hur wyth a ȝerde of byrke
Hur nakyd flesche tyll he was yrke
Sche gaf many a rewfull crye

128

There was a lorde þat hyght Tyrry
Wonned a lytyll there by
Jn a foreste syde
Thedur was he comyn þat day
Wyth hawkys and howndys hym for to play
Jn that wode so wyde

He harde the crye of þat lady free
Thedur he went and hys meyne
Also faste as þey myght ryde
When Mylys was warre of þer comyng
He lepe on hys hors and forthe can spryng
And durste no lenger byde

129

The feyrest palfrey lefte he there
And hur selfe hangyd be the heere
And hur ryche wede
Hur sadull and hur brydull schone
Set wyth mony a precyus stone
The feyrest in that thede
Sche was the feyrest creature
And ther to whyte as lylly flowre
Jn Romance as we rede
Hur feyre face hyt schone full bryght
To se hyt was a semely syght
Tyll hur full faste they yede

130

Then þey lowsyd hur feyre faxe
That was ȝelowe as the waxe
And schone also as golde redd
Sche myȝt not speke þe romance seyde
On a lyter they hur leyde
And to the Castell hur ledd
They bathyd hur in erbys ofte
And made hur sore sydes softe
For almoste was sche dedd
They fed hur wyth full ryche fode
And all þyng þat hur nede stode
They seruyd hur in that stedd

131

The lorde comawndyd hys men euerychon
That tyþyngvs of hur þey shulde spere noon
Nor ones aske of whens sche were
Vn to the stabull they ledd hur stede
And all hur odur gere þey dud lede
Vn to a chaumbur dere
The lorde had a doghtur feyre
That hyght Betres schulde be hys heyre
Of vysage feyre and clere
To Florence they can hur kenne
To lerne hur to be haue hur among men
They lay to gedur in fere

132

Jn bedd to gedur wyth owte lesynge
Florence that was feyre and ȝynge
Yf any many hur be soght
Of loue sche gaf them soche answare
That þey wolde neuyr aske hur mare
That was so worthely wroght
Sche preyed to god þat boght hur dere
To sende hur sownde to syr Emere
That hur full dere had boght
Be that he was comyn to Rome
He thoght hyt a full carefull come
Where sche was he wyste noght

133

Off Garcy y wyll telle yow mare
That was cawser of hur euyll fare
And cawsyd hur Fadur to be slayne
Emere vengyd well hys dedd
And broght hym fro hys strenkyþfull stedd
To grete Rome a gayne

There lykyd hym noght to bee
And soone there aftur dyed he
The sothe ys not to layne
Sche sawe hym neuyr wyth hur eye
That cawsyd hur all þat sorowe to drye
Of hur haue we to sayne

134

Wyth syr Turry dwellyd a knyght
That hardy was and Machary he hyght
He was bolde as any bare
To hys lemman he wolde haue had þat bryght
And spyed hur bothe day and nyght
Ther of came mekyll care
Tyll hyt be felle vpon a day
Jn hur chaumbur stode that maye
To hur than can he fare
He leyde hur downe on hur bedd
The lady wepyd sore for dredd
Sche had no socowre thare

135

Before hur bedd lay a stone
The lady toke hyt vp anon
And toke hyt yn a gethe
On þe mowþe sche hym hyt
That hys for tethe owte he spytt
A bove and also be nethe
Hys mowthe hys nose braste owt on blood
Forthe at þe chaumbur dore he ȝode
For drede of more wrethe

136

And to hys chaumber he hyed hym ryȝt
And dwellyd forthe a fowrtenyght
And then he came a gayne

And tolde hys lorde þat he was schent
Euyll betyn in a turnement
The sothe ys not to layne
The tethe be smetyn owt of my mowþe
Therfore my sorowe ys full cowthe
Me had leuyr to be slayne
He wolde haue be vengyd of þat dede
Florence myght full sore hur drede
Had sche wetyn of hys trayne

137

A scharpe knyfe he had hym boght
Of yron and stele well y wroght
That bytterly wolde byte
And euyn to hur chaumbur he ȝode
And vp be hynde a curten he stode
Ther of came sorowe and syte
When he wyste they were on slope
To betres throte can he grope
Jn sonder he schare hyt tyte
And ȝyt the thefe or he wolde leeue
He put the hafte in Florence neeve
For sche schulde haue the wyte

138

Forthe at þe chaumber dore he ȝode
And betres lay burlyng in hur blode
And Florence slepyd faste
Hur Fadur thoght in a vysyon
Hys doghtur schulde be strekyn downe
Wyth a thonder blaste
And as a þyck leyȝtenyng a bowte hur ware
Vp he starte wyth mekyll care
And a kyrtell on he caste
A candyll at a lawmpe he lyght
And to hur chaumber reykyd he ryght
Thorowly on he thraste

139

And fonde Betres hys doghtur dedd
The bedd was full of blode redd
And a knyfe in Florence hande
He callyd on Eglantyne hys wyfe
Knyghtys and ladyes came be lyfe
Wondur sore wepeande
Gentyll wemen sore dud wepe
And euyr can feyre Florence slepe
That was so feyre to fande
Sche glyste vp wyth þe hedeows store
A sorowfull wakenyng had sche þore
Soche a nodur was neuyr in lande

140

A bowte the bedd they presyd thyck
Among þem came þat traytur wyck
The whych had done that dede
He seyde syr y schall set a stake
Wyth owte þe towne a fyre to make
And Florence thedur lede
Ye myght see be hur feyre clothyng
That sche was no erthely thynge
And be hur grete feyre hede
But some false fende of helle
Ys comyn þy doghtur for to qwelle
Let me quyte hur hur mede

141

They dyȝt hur on þe morne in sympull a tyre
And led hur forthe vn to the fyre
Many a oon wyth hur ȝede
Sche seyde god of myghtys moost
Fadur and sone and holy goost
As y dud neuyr thys dede

Yf y gyltles be of thys
Brynge me to þy bygly blys
For thy grete godhede
All that euyr on hur can see
Wrange þer hondys for grete pyte
And farde as they wolde wede

142

The lorde that had þe doghtur dedd
Hys herte turned in that stedd
To wepe he can be gynne
He seyde Florence also mote y the
J may not on thy dethe see
For all the worlde to wynne
To hur chaumbur he can hur lede
And cled hur in hur own wede
And seyde y holde hyt synne
They set hur on hur own palfraye
Jn all hur nobull ryche arraye
Or euyr wolde he blynne

143

And gaf hur þe brydull in hur hande
And broght hur to þe wode þere he hur fande
And than he lefte hur thare
And be taght hur god and gode day
And bad hur wende on hur way
And then sche syghed sare
Syr sche seyde for charyte
Let none of þy men folowe me
To worche me no more care
Nay for god he seyde noon schulde
For ix tymes thy weyght of golde
Home then can he fare

144

Thorow þe foreste the lady rode
All glemed there sche glode
Tyll sche came in a felde
Sche sawe men vndur a galows stande
Thedur þey ledd a thefe to hange
To them then can sche helde
And haylesed them full curteslye
They askyd fro whens sche came in hye
That worthy was to welde
Sche seyde ye schall wete of me no mare
But as a woman dyscownfortyd sare
Wyth owten bote or belde

145

No leuyng lefe wyth me y haue
Wolde ye graunt me to be my knaue
The thefe that ye thynke to hynge
The more buxvm wyll he bee
That he were borowyd fro þe galow tree
J hope be heuyn kynge
Then ther councell toke thay
They were lothe to seye hur nay
Sche was so feyre a thynge
They gaf hym to hur of þer gyfte
He was full lothe to leeve hys thefte
Sche thankyd þem olde and ȝynge

146

Sche seyde wolde þou serue me wele
J schulde the quyte euery dele
He seyde to hur ȝaa
Ellys were y a grete fole
And worthy to be drowned in a pole
The galowse þou delyuyrd me fra

Sche thynkyth myȝt y come ouyr þe see
At Jerusalem wolde y bee
Thedur to ryde or ga
Then myȝt y spyr tythandys of Rome
And of my lordys home come
But now wakenyth hur waa

147

A burges that was the thefys reyset
At the townes ende he þem mett
The lady rode ouyr an hylle
J wende þou hadyst be hangyd hye
And he twynkylde wyth hys eye
As who seyth holde the stylle
Thys Gentyll woman hath borowed me
For y schulde hur knaue bee
And serue hur at hur wylle
And sythyn he rowned in hys eere
J be hete the all þys ryche gere
Thy hows y wyll brynge hur tylle

148

He led hur vp in to the towne
At þys burges hows he toke hur downe
There was hur harburgerye
On the hye deyse he hur sett
And mete and drynke he hur fett
Of the wyne redd as cherye
The burges wyfe welcomed hur ofte
Wyth mylde wordys and wyth softe
And bad hur ofte be merye
Tho two false wyth grete yre
Stode and behelde hur ryche a tyre
And be ganne to lagh and flyre

149

The burges wyfe wyste ther þoght
And seyde in feythe ye do for noght
Yf so be that y may
At nyght to Chaumbur sche hur ledd
And sparryd the dore and went to bedd
All nyght to gedur they laye
Sche calde on Clarebolde hur knaue
A lytyll errande for sothe y haue
At the see so graye
Yf any schepe wende ouyr þe streme
To the Cyte of Jerusalem
Gode sone wytt me to saye

150

Clarebalde seyde the burges tylle
Thys nyght had we not owre wylle
We muste caste a nodur wyle
To the see they went in fere
And solde hur to a marynere
Wyth ynne a lytyll whyle
On covenawnt sche ys þe feyrest þynge
That euyr ye sye olde or ȝynge
And he at them can smyle
So mekyll golde for hur he hyght
That hyt passyd almoost hur weyght
On eyther parte was gyle

151

Take here the golde in a bagg
J schall hyt hynge on a knagg
At the schypp borde ende
When ye haue broght that clere
Put vp yowre hande and take hyt here
Aftur hur can they wende

They seyde a schypp ys hyred to þe
That wyll to Jerusalem ouyr þe see
Sche þankyd þem as sche was hende
Sche gaf þe burges wyfe hur palfray
Wyth sadyll and brydyll þe soþe to say
And kyste hur as hur frende

152

Alther furste to þe kyrke sche went
To here a masse verament
And preyed god of hys grace
That he wolde bryng hur to þat ryke
That euyr more ys yoye in lyke
Be fore hys worthy face
And or sche dyed Emere to see
That hur own lorde schulde bee
Jn Rome that ryall place
To þe schypp þey went in fere
And be toke hur to þe marynere
That louely vndur lace

153

They toke þe bagg þey went hyt had be golde
And had hyt home in to þer holde
They lokyd and þen hyt was ledd
The Burges seyde to Clarebalde
Thou haste made a sory frawde
God gyf þe schames dedd
For certenly wyth owten wene
Thou haste be gyled a lady schene
And made hur euyll of redd
To the see hyed they faste
The sayle was vp vn to þe maste
And remeuyd was fro þat stedd

154

All men þat to þe schypp can longe
They went Florence to leman haue fonge
Ylke oon aftur odur had done
But þey faylyd of ther praye
Thorow grace of god þat myghtys maye
That schope bothe sonne and moone
Sche calde on Clarebalde hur knave
The marynere seyde y hope ye rave
And tolde how he had doone
Sche prayde god schulde hym for geue
A dreryar woman myȝt noon leeue
Vndur heuyn trone

155

The marynere set hur on hys bedd
Sche had soone aftur a byttur spredd
The schypp sayled be lyve
He seyde damysell y haue þe boght
For þou art so worþely wroght
To wedde the to my wyve
Sche seyde nay that schall not bee
Thorow helpe of hym in trynyte
That suffurde woundys fyve
Jn hys Armes he can hur folde
Hur rybbes crakyd as þey breke wolde
Jn struglynge can they stryve

156

Sche seyde lady mary free
Now thou haue mercy on me
Thou faylyst me neuyr at nede

Here my errande as þou well may
That y take no schame to day
Nor lose my maydyn hede
Then be ganne þe storme to ryse
And that vpon a dolefull wyse
The marynere rose and yede
He hyed to the toppe of þe maste
They stroke þe sayle þe gabuls braste
They hyed them a bettur spede

157

He seyde but yf þys storme blynne
All mvn be drowned þat be here ynne
Then was that lady fayne
Sche had leuyr to haue be dedd
Then þere to haue loste hur maydyn hedd
Or he had hur by layne
Then þe schypp clave in sondur
All þat was yn hyt soone went vndur
And drowned boþe man and swayne
The yonge lady in that tyde
Fletyd forþe on þe schyp syde
Vn to a roche vn gayne

158

The marynere sate vpon an are
But nodur wyste of odur fare
The todur were drowned perde
The lady steppyd to a ston
Sche fonde a tredd and forþe ys gon
Loudyng the Trynyte
To a noonre men calle Beuerfayre
That stondyþ on þe watur of Botayre
That rennyth in to þe grekys see

A stepull then the lady sye
Sche þoght þe wey þedur full drye
And ther at wolde sche bee

159

Syr Lucyus Jbarnyus was Fownder þere
An hundurd nonnes þer yn were
Of ladyes wele lykeande
When that sche came nere þe place
The bellys range þorow godys grace
Wyth owten helpe of hande
Of seynt Hyllary þe churche ys
The twenty day of ȝowle y wys
As ye may vndurstande
They lokyd and sawe no leuyng wyght
But the lady feyre and bryght
Can in the Cloystur stande

160

The Abbas be þe honde hur toke
And ladd hur forþe so seyth þe boke
Sche was redd for ronne
Sche knelyd downe be fore þe crosse
And looueyd god wyth mylde voyce
That sche was thedur wonne
They askyd hur yf sche had ony fere
Sche seyde nay now noon here
Leueyng vndur the sonne
Sche askyd an hows for charyte
They broght an habyte to þat fre
And þere sche was made nonne

161

The lady þat was boþe gode and feyre
Dwellyd as nonne in beuerfayre
Loueyng god of hys loone

And hys modur mary bryght
That safe and sownde broght hur ryght
Vn to the roche of stone
A systur of þe hows was seke
Of the gowte and odur euyls eke
Sche myȝt not speke nor goon
Florence vysyted hur on a day
And helyd hur or sche went a way
Sche wolde þer had wytten þer of none

162

The Abbas and odur nonnes by
Tolde hyt full openlye
That hyt was so verraye
There was noon syke nor sare
That come þere þe lady ware
But they went sownde a way
The worde sprang in mony a cuntre
And in to Rome the ryche cyte
There hur lorde in laye
Whych had an euyll in hys hedd
That all hys yoye was fro hym revedd
Bothe be nyght and daye

163

He was so tuggelde in a toyle
For he werryd on the kyng of poyle
And he on hym a gayne
And as he schulde hys helme avente
A quarell smote hym verament
Thorow owt bothe bonne and brayne
The leche had helyd hyt ouyr tyte
And hyt was festurd wyth owte delyte
Ther yn he had grete payne

He had leuyr then all hys golde
That he had ben vndur þe molde
Or slyly had be slayne

164

He calde Egravayne hym too
And seyde what ys beste to do
Myn euyll encresyth ȝerne
Syr at Beuerfeyre dwellyþ a nonne
The weyes thedur we ne conne
But we schall spyr and lerne
Mekyll golde wyth them they toke
And went forthe so seyth þe boke
Preuely and derne
And ȝyt for all þer mekyll fare
Hyt was a grete whyle or þey came þare
Thogh all they hastyd ȝerne

165

The Emperowre toke hys ynne þere by
Alther next the nonnery
For þere then wolde he dwelle
And Mylys hys brodur þat graceles fole
Dwellyd wyth oon Gyllam of pole
And was woxyn a fowle meselle
He harde telle of that lady lele
And þedur was comyn to seeke hys hele
The certen sothe to telle
He harberde hym far ther fro
All be hynde men y telle yow soo
Hys sekenes was so felle

166

And Machary was comyn alse
A genste the lady þat was so false
That slewe betres and put hyt hur too

God had sende on hym a wrake
That in the palsye can he schake
And was crompylde and crokyd þer to
He had getyn syr Tyrry thedur
And hys wyfe bothe to gedur
Dame Eglantyne hyght schoo
The holy nonne for to praye
For to hele hym and sche maye
That oght sche euyll to doo

167

Syr Tyrrye the Chastlayne
Harbarde the Emperowre full gayne
On the todur syde of þe strete
And þe Marynere þat had hur boght
That wolde haue had hur hys leman to a wroȝt
That on the ore can flete
He came thedur wyth an euyll
Hyppyng on two stavys lyke þe deuyll
Wyth woundys wanne and wete
And clarebalde þat was the thefe
Came wyth an euyll þat dud hym grefe
Thes iiij there all can meete

168

The Emperowre to the church went
To here a masse in gode entent
Hende as ye may here
When þat the masse was done
The Abbas came and haylesyd hym soone
On hur beste manere
The Emperowre seyde well þou bee
The holy nonne wolde y see
That makyth þe syke thus fere

An euyll in my hedd smetyn ys
That y haue loste all odur blys
They sente aftur that clere

169

At hur preyers þere as sche ware
When sche sawe hur own lorde þare
Sche knewe hym wele y nogh
So dud he hur he wolde not so saye
A bowte þe Cloystur goon are thay
Spekynge of hys woghe
Then was sche warre of þe iiij þare
That had kyndylde all hur care
Nere to them sche droghe
They knewe hur not be no kyns thynge
Ther of thankyd sche heuyn kynge
And lyghtly at them loghe

170

Mylys that hur a weye ledd
He was the fowlest mesell bredd
Of pokkys and bleynes bloo
And Machary þat wolde hur haue slayne
He stode schakyng the sothe to sayne
Crokyd and crachyd ther too
The Marynere þat wolde haue layne hur by
Hys yen stode owte a strote for thy
Hys lymmes were roton hym froo
They put Clarebalde in a whelebarowe
That strong thefe be stretys narowe
Had no fote on to goo

171

Sche seyde ye that wyll be hale
And holly broght owt of yowre bale
Of that ye are ynne
Ye muste schryue yow openlye
And that wyth a full lowde crye
To all þat be here boþe more and mynne
That they þoght full lothe to doo
Mylys seyde syth hyt muste be soo
Soone schall y be gynne
J lykyd neuyr wele day nor nyght
Syth y ledd a wey a lady bryght
From kythe and all hur kynne

172

Than he seyde to them verament
How he þe lady wolde haue schent
And tolde them to the laste
And þat he wolde haue be Emperowre
And weddyd þe lady whyte as flowre
And all hys false caste
And sythe a wey he can hur lede
For y wolde haue refte fro hur hur maydyn hede
That sche defendyd faste
J had neuyr wyth hur to doo
For y myght not wynne hur to
But clene fro me sche paste

173

And sythyn he tolde þem of þe barley bredd
And how he brent þe armyte to dedd
And hangyd hur vp be the hare
Then y sye men and howndys bathe
And to the wode y went for wrathe
There Tyrry gaf answare

Then came y and toke hur downe
And had hur wyth me vn to þe towne
And that rewyd me full sare
Sche slewe Betres my doghtur schene
That schulde my ryght heyre haue bene
And ȝyt let y hur fare

174

For sche was so bryght of blee
And so semely on to see
Therfore let y hur goo
Then Machary for he muste nede
Sche dyd me oonys an euyll dede
My harte was wondur throo
When y wolde haue leyn hur by
My for tethe smote sche owt for þy
That wakenyd all my woo
J slewe betres wyth a knyfe
For y wolde sche had loste hur lyfe
Trewly hyt was soo

175

Then Tyrry farde as he wolde wede
And seyde false traytur dyd þou þat dede
Then wepyd dame Eglantyne
And seyde allas þat we came here
Thys false traytur for to fere
That wroght vs all þys pyne
Ȝyt y am warse for þat feyre maye
That was so vnfrendely flemed a way
And was gyltles ther ynne
Clarebalde seyde sche came be me
J stode vndur a galowe tree
And a rope a bowte hals myne

176

Fro þe galowse sche borowed me
For y schulde hur knave haue bee
And serue hur to hur paye
We were to gedur but oon nyȝt
At the see y solde that bryght
On the seconde day
Then spake þe Marynere þat hur boȝt
When y wolde hur to wyfe haue wroȝt
Soone sche seyde me naye
Sche brake my schypp wyth a tempeste
Sche fletyd sowþe and y north weste
And syth sawe y neuyr that maye

177

Vpon an ore to londe y wanne
And euyr syth haue be a drery man
And neuyr had happe to hele
And syth y haue be in sorowe and syte
Me þynkyth we iiij be in febull plyte
That cawsyd hur to wante hur wylle
Sche handylde þem wyth hur hande
Then were þey hoole y vndurstande
And odur folke full feele
Hur own lorde alther laste
The venome owt of hys hedd braste
Thus can sche wyth them dele

178

The venome braste owt of hys ere
He seyde y fynde yow iiij in fere
Hys herte was full throo
He made to make a grete fyre
And caste þem yn wyth all þer tyre
Then was the lady woo

The Emperowre toke dame Eglantyne
Tyrrye and Florence feyre and fyne
And to the halle can goo
They looueyd god lesse and more
That þey had fownde þe lady þore
That longe had be them froo

179

Soche a feste as þere was oon
Jn þat lande was neuyr noon
They gaf the nonnes rente
And all þer golde wyth owt lesynge
But vnnethys þat þat myȝt þem home brynge
And þankyd þem for that gente
Florence seyde syr wyth yowre leeve
Tyrrye some þynge muste yow geue
That me my lyfe hath lente
He gaf hym þe Cyte of Florawnce
And bad hym holde hyt wyth owt dystawnce
They toke ther leue and wente

180

Tyrrye wente home to hys cuntre
And þe Emperowre to Rome hys ryche cyte
As faste as euyr they maye
When þe pope harde telle of þer comyng
He went a gayne þem wyth owt lesynge
Jn full ryall arraye
Cardynals were somned be þer names
And come syngyng Te deum laudamus
The certen sothe to saye
They loouyd god boþe more and lesse
That they had getyn þe Emperes
That longe had bene a waye

181

Soche a brydale as þere was oon
Jn that lande was neuyr noon
To wytt wyth owten wene
There was grete myrþe of mynstrals steuyn
And nobull gyftys also geuyn
Bothe golde and robys schene
Soone aftur on þe fowretenyth day
They toke þer leue and went þer way
And thankyd kynge and quene
They loouyd god wyth myȝt and mayne
That þe lady was comyn a gayne
And kept hur chaste and clene

182

They gate a chylde the furste nyght
A sone that syr Otes hyght
As the boke makyth mynde
A nobull knyȝt and a stronge in stowre
That aftur hym was Emperowre
As hyt was full gode kynde
Then the Emperowre and hys wyfe
Jn yoye and blysse þey lad þer lyfe
That were comyn of gentyl strynde
Pope Symonde thys story wrate
Jn þe Cronykyls of Rome ys þe date
Who sekyth þere he may hyt fynde

183

For þy schulde men and women als
Them be thynke or þey be false
Hyt makyth so fowle an ende
Be hyt neuyr so slylylye caste
Ȝyt hyt schamyþ þe maystyr at þe laste
Jn what londe þat euyr þey lende

J meene be thes iiij fekyll
That harmed feyre florence so mykyll
The trewest that men kende
And þus endyth þys Romance gode
Jhesu that boght vs on the rode
Vn to hys blysse vs sende

Amen