HANDBOUND

AT THE

UNIVERSITY OF

TORONTO PRFSS

3**?

THREE

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL

ROMANCES.

ft

THREE

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES

WITH AN

INTRODUCTION AND GLOSSARY.

EDITED FROM A MS. IN THE POSSESSION OF

J. I.

BLACKBURNE, ESQ.

M.P.

BY JOHN ROBSON, ESQ.

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE CAMDEN SOCIETY,
BY JOHN BOWYER NICHOLS AND SON, PARLIAMENT STREET.
M.DCCC.XLII.

COUNCIL
OF

THE CAMDEN SOCIETY,

FOR THE YEAR

1841-2.

President^

THE RIGHT HON. LORD FRANCIS EGERTON,

M.P.

THOMAS AMYOT, ESQ. F.R.S. Treas. S.A. Director.

THE RIGHT HON. LORD BRAYBROOKE, F.S.A.
JOHN BRUCE, ESQ. F.S.A. Treasurer.
JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ. F.S.A.
C. PURTON COOPER, ESQ. Q.C., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.S.A.
T. CROFTON CROKER, ESQ. F.S.A, M.R.I.A.
SIR HENRY ELLIS, K.H., F.R.S., Sec. S.A.
JAMES ORCHARD HALLIWELL, ESQ. F.R.S., F.S.A.
THE REV. JOSEPH HUNTER, F.S.A.
SIR

FREDERICK MADDEN,

K.H., F.R.S., F.S.A.

JOHN GAGE ROKEWODE, ESQ. F.R.S., Dir.

THOMAS STAPLETON, ESQ. F.S.A.
WILLIAM J. THOMS, ESQ. F.S.A. Secretary.
ALBERT WAY, ESQ. M.A., F.S.A.
THOMAS WRIGHT, ESQ. M.A.. F.S.A.

S.A.

INTRODUCTION.
THE

ancient minstrels, as a body, were editors and

publishers, rather than original

composers.

They had

perform duties which, in these days, are divided

amongst various caterers for the public in matters of
to

The

was neither that of poet,

To
editor, actor, nor musician, but a compound of all.
him it was indifferent where, or how, he acquired the tales,
taste.

which

it

which

his

office

was

speaking,

of minstrel

his business to enact or recite,

popularity and living

we may imagine

that

it

and upon

depended; generally
was a safer game to

repeat well-known and popular stories, than to try a

doubtful hazard with something new, or original. At the

same time,
tales

an

riations,

it

would be most desirable to give to the old

air of novelty,

by introducing appropriate vaand that he should, as far as possible, accommo-

date to his hearers, what had, perhaps, been composed

for their fathers or grandfathers.
may see how this

We

has been done in the two ballads of Chevy Chace

and
through how many phases must the tale of Amys and
;

INTRODUCTION.

Vlll

Amelion have passed before

Alexander and Lodowicke

it

assumed

the form of

But the minstrels were

also representatives of publishers,

and from a very picturesque passage in pne of Petrarch's

letters to Boccacio we find a more intimate connection between them and the great lights of that age, than we
might otherwise have supposed.
" Nosti
quidem hoc vulgare ac vulgatum genus, vitam
verbis agentium, nee suis, quod apud nos usque ad fasti-

dium

percrebuit.

Sunt homines

non

magni

ingenii,

magnse vero memorise, magnseque diligentise, sed majoris

regum ac potentium aulas frequentant, de

proprio nudi, vestiti autem carminibus alienis, dumque

audacise

quid ab hoc aut ab illo exquisitius materno praesertim

charactere dictum sit, ingente expressione pronunciant,
gratiam
et

sibi

munera.

nunc ab aliis

nobilium,

ubi

quserunt, et vestes

Hujuscemodi autem instrumenta vivendi,

passim, nunc ab ipsis inventoribus, aut prece

quando id exigit, vendentis vel

paupertas, quod ultimum et Satyricus norat

mercantur aut pretio,

cupiditas vel

et pecunias

si

ait,

"

Esurit, intactam Paridi nisi vendat Agaven.

" Et hi
quidem, quotiens putas mihi, credo idem aliis,
blande in portum, molestique sint, quamvis jam mihi soli to
rarius, seu

mutati studii atque

setatis reverentia,

seu re-

INTRODUCTION.

Saepe enim ne esse mihi taedio insuescant, nego

pulsus.
acriter,

nee ulla

maxime ubi

me

IX

charitas

lorum

fleeter

vero,

quaedam ut ex ingenio meo qualicunque,

opem

mihi non

onerosam

nonnunquam

petentis inopia et humilitas nota est, cogit

victui

utilem,

instantia

vicerant voti

in

longum percipientibus
ad horam brevissimi temporis

feram,

nisi

fueruntque

horum

compotes,,

illi

aliqui a

me

quern precibus
quidem, sed alioquin nudi

atque inopes digressi, non multo post ad me induti

atque onusti et

il-

sericis

divites

remearent, gratiasque agerent,

auspice paupertatis gravem sarcinam abjecissent quo interdum sic permotus sum, ut eleemosinae speciem rarus, nulli talium me negare decreverim, donee

quod me
:

rursum

taedio

cum ex

nonnullis

non

et

tale te

alios,

affectus, id

decretum

horum quaererem, quid

teque in primis, pro

responsum reddidere,

iis

me semper

eos saepe

quod

unquam profecisse cumque ego mirarerum largus, verborum parcus existeres, ad:

did^re hoc etiam combussisse quicquid

poema

ita

rebus impeterent,

et fecisse

dicerem, et nihil
rer quid ita

Caeterum

sustuli.

turn

habuisses,

quo

nihil

demptunij sed nonnihil additum.

omnino vulgatum
admirationi

Cumque ex

illis

meae
facti

causam quaererem fassi omnes ignorantiam, siluere,

nisi unus qui opinari se ait, nescio an etiam audivisse, esse

tui

tibi in

animo, ut haec omnia adolescentulo primum,, post

jam cano ingenio re-

et juveni elapsa, praesenti solido, et

formares."

CAMD. soc.

Rerum

Senilium, Lib. V. Ep. 3. p. 793.

b

INTRODUCTION.

How

far this description

may

apply to the minstrels of

would he, perhaps, presumptuous to say

the internal evidence of some of the Metrical Romances

the north,

it

goes far to prove that they were composed in the Cloister,

and, like the poems which Petrarch gave to his friends
the Troubadours, must have been given to the minstrel
to publish, aut prece aut pretio.

The
part of
fession.
tion,

poems now printed very probably formed

the stock of some individual of this by-gone prothree

They have been apparently written from

and are remarkable

recita-

for the complete contrast of

The first two or three pages

have evidently been taken down by one who was not intimate with the form of the stanza some lines are divided, and some run into each other, just as we might
suppose would be the case till the writer had made himmatter, style and diction.

self

acquainted with the intricacies of the versification.

A professed minstrel,

or even a person

who had read

the

poem through, would have avoided such irregularities.

It may be too, that the recitation of these and similar
productions, was accompanied by something of dramatic

" he
" ho
sayd," and
sayd," are very frequently additions which the metre itself will not allow.
action, as the

All the three

poems are written

in the

same

strong,

coarse hand, and, from the peculiar dialect, by a native of

Lancashire.

In the County Palatine there are two forms

INTRODUCTION.
of the Saxon language

which
is

is

well

XI

one in the South-eastern

known by Tim Bobbin's works

district,

the other

used in the North-western division, and, as far as

aware, has not hitherto been noticed.

It is

am

characterized

by the termination of the past tenses and parpeticiples in -ud or -ut> and the plural of nouns in -us
culiarities which
distinguish the Ireland MS. from
especially

Weber's copy of " Sir Amadas ;" and from the two MSS.
of " Sir Gawan," which have been so admirably collated

by

Sir Frederick

Madden.

Besides the poems, the Ireland manuscript contains a

number of documents, connected with the Magna Curia

de Hale, of the 14th and 1 5th centuries, and in describing

these we shall have an opportunity hereafter, of ascertaining, with some degree of precision, its date.

The first poem, which in the Lincoln MS. is entitled

" The
Awntyrs of Arthure at the Tarne Wathelynne,"
may be considered as approaching to tragedy the second,
" Sir
Amadace," as a melodrama and the third, to which
" The
I shall give the title,
Avowynge of King Arther,
Sir Gawan, Sir Kaye, and Sir Bawdewyn of Bretan," will
;

serve, not unfitly, to represent the genteel

period to which

"

it

comedy

of the

belongs.

There are no fewer than three copies known, of the

ANTURS ;" the Thornton MS. in Lincoln Cathedral, the

date of which

is

1430

-1440; the Douce MS. in the

INTRODUCTION.

Xll

Bodleian Library, supposed to be somewhat later and the

Ireland MS. at Hale, the subject of the present inquiry.
;

It

was

first

printed by Pinkerton in his SCOTTISH

BAL-

LADS, 1792, from Douce's MS. which Ritson says was his
" which the
property, and
say'd Pinkerton came by very
dishonestly."

However Pinkerton came by it, he made

it.
The Lincoln MS. was

a very blundering copy of

edited

by Mr. Laing

ANCIENT POPULAR POETRY

and in 1839 Sir Frederick Madden

in his

OF SCOTLAND, 1822
collated both MSS. most
:

carefully, for his splendid

work,

SYR GA WAYNE,
The

printed by the Bannatyne Club.

origin of the early English Romances

subject of controversy,

ing to Tyrwhitt,

all

and

likely to

remain

is

still

Accord-

so.

the romances before Chaucer were

translations from, or imitations of, the French,

and

in

he has been followed by Ritson and most other

But on the contrary, we find Marie de France

this opinion

writers.

acknowledging her obligations to the Welsh and Bretons.

"

Qui que des Lais tigne a mengonge

Sacies je neV tiens pas asonge
;

Les Aventures trespassees

Que diversement ai contees,
Nes'

ai

pas dites sans garant;

Les estores en

Ki encore

trai

avant

sont a Carlion,

Ens le Monstier Saint Aaron,

Et en Bretaigne sont seues
Et en pluisors lius conneues."
Lai de VEspine, T.

1.

542.

INTRODUCTION.

Xlli

Roquefort has the following note upon this passage

" // exist
oit en France une He Saint Aaron.
Elle a
renferme'e dans la mile de Saint Malo,

au moyen

There can however be no doubt that Carlion

is

&6

a" une

Caer-

leon upon Usk in Monmouthshire, where Giraldus Cambrensis informs us, was a church with a famous order of

Canons, dedicated to St. Aaron.

That the Welsh were also called Bretons, we have the
evidence of Robert of Brunne.
to

The

last

Cadwaladres

Briton that the land lees,

All that kind and

all that frute

That came of Brutus, that

is

the Brute

After the Bretons the Inglis camen,

The

lordschip of this land that

When

they

first

among

namen

the Bretons,

That now are Inglis then were Saxons."

That there was a very intimate connection between the

inhabitants of Wales, Cumberland, Cornwall, and Bretagne
acknowledged by all; and that they had traditions, perhaps
poems, relating to their struggles with the Saxons, which
is

were a common property, admits of little doubt. That the

Saxon Gleemen had availed themselves of these sources,
those from which they drew Havelok and
and that after the
Child, seems highly probable

as well as

Horn

INTRODUCTION

XIV

Conquest, the Norman Trouveurs reaped a plentiful harvest from the labours of their Saxon predecessors, is more
likely

than that they should have troubled themselves

with the scarcely accessible and

difficult

British traditions.

is,

ately after the

came very

Certain

Conquest

it

ground of ancient
however, that immedi-

this species

of Literature be-

and while the manuscript-remains

of the Trouveurs, who composed and sang for Royal
fashionable,

Court or Baronial Hall, are almost innumerable, those of

the native poet, whose auditors were the Franklin, the
Burgess, or the Peasant, are few and scattered
their preservation perhaps

monk who saw

tractive,

There

most frequently,

is

owing

to the poor

in them, better, or at all events

sermons than he himself could

more

at-

give.

no appearance of the Anturs having been a

an imitation of, a French poem. The

translation from, or

incidents are so common-place,

simply put together, that

we can

and the story itself so

no necessity for the

see

and the locapoet borrowing either one or the other

lities mentioned
evidently point out Cumberland or
;

Westmoreland

neighbourhood of
cept

one,

The scene

as his native soil.

are

Carlisle,

still

and

all

recognisable,

is

the places named, ex-

and apparently well

known to the writer. Indeed his knowledge

wood Forest, Tarn Wadling, and Plumpton,
strangely with

his

laid in the

of Inglecontrasts

Southern Geography, of which

it

INTRODUCTION.

XV

not utterly impossible, to make any

Plumpton, or Plumpton Wall, is about six miles
thing.
from Penrith on the road to Carlisle, and three or four

seems

difficult,

if

from Tarn Wadling. It was a Roman town, the Voreda

of the Itineraries, and is said to have been destroyed by
the Picts,

when

the inhabitants removed to Penrith

but

the original site retained the appellation of Old Penrith in

The camp

the time of Camden.

over the

little

river Petril, is

or station, which hangs

one of the most remarkable

in Cumberland; a portion of one of the gates

was uncovered

about twenty-five years ago. The town extended into

the fields, south and east of the station, and foundations
of buildings

may

still

be traced

some

statues of hea-

then deities were discovered there, and bought by Sir

Walter Scott. A square well of Roman masonry is on
the right of the road, and in a wall nearly opposite
tragic

mask

of similar workmanship, very

much

is

defaced.

Plumpton Park belonged and still belongs to the Crown,

and Rondall-sete Hall may have been the mansion apperit
Ranulph, eldest son of Radulf de Meschines,
was Earl of Cumberland in the reign of William Rufus,

taining to

and a place in Scotland, not far from the border, was

called Randallstede, from a certain Ranulph its founder.

The South-western
rately, if

LIII.

part of Scotland

not minutely, described in

Carrick, Kyle,

is

also very accu-

St.

and Cunningham, are

XXXIII. and
still

divisions

INTRODUCTION.

XVI

" Laudowne
hillus," means evidently London
" Old
Hill, celebrated by Scott in
Lonwick,
Mortality."
"
I suspect, is a mistake for Lanark, and
Lennax" is pro"
bably the Lennox, north of the Clyde.
Logher" is

of Galloway

found in Lochermoss, which extends from Solway Sea to

Lockerbrigg hill, and, according to tradition, was once

an arm of the sea

carved beaks, boat keels, &c. are said

to have been dug out of it
while Lockerbrigg hill, four
miles from Dumfries, has acquired a still more doubtful
;

fame as the trysting-place of the Nithsdale and Galloway

"
witches.
Layre" is of course Ayr, and a line drawn
"
from
Logher to Layre" would include all the above-

named

except Lennox. The fifth line of the

fifty-third stanza is taken from the Douce MS. and the
districts

variations are merely blunders of the scribe.

But what are we

has

made

published

and

to do with the claim

"
to the
it

critics

Maker"

of the

which Scotland

ANTURS

Pinkerton

and succeeding editors

his decision.
But can we

as a Scotish ballad,

have acquiesced in

Bard would represent his

native country as conquered by the English and the
right heir, when he makes a formal challenge for his inreally imagine that a Scotish

by the Southern Knight upon whom

the Conqueror had bestowed it ? Nay, he would acheritance, as beaten

have gone out of his way to insult his own land, as

the other Romances make Sir Gawan the son of Lot,
tually

INTRODUCTION.
King of GALLOWAY and Orkney, the very country in
dispute.

There
to

is

a circumstance which

omit, though

would not be right

it

confess I do not lay

much

stress

Robert of Brunne speaks of a poet named

Kendale in conjunction with Ercildon, and in the Records

upon

it.

of the Court of Hale

who was

we

find a William Kendale, chaplain,

living there at the

teenth century.

As the name

commencement

of the

fif-

points to a Northern origin,

and as the nature of the stanza in which the poem

composed,

suits well

is

enough with the old Chronicler's

not possible that the MS. may have belonged to, or have been written by, the officiating priest of
the village, perhaps a descendant of the ancient poet ?
description,

The

it

is

external evidence as to the age of the

poem

is

not

a knight of the
Sir Gawan,
of much importance.
Round Table, was distinguished from the earliest period
as

of

Romance,

for his courtesy

and gallantry

and in the

poems extant, his name appears as having

been the subject of more ancient ones. There is, howoldest English

ever, a great difference in the character of the knight as

depicted in the later Romances,

for instance,

where he

is

the

MORTE D'ARTHUR

represented by no means in

favourable colours.

Wyntown mentions Huchown of

" Made
having amongst other poems
CAM. soc.

the Awle Ryale, as

the Awntyre of Gac

INTRODUCTION,

wayn

;"

and Dunbar, in

his

" Lament for the Death of the

Makars," says,
" Clerk of Tranent eik he hes tane

That made the auntris of Gawane"

having in a previous verse named Sir Hugh of Eglinton,

who is supposed to have been the same as Wyntown's

Huchown. Of Clerk's works none are known to exist;

and of Huchown's besides the circumstance of his also
" the Pistil of Swete
Susane,"
being a native of Scotland,
have
been
written
the
author of the
could hardly
by
" Anturs at Tarne
Wathelan,"
"

He

wes curyows in his

style,

Fair of Facund and suhtile ;"

a criticism correct enough as regards the "

not at all applicable to the other.

Pistil/'

but

Walter Scott, where he alludes to this poem in his

MINSTRELSY, asserts that it is not prior to the reign of
Sir

James the

Fifth of Scotland

SIR TRISTREM, he

is

but in his Introduction to

satisfied that it

was written long

the conclusion of the thirteenth century.

Sibbald, in one place, supposes that it is of the age of David

before

ought to be placed before

Mr. Laing's opinion (in which Chalmers coin1300.
cided) was that it was written by Sir Hugh of Eglinton,

II.

but in another he says

it

who is supposed to have died about 1381. Mr. Guest, in

his HISTORY OF ENGLISH RHYTHMS, gives it to Clerk of
" There
Tranent, and says,

is

one peculiarity in these

INTRODUCTION.

XI*

poems (the Anturs, Gawan and Gologras, the Howlat and

Gawin Douglas's Prologue to the 8th Eneid,) which
should not pass unnoticed. The short line, or, in techwhich

nical language, the bob,

(in the Pistil of

Swete Su-

lengthened out into a full

alliterative verse, and is always closely connected with the
The
wheel, instead of being separated from it by a stop.
sane,) introduces the wheel,

same

is

found in every Scotch poem of the;

a
fifteenth century that admits a wheel of this kind,
strong argument to show that the poems from which we
peculiarity

is

have quoted (the Green Knight and the

Pistil)

are of ear-

higher authority observes, that the

structure of the versification, and the language, present
insuperable difficulties to its being considered of the pe-

lier

date."

riod of

Henry

still

III.

thing that strikes us in the Poem itself, is the

extreme rudeness of its language, and the equal artlessness
of the story
these circumstances, especially when con-

The

first

nected with the fact of its popularity, which is shown by

three copies of the fifteenth century being yet in existence,
are evidences of a very early origin. King Arthur is hunting in Inglewood Forest a storm comes on; Sir Gawan and
the Queen are separated from the rest of the company,
her mother's ghost appears to her, gives her some advice,
;

and utters a prophecy. The ghost vanishes, the storm

ceases, and the King and his retinue adjourn to supper
;

XX

INTRODUCTION.

Sir

Galrun of Galway with a lady enters the

hall,

claims

and challenges the knights present to

combat, in defence of his claim. The King ac-

his inheritance,

single

cepts the challenge, affords the strange knight the rights

of hospitality, and the following

him

in the

lists,

morning Sir Gawan meets

overcomes him,

but at the request of

King Arthur, resigns the possessions in dispute, and in

return receives additional estates and honours.

But the

versification

the tale itself

is

alliterative verses

is

simple.

as artificial

and complicated as

The stanza

consists of eight

(usually with four alliterative syllables

in each) with four alternate

rhymes

the ninth verse

is

of

a similar description, and with three verses of six syllables each rhyming together, and another of five syllables,

rhyming with the ninth forms the wheel.

Not the least remarkable part of the history of the
English language is, that the earlier poets appear to have
studied its rhythmical powers more attentively and successfully than those of a later date

as

may be

seen even

in the fragments of popular songs of the 13th and 14th

centuries ; and the curious stanza of SIR TRISTREM

may be adduced as another specimen. There is however a poem published by Mr. Wright in his POLITICAL
SONGS OF ENGLAND, under the title of the Song of the
Husbandman, which has a structure very similar to the
present Romance. It is of the time of Edward II. and quite

INTRODUCTION.

XXI

Mr. Guest's hypothesis. The stanza is alliterative

the first eight verses, with four alternate rhymes, are folfatal to

same metre; and the iteration

the beginning of the quatrain and the commencement

lowed by a quatrain
at

in the

ANTURS. The

of the stanza, exactly resembles that of the

language of the two poems

is

also very similar, several

passages being hardly intelligible, although Sir Gawan

must have had a certain portion of rust rubbed away by
his successive editors

through eighty or one hundred

years.

An argument

poem beCrown by Edward I.

also for fixing the date of the

fore the assumption of the Scotish

the absence of any expressions of that fierce and uncontrolable hatred, which prevailed during his reign, and

is

those of his successors, between the two kingdoms.

The

ghost's prophecy afforded a fair opportunity of giving

utterance,

and the choice of a hero from the

Robert Bruce himself,

of a later period.

is

thirteenth

my

it

century;

certainly against the supposition

is still

and here

best acknowledgements

beg leave

to Albert

to express

Way, Esq. F.S.A.

he has most kindly afforded me,

for the information

gretting only that

territory of

more important and more

can be traced, is of the end of the

The costume, which

decisive, as far as

could not

The poem seems

it

make use

evidently

to

of

it

re-

in the notes.

belong to the com-

INTRODUCTION.

Xxii

mencement

of a transition from defences of mail to de-

appearance of the latter being

the elbow-cap and poleyn these were soon followed by
the shin-piece^ which most likely is here termed the
"
schinbande," and of course has nothing to do with the
Saxon cross-gartering. The first positive evidence of the
fences of plate

the

first

spike or anlas on the chanfron

(temp.

Edw.

III.)

is

The chanfron

in the Assisae Hierosol.

itself

was used

at the

Windsor Tournament,, 6 Edward I. it was made of cuirbouilli,

and the

shew of offence, could only have

been used as an ornament, might easily have been fixed
thereon. The "
in which the
was armed
anlas, which with a

colours/'
knight
"ful clene," were the armorial surcote. The epithet
" milk
white/' as applied to mail armour, is singular, and

means

bright,

polished;

it

coloured, yellow, or such like

period,

is

was generally vermillionwhite armour at a later

commonly applied

to plate, in contradistinc-

tion to black or russeted suits.

scripts,

about

this period,

we

In illuminated manu-

find the

armour covered

with bright red spots, hence probably Sir Galrun's golden

and glowing gambeson. The Pusane was only a

variety of the Camail or mail tippet it was appended to
stars,

the Basinet and defended the neck.

The Beryls on

the

border of the Basinet were Rock Crystal, cut en cabochon.

The Byrny is here the hauberk, which consisted in all

INTRODUCTION.
cases of interlaced mail

it

existed

and formed the Lorica Catena

"

XX111

from the Roman times,

riget his molli lorica catena.

Vol. Place. 6. 233.

There

is

not the slightest proof that any mailed armour

was formed of rings stitched on cloth or

leather.

The Dramatis Personse are not many.

Queen Gaynour
and

his opponent, Sir Galrun,

others are merely

names

King Arthur,

Gawan " the

(Guenever), Sir

courteous/'

are the principal.

The

familiar to readers of the old

romances Sir Kay, the " crabbit," always overbearing

and always beaten Sir Cador, Sir Clegius, Sir Costan;

tyne or Constantyne, who are classed together in the

same order, in the Morte d' Arthur the Earl of Kent,
" Krudeli the Erie's son of
alias
Kent," as he is called in
;

MSS. Sir Lote and Sir Lake, the first father

of Sir Gawan according to the romances, the second I
The
presume the celebrated Sir Lancelot du Lake.
scribe has made sad work with the names in Stanza LI,,
the other

it is

one of several passages that might be adduced to

shew that the poem was written as

intended for Ywain

fitz

recited,

the

first

is

Urien, the second for Harre le

fise-Lake of the Morte d' Arthur

Sir Menegalle, of the

MS. may be intended for Sir Menealfe of the

poem. For a more particular account of these per-

Lincoln
third

sonages I beg to refer to Ritson's

METRICAL ROMANCES,

INTRODUCTION.

XXIV

MORTE D'ARTHUR, and, above

WAYNE of Sir Frederick Madden.

the

to the

all,,

SYR GA-

have not been able to identify any of the places named

in Stanza LIII.
Ramsay and Cornwall,, as named in St.
I

geography, and a new

Desesde," takes the place of Dorset of the other

XXIII. XXIV., are evidently

name,

MSS.

"

false

Burgundy, Guienne, the Romans and

Tuscany are mentioned Frol, or Frollo, was a governor
of Gaul under the Romans, (see Sir F. Madden's note)
Brittany,

and the " Farnet

"
is

named

"

"

Farnaghe

in the Lincoln

MS.

AMADACE was

published by Weber in the third

volume of his Metrical Romances (1810) from a manu-

SIR

supposed unique, in the Advocates' Library at

Edinburgh, which he says was probably written by a monk
script,

at the

end of the

fifteenth century.

It is

an odd coinci-

dence, that, while the manuscripts differ in almost every

they should be alike deficient in the commencement,

Weber's having the advantage in one line. It begins

line,

" Thoffe

Y owe syche too

Downe sate Sir Amadas and hee

And kast how that best myghte bee
Both
It

far

and nere

:"

has been conjectured that this

is

the

Romance

of

Idoyne and Amadas, so frequently referred to by the early

romancers and poets, but at present not known to exist.

INTRODUCTION.

The romance, however, was a

XXV

and

love-story,

is

generally

coupled with that of Tristram and Tsoude Gower's account of it is not very distinct, but sufficient to shew that
it

was a

different tale to Sir

" Full

My

oft

tyme

it

Amadace.
falleth so,

ere with a good pittance

Is fed with

redynge of romance,

Of Idoyne and Amadas

That whilom were

And

eke of other,

in

my

cas

a score,

many

That loved long ere I was bore

For when I of her loves rede,

Myn ere with the tale I fede

And with the lust of her histoire,
;

Sometime I draw

into

memoire,

Howe sorrow may not ever last,

And so hope cometh in at last."
6.
Conf. Amant. Lib.

They are

also

named

in the

Romance

of Emare.

" In that on korner

made was
Idoyne and Amadas,
With love that was

so trewe,

For they loveden hem wit honour,

Portrayed they were with trewe-love

Of stones bryght

flour

of hewe."
Ritson, Metr.

Rom.

2,

209.

This can hardly be

applicable to the present poem,
where love, either in
prosperity or adversity, has little to

do with the

story.

CAMD. SOC.

Its

object seems to be, to hold the

INTRODUCTION.

XXVI

mirror up to knighthood, and shew it reflected in the

generous, the loyal, the devout, and the brave. It is
written in the same metre as SIR CLEGES, and there

is

considerable similarity in the style and diction of the two

poems.

The Canon Law

is

said to have authorised the arrest of

Burn's account of the matter

the dead body of a debtor.
"
is,
By the civil law dead bodies ought not to be hin-

dered from burial for debt, as vulgarly supposed which

seemed to be allowed by the law of the Twelve Tables.
;

And Lyndewood

law was, that the

burial of a dead person might be delayed for debt but
this was afterwards abolished, for death dissolved all
says, Heretofore the

things
cases,

and

albeit a

man

in his lifetime

may, in some

be imprisoned for debt, yet his dead body

be disturbed."

Eccles.

Law,

1.

shall

not

248.

however, a vulgar error, and dead bodies have been arrested even in late years.
Lydgate's (?)
It

is

still,

Tale of the Pryorys and her Thre Wooyrs, turns upon a

similar incident.

The

for the first time,

and

ordinary of the three.

tales

the

is

now printed

in all respects, the

most extra-

To combine a number

of separate

third of the poems, the

so as

to

is,

AVOWYNGE,

form one narrative, without introducing

episodes unnaturally, breaking the unity, or destroying the interest of the original plot, may be con-

INTRODUCTION.
sidered as the highest reach of art

XXV11

and various are the

ways in which it has been attempted, from the SEVYN

SAGES and the CANTERBURY TALES to LALLA ROOHK

and the QUEEN'S WAKE.

In the whole range, however,

much
AVOWYNGE.

not be easy to find an instance displaying so

it will

art

and judgment, in

Sir

Bawdewyn's three

this respect,
tales are

as the

brought to bear so happily

upon the original plot, as to increase the interest to the

end, and in these subordinate parts the poet has shewn
consummate
In this

artistic skill.

Romance

too, there is a

more

delicate tracing

and individuality
the King, with a shade of cunning and fond of practical
Sir
Sir Gawan, always courteous and stately
jokes
of character, with sufficient contrast

Menealfe, brave but hardly loyal Sir Bawdewyn, who is

the hero of the piece, and whose character is still further
;

developed in the
crabbit

MORTE D'ARTHUR;

and unlucky,

all

are strongly

and

Sir

and

clearly de-

Kaye,

lineated.

The

description

of

Sir

Bawdewyn's

household

curious and characteristic, and, without dwelling

the particular incidents,

of the school in

philosophy.

D'ARTHUR
<c

He
as

all

is

upon

must acknowledge the value

which the knight gained his practical

appears at an early period in the MORTE

one of the guardians of King Arthur.

Thenne the Archebisshop of Caunterbury, by Merlyns

INTRODUCTION.

XXV111

purueye themme of the best knyghtes

that they myghte gete.
And suche knygtes as Utherpendragon loued best and moost trusted in his dayes.

prouydence

And

lete

suche knyghtes were put aboute Arthur as Syr

Bawdewyn

of Bretayn, Syre Kaynes, Syre Ulfyus,

Barcias."

Lib.

tion Sir

Syre

After King Arthur's corona-

cap. 6.

1.

Bawdewyn was made

Constable, and distinguished

himself in a subsequent encounter, where various kings

formed an alliance against Arthur. In the fifth book, King

Arthur is represented as holding a parliament at York,
previous to attacking Lucius,

he ordeyned two governours of

Syre

Bawdewyn

" There

Emperor of Rome.
this

royame, that is to say,

of Bretayne for to counceille to the best,

and Syr Constantyn, son to Syre Cador of Cornewaylle,

which after the death of Arthur was kyng of this Roy-

He

amme."

is

again described as a councillor in the

sixth book, " Thenne said Syr Gawayne and his brethren
unto Arthur, Syre, and ye wil gyue vs leue we wille go

and seke oure brother.

shalle ye not

nede

Nay, said Syr Launcelot, that

and so said Syr Bawdewyn of Bre-

tayne, for, as by oure aduys," &c.

He

appears again in the eighteenth book in a

racter

new cha-

" Lance, shield, and sword

relinquished
bead-roll, in his hand a clasped book

at his side

Or

staff

more harmless than a shepherd's crook,

The war-worn

Chieftain quits the world

"

INTRODUCTION.

XXIX

imagine a more appropriate

termination of the career of the hero of the AVOWYNGE.

and

it

would be

difficult to

At the conclusion

of a tournament,

where

Sir Lancelot has

taken a principal part in disguise, three kings and Sir

"
Galahaut, the haute prince, thus addressed him
Fayre
:

knyght, God the blesse, for moche haue ye done this day
for vs
therfor we praye yow that ye wille come with vs,
;

receyue the honour and the pryce as ye haue

worshipfully deserued it. My faire lordes, saide Syre
Launcelot, wete yow wel yf I haue deserued thanke, I

that ye

may

haue sore bought hit, and that me repenteth,

lyke neuer to escape with my lyf, therfor, faire
pray yow that ye wille suffer
lyketh, for I

honour, for
alle

am
I

sore hurte.

had leuer

me
I

to departe

for I

am

lordes, I

where

me

take none force of none

to repose

me

than to be lord of

the world; and there with al he groned pytously,

and rode a grete wallop away ward fro them vntyl he

came vnder a woodes syde. And whan he sawe that he

nyghe a myle, that he was sure he

myghte not be sene, thenne he said, with an hy3 voys,
was from the

felde

gentyl knyght, Sir Lauayne, help me, that this truncheon were oute of my syde, for it stycketh so sore that

nyhe sleeth me. O myn owne lord, said Sir Lauayne,

1 wold fayn do that my3t please yow, but I drede me sore,
and I pulle oute the truncheon that ye shall e be in perylle

it

of dethe.

charge you, said Sir Launcelot, as ye loue

INTRODUCTION.

XXX

me

drawe

hit oute,

and there with

alle

he descended from

and ryght soo dyd Sir Lauayn, and forth with

Sir Lauayn drewe the truncheon out of his syde, and

his hors,
al,

gaf a grete shryche and a merueilous grysely grone, and

the blood braste oute nyghe a pynt at ones, that at the

he sanke down vpon

and so swouned pale

and dedely. Alias, sayd Sire Lauayne, what shalle I doo.
And thenne he torned Sir Launcelot in to the wynde, but
last

his buttoks

soo he laye there nyghe half an houre, as he had ben dede.

And

so at the laste Syre Launcelot caste

and sayd,

O Lauayn, helpe me, that

by, within this two myle, a gentyl heremyte,

here

is fast

that

somtyme was a

of possessions.

hym
his

vp his eyen,
were on my hors, for

fulle

And

noble knyghte, and a grete lord

for grete goodenes,

he hath taken

and forsaken many landes, and

Sire Baudewyn of Bretayn, and he is a ful

to wylful pouerte,

name

is

noble surgeon and a good leche. Now lete see, help me

vp that I were there, for euer my herte gyueth me that I
shalle neuer dye of my cosyn germayns handes, and

thenne with grete payne Sir Lauayn e halpe hym vpon his
hors.
And thenne they rode a grete wallop to gyders,

and euer Syr Launcelot bledde, that it ranne downe to

the erthe, and so by fortune they came to that hermytage
the whiche was vnder a wood, and a grete clyf on the
other syde, and a fayre water rennynge vnder it. And
thenne Sire Lauayn bete on the gate with the but of his

INTRODUCTION.
spere,

and cryed

came a

fair

fast,

XXXI

Lete in for Jhesus sake, and there

chyld to them, and asked

Faire sone, said Syr Lauayne, goo

hem what they wold.

and pray thy

lord, the

heremyte, for Goddes sake to lete in here a knyghte that

is ful

hym

wounded, and this day, telle thy lord, I sawe

do more dedes of armes than euer I herd say that
sore

ony man dyd. Soo the chyld wente in lyghtely, and

thenne he brought the heremyte, the whiche was a passynge good man. Whan Syr Lauayne saw hym, he prayd
hym for Goddes sake of socour. What knyght is he, sayd
the heremyte, is he of the hows of Kyng Arthur or not ?
wote not, said Sire Lauayne, what is he, nor what is his
name, but wele I wote I sawe hym doo merueylously this
I

On whos

daye as of dedes of armes.

the heremyte

party was he, sayd

Syre, said Syre Lauayne, he was this daye

ageynst Kynge Arthur, and there he wanne the pryce of

alle the knyghtes of the round table.
I haue sene the
daye, sayd the heremyte, I wold haue loued hym the
werse, by cause he was ageynst
for

but

somtyme
I

where

was one

thanke God
is

he, lete

now

me

my

lord

Kynge Arthur,

of the felauship of the

I

see

am

otherwyse disposed.

hym

Thenne

broughte the heremyte to hym.

" And whan the
beheld

heremyte

round table,

hym

Sir

as

he

But

Lauayne
sat len-

ynge upon his sadel bowe, euer bledynge pytously, and

euer the knyghte heremyte thoughte that he shold knowe

INTRODUCTION.

XXX11

hym, but he coude not brynge hym to knouleche, by

cause he was soo pale for bledynge. What knyght are ye,
sayd the heremyte, and where were ye borne
lord,

Launcelot,

sayd Syre

am

My

a straunger

fayre

and a

knyghte auenturous, that laboureth thur} oute many

Realmes for to wynne worship. Thenne the heremyte
aduysed hym better, and sawe, by a wound on his cheke,
that he was Syr Launcelot.
Alias, sayd the heremyte,
myn owne lord, why layne you your name from me. For
sothe

oughte to knowe yow of

ry3t, for

ye are the moost

knowe yow for Sire

sythe ye knowe me, helpe me

noblest knyghte of the world, for wel I

Launcelot.

Syre, said he,

and ye may

for

payne

Goddes sake,

for I

wold be oute of

this

Haue ye no

at ones, outher to dethe or to lyf.

doubte, sayd the heremyte, ye shall lyue and fare ryght

wel ; and soo the heremyte called to hym two of his seruauntes, and so he and his seruauntes bare

hym

in to the

hermytage, and lyghtlely vnarmed hym and leyd hym in

his bedde.
And thenne anone the heremyte staunched
his blood

and made

drynke good wyn, so that Sir

Launcelot was wel refresshed and knewe hym self. For

in these dayes

now a

dayes.

hym

to

was not the guyse of heremytes, as is

For there were none heremytes in tho

it

had ben men of worshyp and of

prowesse, and the heremytes helde grete housholde, and
dayes, but that they

refresshyd peple that were in distressed'

Vol. 2. p. 336.

INTRODUCTION.
So

far Sir

Bawdewyn

is

XXxiii

more fortunate than any other

knights of the Round Table; fore-shadowing,

indeed,, the fate of the few survivors of the last fatal
of the

but unlike Sir Lancelot, who, in the words

of the beautiful sonnet quoted above, withdrew

battle-fields

"

His

thin autumnal locks

to

hide

where monks abide

In cloistered privacy. But not to dwell

In soft repose he comes. Within his cell

Round the decaying trunk of human pride,

At morn, and eve, and midnight's silent hour,

Do

penitential cogitations cling

Like ivy, round some ancient elm, they twine

In grisly folds and strictures serpentine
:

Yet, while they strangle without mercy, bring

For recompense, their own perennial bower."

not necessary to relate what passed at the her

" Soo
vpon
mitage Sir Lancelot is desirous to be gone,
a day, by the assente of Syr Launcelot, Syre Bors and
It is

Syre Lauayne they made the heremyte to seke in wo odes

for dyuerse herbes, and so Sir Launcelot made fay re

Elayne to gadre herbes for hym to make hym a bayne."

During their absence he armed himself and mounted his

wound burst out again with the exertion, and

he fell down on one side to the earth, like a dead corpse.
" With this came the
holy heremyte Syr Bawdewyn of
Bretayne. And whan he fond Syr Launcelot in that
steed

the

CAMD. soc.

INTRODUCTION.

XXXIV

he sayd but lytel, but wete ye wel he was wrothe,

and thenne he bad hem, lete vs haue hym in. And so

plyte,

hym vnto the hermytage, and vnarmed

hym, and layd hym in his bedde, and euer more his
they

alle

bare

wound bledde

pytously, but he stered no

lymme

of

hym.
Thenne the knyghte heremyte put a thynge in his nose
and a lytel dele of water in his rnouthe. And thenne Sir
Launcelot waked of his swoune, and thenne the heremyte
staunched his bledynge. And whan he myght speke, he
asked Sir Launcelot why he putte his lyf in jeopardy. Sir,
said Syre Launcelot,

and

also Syre

by cause

Bors told

me

wende

had ben stronge,

that there shold be at al

halowmasse a grete justes betwixe Kynge Arthur and the

Kynge of Northgalys, and therfor I thoughte to assay hit
A, Syr Launcemyself, whether I myght be there or not.
sayd the heremyte, your herte and your courage wille
neuer be done vntyl your last day, but ye shal doo now

lot,

my counceylle, lete Sire Bors depart e from yow, and

lete hym doo at that turnement what he may, and by the
by

grace of God, sayd the knyghte heremyte, by that the

turnement be done and ye come hydder ageyne, Syr

Launcelot shall be as hole as ye, soo that he wil be
gouerned by me."
This

is

V.

2.

347-

done, Sir Lancelot recovers, and

we hear no

more of the Knight Hermit.

The scene of the AVOWYNGE, like that of the ANTURS, is

INTRODUCTION.

XXXV

Inglewood forest Liddel Mote is an ancient and

strong fortification on theLidd, where it runs into the Eske
laid in

was given by John, Earl of Kent, in whose family it had

been for some generations, to Edward III. Besides Sir
it

Bawdewyn, we have another new knight,

King Arthur

the Mountayn.

is

Sir Menealfe of

represented as the son of

the king of Constantyn, (" Constantyn besyde Bretayne."

Morte

1.

d' Arthur,

Sowdan

of Spain

138.)

who makes war

against the

an additional proof of the loose notions

which the ancient minstrels had of the conventional

re-

lationships of their heroes.

The metre
with rhyme

a good specimen of alliteration combined

is

but, unfortunately,

from

Several

its

structure^ tend-

in a similar stanza of

poems
ing to obscurity.
and
fifteenth
the fourteenth
centuries, are in existence

DISPUTATION BYTWENE A CRYSTEN

one,
MAN AND A JEWE, is extracted by Warton from the
Vernon MS. of which the following will be a sufficient
entitled

specimen.
" Forth heo wenten on the

feld,

To an hul thei bi-heold,

The eorthe clevet as a scheld,

On

the grounde grene

Sone fond

thei a stih,

Thei went theron radly ;

The

cristene

What

hit

mon hedde

mihte mene.

ferly

INTRODUCTION.

XXXVI

Aftir that

sti3

lay a strete,

Clere i-pavet withgrete,

Thei fond a maner, that was meete,

With murthes ful schene
;

Wei

corven and wrouht,

With halles heije uppon loft,

To a place weore thei brouht,

As

paradys the clene.

Hist.

Eng. Poet.

2.

231.

In this piece, whether poet or scribe be in fault, the

alliteration is

very negligently kept up.

In conclusion, I have to return my best acknowledgments to Dr. Holme, of Manchester, for the assistance

he has rendered me, and the interest he has taken in

the work and to Dr. Kendrick and J. Fitchett Marsh,
;

Esq. of Warrington, for the loan of many valuable books.

But to Sir Frederick Madden my obligations are more
numerous. If the publication has any value, it is in great

measure owing to his suggestions, and the Glossary is, in

the most important parts, a literal copy of his most excellent

one to SYR

GA WAYNE.

& -WP
C

Jfti

rjx

DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

THE

MS. is in quarto, written on a coarse parchment,*

24 lines in a page there are neither illuminations nor
ornamented capitals ; and, although each tale is divided into
FITTES, there is no punctuation of any kind, nor is there a title to
any of the poems, except at the conclusion of SIR AMADACE.
Ireland

with 21

The

first tale

begins at the top of a page, occupies fifteen folios,

and ends at the bottom of a page one folio, if not more, appears to
be missing, and the tale of SIB AMADACE, which begins abruptly,
extends over 1*J% folios, ending on the second page of the
eighteenth. The third story commences in the same page as the
second concludes, goes through 24 folios, and thirteen lines of the
next page ; then follows a blank folio, and the rest of the volume
(40 folios) consists of records and memoranda of the court of
;

Hale.

These records have evidently been inserted at various times, and

apparently by William Irland, Lord of the Manor of Hale during
the reigns of Henry V. and VI. and at the beginning of Edward
IV.

careful

examination has satisfied

me

that the

first five

poems, were left blank by the original transcriber of

these excerpta, who began his labours with a pentameter,
" Assit
Sancta Maria meo."

folios after the

principio

Curia de

Hale in

principio Rotuli, tenta ibidem die martis

Sancti
festum
Michaelis, anno regni regis Ricardi
proximo post
secundi tercio decimo, et super dorsum ejusdem Rotuli, pro tak.
Roberti Diconson, pro tribus porcis, iijd.
*

A very imperfect and

published in Gregson's
Lancashire."

"

erroneous account of the Manuscript was

Fragments of a Portfolio of the rfistory of

DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

XXXV111

To

cc
Resappended a marginal note in another hand.
aula
Roberti
tak
bene
de
Johannes
Dicunson, quia
pice
Leyot
It appears from varifuit quondam tenementum dicti Roberti."

this is

ous entries, that John Leyot, Dean of Chester, Rector of Malpas

and Denforth, and Vicar of Hale, obtained possession of various
lands and buildings, and disputed the manorial rights ; he died^
as is stated in one of the memoranda, 6 Henry VI. before
which this note must have been written. The following page
DE FESTO NATALIS DOMINI, ANNO Ribegins, ROTULO vi
CARDI QUARTO DECiMO ; and contains excerpts from various
In the eleventh
Rolls, which are specified, but without date.

page we have, NUNC INCIPIT QUADRAGESIME ANNO REGNI

REGIS HENRICI QUARTI SEXTO. ROTULO xi ROTUL. PARGAMENE. In page 14 we find " Modo incipit Tractatus parvi
quaterni/' with dates of the 16th, 17th, and 19th of Richard II.

and receipt of rents of the 16th and l?th, and a heryot of the 18th
year of the same monarch. The extracts from this Parvus Quaternus fill nearly six folios, and are divided into seventy sections ;
one only is of a later date, and this, with the concluding sections,
is

as follows

LXVII. Adam

del Colcotes Ballivus libertatis Manerii de

narravit Willielmo Irland,

domino

dicti

Manerii, anno

Hale

regis Henrici

quod Thomas Layet perquesivit terras et tenementa

de etc. quondam terrae Johannis le Hayre ; et similiter perquesivit
terras de Cecilia Shipman, et Margeria sorore sua, et ilia ; et terre
quinti quinto,

et pro tenumentis Cecilie, ut de redditu,

;
domino. Ideo querendum est.
LXVIII. Thomas Layet, quia pandoxavit semel, ijd. Et quia

predicte simul jacent

solvit

concelavit le

fowundynge pot, iijd.

Thomas Layet valde juxta, viz. duodecimus pro tol de
uno pullo, ijd. stat super idem latus folii et ibi bene loquitur de tol.
LXVIIII. Thomas Layet pro sex porcis appreciatis ixs. in eodem
Item, idem

loco similiter

LXX.
dam

fit

de

aliis,

ut patet ibidem.

Item de tenumentis Johannis de Irland de bovat' quon-

Roberti de Chester per to turn annum,

vjd. ob.

quad.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

De eodem Johanne pro tenument. in Redale, iiijd.

De eodem Johanne pro tenument. in Morecote,

XXXIX

viz.

quinque

quadrantes vd.

De eodem Johanne pro tenument. Ranulphi Haricokson per

Cartam annuatim de proprio concessio, xiocd. ob.
De eodem Johanne pro tenument. quondam David patris sui,
iiijs.

et ista

parvum

Recordacio stat in ultimo fine parvi quaterni super

Jam

parvus quaternus fenitur.

Rotuli
Antiqui de papiro scripto, qui sunt quinincipiunt

folium.

Nunc

que de numero.
LXXI. Curia de Hale tenta ibidem die Lune in septimana de
Quasimodo, anno regis Ricardi Secundi xijo.
Copies of other paper rolls of the reign of Henry IV. follow ;
the first in his eleventh, the second in his fourth year. The third
entry, with a date,

LXXVIII

is,

Johannes

Clerke queritur de Ricardo Brugge de

le

et injuste detinet serviplacito, eo quod predictus Ricardus debet

cium factum pro duobus annis de Officio hay ward, anno regis
Ricardi Secundi xxij et anno regis Henrici Quarti primo, ad dam-

num iijs. iiijd.

Et defend,

negat, et ponit se ad patriam, per

quam

quer. recuperet vjd. et predictus Ricardus in misericordia.

Feniti sunt Rotuli, qui sunt quinque de numero.

Nunc

incipit Tractatus

parvorum Rotulorum de

extractis,

un-

decim de numero.
These excerpts follow an inverse order, beginning with the
eleventh roll, 1 Henry IV. and ending with the first, at the 86th

by the receipt of Rents at the Annunand

at Martinmas 4 Henry IV.
V.
Henry
The next series of documents has every appearance of having
been entered about the period of their respective dates. They are
chapter.

They

are followed

ciation term, 1

and particular records of the proceedings, fines, presentations,

appointment of officers, and lists of the Juries of the Courts of
Hale as follows

full

Tuesday
Tuesday

after the
after the

Conception, 14 Henry IV.

Annunciation, 1 Henry V.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

XI

Henry V.
Monday before St. Andrew, 1 Henry V.
Monday after the Annunciation, 2 Henry V.
Tuesday after St. Wilfrid, 2 Henry V.
Monday after St. Martin, 2 Henry V.
Thursday St. Martin, 3 Henry V.
Wednesday eve of St. Luke, 3 Henry V.
Tuesday before St. Andrew, 3 Henry V.
Wednesday before St. Margaret, 4 Henry V.
Thursday after St. Catharine, 4 Henry V.
As a specimen it will be sufficient to give
Thursday,

entries

St. Wilfrid, 1

the last of these

Curia de Hale tenta ibidem die Jovis proximo post festum

Sancte Katerine virginis anno regni regis Henrici Q,uinti quarto.
Inquisitio capta ex officio per sacramentum Willielmi Hogesone,

Thome Penultone, Galfridi de

Robynson, Willielmi

Penultone, Henrici de Bruge, Rogeri

de Torbok, Ricardi Henrysone, Johannis

Clerke, Johannis del Crosse, Roberti de Wysewalle, Willielmi de

Speke, Roberti Gille, Jurat, dicunt quod Robertus Gille ienvenit
(invenit) j swarme, et stat in orto Willielmi Speke. Henricus Poghdene pro consimili in orto suo. Willielmus de Thornetone pro con-

Item Jurati dicunt quod Thomas Layot obsturectum

cursum
passet
aque, inter predictum Thomam et Galfridum Penultone. Item dicunt quod Alicia Pogheden obstupasset
rectum cursum aque, inter earn et Willielmum de Torbok. Item
dicunt quod Ricardus de Rygby obstupasset rectum cursum aque 5
versus hostium Willielmi de Torbok. Item dicunt quod Ricardus
Rygby dolavit Sappelynges in le Wethyns. Item dicunt quod
Thomas Penultone dolavit iij. sappelynges in loco predicto. Item
dicunt quod Willielmus de Speeke pro transgressione super le lond
jacent.per ortum predicti Willielmi. Item dicunt quod Stephanus
Eliot fecit transgressionem super lond predictum. Item dicunt quod
uxor Willielmi Hankynsone fecit transgressionem super le mekyl
simili in orto suo.

forlonge halond. Item dicunt

quod Ricardus de Rygby

fecit trans-

DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

gressionem super

le

xl

a landes super longehille. Item dicunt

quod

Thomas Layat

tenet a gappe appertum versus le halleyerde.

Alicia uxor Robert! Pecelle pro fraccione sigilli, iijd.

Le Reve Willielmus de Torbok ad festum

Sancti Michaelis

Archangel!, anno regis Henrici quinti quarto.

Constabularius Stephanus Eliot ad terminum predictum juratus.
-D
1
^ Adam de Coldecotes,
^jurati ad terminum

Willielmus de Thorneton,

predictum.

Johannes Thurstansone queritur de Ade de Coldecotes et de

omnibus tenentibus ville de Hale, in placito transgressionis, et
dicit quod ipsi distruct. et comederunt cum averiis suis herbagium
suum inter territorium de Hale per duos annos ultime elapsos, pro
quibus solitus fuit habere ijs. per annum. Ad dampnum iijs. iiijd.
Def. negant per inquis. diet, xiiijd. de dampno.
Afferatores f

Willielmus de Torbok,
Ricardus Henreson,

Jurati
)

Johannes Thurstansone queritur de Ade de Coldecotes in plapro uno ferthynge accepto de manu Robert!
Coldecotes per xv annos, ad dampnum iocs. Def. negat per Inq.

cito transgressionis,

cont r usque proximam curiam.

.

Domina Margeria, que fuit uxor Johannis

Irland militis, queritur

de heredibus de Johanne Johnson Atkynsone, quare noluit venire

r
et solvere heriot. Def. negat
per inquisitionem cont usque proximam curiam.
.

to

Several other presentations follow, but enough has been given

show that, while the writer made such extracts from the earlier

he thought of importance, he here gives, in full detail, the

proceedings of each court ; the two last quoted paragraphs, where
the charges are referred to the next court, were evidently
inserted by a contemporary ; and of course we ascertain the period
when the parchment book, instead of recounting the wonderful
feats of King Arthur and his
knights, became a record of the
rolls as

"
* In another
place
Burelaymen.."
"
" Affirmatores Curie."
f Elsewhere
Affirmatores," and
CAMD. SOC.
f

DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

Xlii

squabbles of alewives and tolls upon pigs. This portion occupies

eleven folios,, and was probably begun by William Irland upon his
coming in possession of the estate, which appears to have been at

commencement of the reign of Henry V. in 1413. It is probable that they have been continued to a later period than the
4 Henry V. as there seems a deficiency of one or more quires of

the

parchment in

this part of the

MS. The whole

of this portion is

written in a different ink to the rest.

The remainder

of the manuscript (12 folios) contains a miscelmemoranda of events happening within the

laneous assortment of

Manor,

as claims of

Wreck, Waythes and Strayes, Kele

Toll,

Coroner's Inquests, (the Lord of Hale is still the Coroner,) Ordinances, and a long account of the purchases and usurpations of
Magister Johannes Leyot, who has been already named. These

from 3 to 14 Henry VI.

are of various dates

William Irland
passage

In these entries

often personally referred to, as in the following

Item datum
militis,

is

quod

est mihi,

die

Willielmo Irland

Lune proximo

filio

Johannis Irland

ante festum Invencionis Sancte

Crucis, anno Regis Henrici sexti tercio, Johannes Leyot persona

Some of the documents
Ecclesie de Malepas et Bangore, &c.

connected with Leyot go back as far as 9 Richard II.

One of these, as it names William Kendale, I shall transcribe.
Memorandum quod die Dominica proximo post festum Sancte

Marie Magdelane, anno

mini

M^CCCC'noXX

regis Henrici Quinti nono, et

1110
,

Anno Do-

Johannes Leyot Rector de Denforthe

et

postea Decanus Cestrie, et modo Rector Ecclesie de Malepas,

eodem die monstravit seu protulit in Capella de Hale unam literam attornatoriam Johannis Ducis Berfordie (sic), fratris regis

Henrici quinti, sub

sigillo ejusdem Ducis, et declaravit palam et

coram
omnibus
ibidem presentibus, quod idem Dux per lipublice

teram suam attornatoriam misit Thomam Alluerwyk, servientem Johannis Leyot, Attornatum ejusdem Ducis, ad recipiendum seisinam
in

omnibus

terris et

tenumentis que idem

Dux

habuit ex dorio et

feoffamento Willielmi Kendale Capellani, celebrantem apud Hale

DESCRIPTION OF THE MANUSCRIPT.

ejusdem Johannis Leyot, que terre et tenumenta idem
Johannes occulte dedit dicto Willielmo; et si aliquis infra dominium de Hale dederit occulte dedit contra formam etconsuetudinem
manerii de Hale predicti ; et in declaracione dixerunt quod Willielmus Kendale dedit feoffamentum predicto Duci, sed carta inde
Willielmus Irland, tune temporis dominus Manerii de Hale, dixit
quod non videbat, sed dixit quod vidit literam attornatoriam sub
sigillo ejusdem Ducis. Que terre et tenementa idem Johannes
Leyot perquisivit de diversis tenentibus Johannis Irland militis, et

presbiter.

Willielmi Irland

ejusdem

ville.

filii

ejusdem Johannis, in Hale, ut patet in Rental e

est hec, quia quod Johannes Leyot dedit

Et causa

Willielmo Kendale presbitero, et similiter ordinavit quod predictus

Willielmus daret predicta tenumenta Duci predicto, quia dictus

Johannes Leyot habuit filium morantem cum predicto Duci, vocatum Magister Ricardus Leyot, et fuit Cancellarius ejusdem Ducis
et pro magna affectione et fide quam habuerunt in Ducem, idem
Johannes Leyot constituit ordinavit et imaginavit tale feoffamentum et donacionem factam eidem Duci, ad se manutenendum et
supportandum erga Willielmum Irland dominum suum, in magnum
prejudicium ejusdem domini sui et in subtractione servicii et
herieleti et consuetudinum ex antique usitatum.
The four first folios have been filled- up afterwards with similar
;

materials

the

first

memorandum

book 4 Edward IV. (1465)

bearing the latest date in the

dated the year before, names
Lord of Hale. At the top of the first

the

last,

William Irland as being still

page we have what has been intended for a hexameter verse
" Ad mea
tibi dico salve Maria."

principia

Two

quires of parchment at least have been lost from the beginning, and as many from the end of the book and several folios
:

end are so faded as to be hardly intelligible.

Various marginal notes have been added at different times;
we find at the top of page 68 " Tomas Yrlond," probably a Thomas
Ireland who was living temp. Henry VIII. At p. 18, " Mary
Greene Aug. y e 3, 1736, this book belongs to Hale HaU for ever/'
Other references seem to have been written about the end of the
at the

sixteenth century.

DESCRIPTION OP THE MANUSCRIPT.

The Pedigree of the Ireland family, which has been given in

BAINES' HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE, and also as drawn up by Sir
so far as the present
Isaac Heard, in GREGSON'S FRAGMENTS,
work is concerned, is as follows.
Adam Irland, living 1308, married Avena, daughter and coheiress of Sir Robert Holland, and,

by the

gift

of her father,

Lady

son John Irland was living 23 Edward III.; he was

; their
succeeded by David Irland ; whose son John Irland, afterw ards

of Hale

knighted, was the father of William Irland, to whom we owe the preThe last heir male of the family was
servation of the manuscript.
Sir Gilbert Ireland, who died without issue 1675.
His sister married

Edward Aspinwall

of Aspinwall near Ormskirk;

also terminating in a female,

this family

who married

Isaac
Aspinwall,
the
who
left
her
lady
probably
autograph as
above mentioned. She died in 1738, her husband in 1749, leaving
three daughters, coheiresses, one of whom, in 1752, married
Thomas Blackburne of Orford, Esq. the grandfather of John

Mary

Green of Childwall

Ireland Blackburne of Hale, Esq. Lord of the

ton, and now its representative in Parliament.

Manor

of Warring-

The binding of the MS. is of a primitive sort. Two stout oaken

backs, each half an inch thick and guiltless of a plane, are bound
together by seven thongs of white leather, which pass twice
through each of the boards, fixed by wooden wedges where they
commence on one side, and their ends nailed down on the other.

Two

thongs of the like material kept the book close when their
ends were fixed on brass nails, one of which still projects from the

left-hand board.

With

respect to the orthography, the Saxon ]? is very freused

at the beginning, but not more than three or four
quently
times in the middle of a word. There are the usual contractions,

which I have given at full length ; in every other respect I have

endeavoured to copy it literally. For the general character of the
writing, I
tion.)

sible

may

refer to the fac-simile (inserted before this Descrip-

There being no punctuation in the original,

for the pointing, the hyphens, and the accents.

Warrington, March, 1842.

am

respon-

EARLY

ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

I.

IN the tyme of Arther thys antur be-tydde,

Be-syde the Tarnewathelan, as the boke tellus
That he to Karlylle was comun, that conquerour kydde,
Wythe dukys, and with dosiperus, that with the deure dwellus,
For to hunte atte the herd, that lung hase bynne hydde
Tyl on a day thay horn dy3tinto the depe dellus,
Fellun to tho femalus, in forest was fredde
Fayre by fermesones, by frythys, and felles,
To the wudde thay weyndun, these wlonkes in wedes
Bothe the kyng and the qwene,
;

And

other do3ti by-dene

Syr Gawan, graythist on grene,
Dame Gaynore he ledus.
;

II.

Thenne Syr Gawan the gode, Dame Gaynour he

ledus,

Inne a gliderand gyde, that glemit so gay ;

That was with rebans reuersut, quo so ry}t redys,
Arayit aure with rebans, rycheste of ray

Hur hud of a haa hew, that hur hede hidus,

Of purpure, and palle werke, and perre to pay

Wos

schrod in a schort cloke, that the rayn shredes,

CAMD. SOC.

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

Set aure with saferes, quo sothely will say,
Safers and seledyms, serclet on sydus ;
Her sadylle sette with that ilke,

With ryche

sa savmhellus of sylke,
as the mylke ;

mule

Thus

gayli

Opun

ho glydus.
III.

And

Dame Gaynour

the gode, gayli ho glidus

The gatys with Syr Gawan, by a grene welle ;
And a byrne on a blonke, that with the quene a-bydus,

thus

That borne was in Burgoyne, be boke and by belle ;

So lung he ledys that lady by that Ibghe sydus,
Ther at a laurialle scho Iy3t,loe by a hille ;
The fellus, Arther and his Jjiurles, hernestely he rydest,
To teche horn to hor tristurs, quo truly wille telle ;
To hor tristurs he horn ta3te, quo truly me trowes,

Yche

lord with-outen lette,

tre ar thay sette,

Vn-to a

Wyth bow and wyth

berselette,

Vndurneth the boes.

IV.

Thus vndur boes thay byde, than byrnes

To beker

so bold,

bonkes so bare ;
There my3te hathels on hye, herdus be-hold,
To herkyn huntyng with home, in holtis so hore
Thay kest of hor cowjmllus, in cliffes so cold,
Cumfordun hor kenettes, to l^ele horn of care ;
atte the barrens, in

Thay felle to the female dure, feyful thyk fold

With felle houundus and with fresche, thay folo the
;

ST.

II.

III. 5.

1.

13.

Saude with sambutes of sylke. MS. Douce.

MS. Lincoln. Lawe, MS. Douce.

Loffhe landez,

V.

infra,

fare.

VII.

o.

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

Thay questun, thay quellun,

By frythun,, by fellun,
The dere in the dellun,
Tliay droupun and daren.

V.
Alle dyrkyns the dere, in the dym scbghes,
For drede of the dethe droupus the doe;

For the squyppand watur, that squytherly squoes,

Thayre werre on the wild squyne wurchis horn wo.
The hunteres thay haulen, by hurstes and by hoes,

To the

rest raches that releues of the roe

Thay geuen no gomen, nyf no grythe, that on the grounde groes,

The grehoundys in the grene greues, so gladdely thay goe ;
Thus gladdely thay goe, in greuis so grene,
The king blue a rechase,
Folut fast on the trase,
With mony seriandys of mase,
That solas to see.
VI.

Thus

that solas to see, the semelokest of alle,

Thay 303 1 to thayre souerayne, undur the scfia schene

Alle butte Syr Gauan, graythest of

alle,

Was laft with Dame Gaynour, vndur

By a lauryel ho lay, vndur a lefe sale,

the greues grene.

Of box and

of barbere, byggyt ful bene ;

atte the mydday this ferly con falle,

Euyn
And
V.

6, 7.

this

And

mykyl meruel,

that I of

mene

bluwe rechas, rlally thei ranne to the ro.

to no gamen, that on grownde growes. MS. Douce.

Thay gafe

And
" And

to

tille

thaire riste, raches relyes onne thaire raye ;

They gafe no gamen, no grythe, that on grownde growes. MS. Lincoln.

their resting place hounds follow, on their track (?)
They gave no sport,

no respite." The second line is repeated (without the negative) infra XII,
appears to conclude with a sort of conventional or expletive phrase.

3,

and

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

Nou wold

I of this

meruel mele,

if I

mo3t,

The day wex as dirke

As the mydny3te myrke,
Ther-of Syr Arther wos

And

Thus on

And

fote

li}te

on

irke,

his fote.

VII.
con thay founde, these frekes vn-fayn,

fled to the forest fro the fau fellus

Thay ran to the.raches, for redeles of rayn,

For the s'nyterand snaue, that snaypely horn snellus
'

come

a lau oute of a loghe, in lefre is nojt to layn,

In lykenes of Lucifere, lauyst in hellus ;

Glydand

to

Dame

Gaynour, hyre gates were gayne,

3atftand ful 3ameriy^ with mony loude 3elles ;

Hyt 3aulit^ hit 3amurt, with wlonkes full wete,

And

sayd with sykyng sare^

banne the byrde that me bare^
For noue comyn is my care,
I gloppen and Y grete !^

"

VIII.
Alle gloppuns and gretys

Dame Gaynour

the gay,

" Quat is thi best rede ?*

sayd to Syr Gauan,
"
Hyt is but the clyppus of the sune, I herd a clerk say ;"
And thus he cumforthes the quene, throghe his kny3t-hed;
Ho sayd, " Syr Cador, Syr Clegius, Syr Costantyne, Syr

And

These kny3tes ar vn-curtas, by cros, and by crede

That thus haue laft me allone, at my dethe day,
With on the grymlokkest gost, that euer herd I grete
" Of the
"
gost," quod the gome,
greue the no mare
!

VII.

2.
3.

Faivefellis,

To

MS.

Lincoln.

the roches,for reddoure,

Fewe, MS. Douce.

MS. D. to the rocks, for fear*

3>
\

THE ANTUBS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

For

I wille

And

of hit

Gif that

And

speke with the sprete,

woe

wiile I wete,

hit bales bete,

may

the body bare."

IX.
Alle bare was the body, and blak by the bone,
Vmbeclosut in a cloude, in clething evyl clad
Hit 3aulut, hit 3amurt, lyke a woman,
of hyde, nyf of heue, 'no hillyng hit
stedyt, hit stode as stylle as a stone ;

Nauthyr

had ;

Hyt
Hyt menet,

hit musut, hyt marret for madde.

Vn-to the gryselyche gost Syr Gauane is gone,
And rayket to hit in a res, for he was neuyr radde
Rad was he neuyr 3ette, quo so ry3te,redus ;
Opon the chefe of hur cfiolle,

A padok

prykette on a polle,

Hyr enyn were holket and

And gloet as the gle9es.

holle,

X.
Alle gloet as the gledes, the gost qwere hit glidus,
Was vmbyclosut in a cloude, in clething vn-clere
Was sette aure with serpentes, that sate to the sydus

To telle the todus ther opon with tung were ful tere.
Then this byrne braydet owte a brand, and the body bidus
For alle this chiualrouse kny3t, chonget no chere;
The houndes hyes to the holtes, and thayre hedus hidus

The greundes were alle a-gast, of the gryme bere.

Thus were the grehondes a-gast of the gryme bere
The bryddus in the boes,
;

That of the gost gous,

Thay scryken

in the scoes,

That herdus

my 3 ten

horn here.

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

XL
Alle the herdus

my3tun here, the hyndest of alle,

Off the schaftfand the shol, shaturt to the shin ;
Thenne coniurt the kny3t, and on Cryst callus,
" As Thou was
on crosse, and clanser of synne,
claryfiet
me, thou waret wy3te quedur that thou schalle,
Querfore that thou walkes these woddes with-inne ?"

Wys
Ho

ho was a figure of flesche, fayrest of alle,

Crystunt and crisumpte with kingus in my kynne ;
hade kingus in my kynne, that kyd were for kene ;

"

sayd,

Thus God hase grauntut me

grace,

To <Jre my penawunse in this place,

And I am comun in this cace,
To carpe with 3 our qwene.
XII.

For qwene was I sum-qwile, bri3ter of broes

Thenne Berel, or Brangeuayne, the birdus so bold ;
Of alle the gornun, and the grythe, that on the ground
Grattur thenne

Dame Gaynour,

groes,

be grete sowmus of gold

Of palas, of parkes, of poundes, of pl'oes,

Of toures, of tounes, of tresurus vn-told;
Of castels, of cuntrayes, of cliffes, of cloes,

T*

Thus am I cachet fro kythe, to cares so kold

Thus am I cachet to care, and couchet in clay

Lo thou curtase kny3te,

Houe dylful dethe hase me dy}te,
To lette me onus haue a sy3te
!

Of Ganore the gay/ 5

XIII.

Thenne Syr Gauan the gode, to Gaynour is gone,

Be-fore the body he hur bro3te, and the byrde
bry3te,
Ho sayd, " Welcum, Waynor, i-wys, wurlok in wone

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

Lo
For

dilful dethe hase thi Dame dy3te I,

rud was raddur then rose of the rort,

hou

my

My lere
Now

as the

lilly

that lauchet so Iy3te

am

a gryselyche gost, and griseliche I grone,

Lucifere, in a lake, thus lau am I Iy3te.

With
Thus lau am I Iy3te, take wittenesse by me
For alle 3 our fresche forur.
That menes of 3 our merur,

Kynge, Duke, and Emperoure,

Alle thus schalle 36 be.

XIV.
Thus dethe

wille 30 di5te, I

do 30 oute of doute,

And therfore hertely take hede, quyles that thou

Qwen thou art ray richest, and rydus in thi route,
Haue pete on the pore, quyl thou hase pouere
Quen birdus, and birnys ar besy the aboute,

art here

body be boumet, and bro3te on a bere,

noue wil the loute,
Thay
And then helpes the no thing, but holi prayere.
For the prayer of the pore may purchase thi pece ;
Those at thou 366$ at thi 3 ate,
thi

Quyl

wille leue the ful Iy3teli, that

Quen thou art sette in

With alle the myrthes

And

thi sete,

at thi mete,

dayntethis on dese.

XV.
With

alle

dayntethis on dese, thi dietis ar di3te,

An.d^I in dungun, and dill, is done for to duelle

Naxty, and nedy, and nakut, opon he3te ;

For

in

XIII. 10.

wunnyng
For

XV.

3.
4.

woe

for to duelle

alle $oure fresche fauoure

Nowe moyse
XIV.

place, is

on this mirroure.

Richely arrayede.

MS.

MS.

L.

L.

There folo me aferde offendis of helle.

MS. D.

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

j*W^erM*&fc*<-'c"W

Thay hurlun me vn-hindely, thay haue me on

he3te,

In brasse^ and in brinstone, I brenne as a belle ;

For I ne wotte in this word, so woful a wi3te ;
Hit were fulle tere for a tung, my tourmentes to

Now

telle.

wold I of these tourmentes talk or I goe,

Thenke thou

throli

opon

this,

And

founde to mend of thi mys,

For thou art warnut i-wis
Be-war of my woe !"
;

XVI.
"

Ways me

for thi wirde \" cothe

But on thing wold

"

Way nor,

i-wis,

wete, and thi wille ware,

Quethir authir matyns^ or masse, my3t mend the of mys,
Or any mubulle on the muld, my myrthe were the more
I

Or bedus of these bischoppus, my3te bringe the to blis,

Or couand in the cloystur, my3t kele the of care,
For giffe the were my modur, grete wundur hit ware,
That euyr thy burliche body bry3te

Ho

<e

sayd,

bare the of

By

my

a token thou

is

so bare

body, quat bote

me

troue,
~***v

is

!"

to layne

'

breke a solem adecoue,

That non wist but I and thou,
I

Quo

sotheli wille sayne !"

XVII.
"

"
Say me/* quod Gaynour, quat myjte saue the from
Fro cite I schalle sayntes ger seke sone for thi sake ;
For tho baleful bestus that on thi body bites ;
Alle blynde

is

my

tile,

thi blode is so blake \"

" These ar luf

peramourus, that listus and likes,
Dose me Iy3te, and lynd lau in in a lake ;
XVI.

11.

I brake a solempne a-vowe.

MSS. D. and

L.

site

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAtf

c"<?

tV-

Alle the welthe of this worde thus a-way wytes,

With these wrechut wurmus, that wurchen me this wrake.

Thus

to

am I wro3te, Waynor, i-wis

Were thritte trentes of masse done,

wrake

Be-twyx vndur and none,

My

saule were socurt ful sone,

And

Ho

bro}te un-to blys."

XVIII.
" To that
sayd,
blys bring the that birne that bo3t vs with
his blode,

As he was

clarifiet on crosse, and crounet with thorne,

Cristunt and crisumte, with condul and with code,
Folut in a fontestone, frely biforne ;

And Mary, his modur, that mylde is of mode,

Of qwom that blisfulle barne in Bedelem was born
He gif me grace, to grete thi saule with the gode,
And myn the with massus, and matins, on morun."
(f
To mynne me with massus, grete mestiir hit were

For him that

rest

on the rode,

Thou dele fast of thi

To tho that fales the

gode,
fode,

Qwillus that thou art here."

XIX.
(f

Here

I hete the

my

hond, thi hestus to hold,

With a miliun of masse to make thi mynnyng ;
But on thing/' [cothe] Waynour, " that wete wold,
Quat wrathes Crist most at thi weting ?"
Ho sayd, " Pride with his purtenans, hase prophetes haue told,
And enperit to the pepulle in hor preching ;
These ar the branches full bittur, ther-of be thou bold,
TL.

XIX.
the

6.

By-fore thepople appertly, in thaireprechynge.

Douce MS. has " apt

CAMD. SOC.

in herre."

MS.

L. ^Fo " appertly"

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

10

Makes mony byrne

Quo

full

bonne, to breke Goddus bidding,

his bidding brekes, bare is of blis ;

But if thay saluen horn of ther sare,

Certis or thay hethun fare,

Thay knaue of mekil care,
36

Waynore,

i-wis !"

XX.
"

wis me," quod Waynor, " gif that thou wost,

Quat bedus that my3te best vs to blis bring?"

Now

Ho

sayd,

" Mesure and

mekenes, that

is

the most,

Haue

pete of the pore, that plesus the kinge ;

Sethyn charite is chefe to those that wyn te chast,
Almesdede, that is aure alle other thingus.

These ar the gracius giftus of the Holi Gost,

That enspires iche sprete, with-oute spilling,
Off this spirituallte speke we no more ;
Quyll thou art quene in thi quarte,

Hald these wurdus in thi

For thou mun lyf butte a

herte,

jtl_^~*,

start'e,

And hethun schalle thou

fare.'

A Fytte.
XXI.
"

HOW schalle we fare/'

"63

quod Gauan,

" that foundus to these

tus,

And

defoules these folk, in fele kynp-us londus

Riche remus orerennus, agaynes the 173 tus,

Wynnes wurschip, and wele, throghe wy3tenes of hondus ?"

Scho sayd, " Yaure king is to couetus, and his kene kny3tus,
Ther may no stren3the him stir, quen the quele stondus ;
Quen he is in his mageste, most in his my3tus,
Then schalle he 113 te fulle lau, bi the see sondus.
Thus 3 our

chiualreis kynge, chefe schalle a chaunse;

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

11

Felles fortune in fy3te,

That wundurfuile quele-wry3te,

That lau wille lordis gere Ii3te,
Take wittenesse be Fraunse

XXII.
For Fraunse haue 36 frely with 3aure 63 te wonnen,
Frol, and his Farnet, ful fery haue 36 leuyt
Bretan, and Burgoyn, is bo the in 3 our bandfum;
;

And

the
Duseperis of Fraunse with 3our dyn deuyt.
Gian grete that euyr hit was begomm,
Ther is no3te lede on leue, in that lond leuet.
3ette schalle the riche Romans be with 3ou aure-runnun,
alle

Now may

And atte the Rountabulle, the rentus schalle be reuet,

Hit schalle be tynte, as I troue, and timburt with tene,
Gete the wele, Sir Gauan,
Turne the to Tuscan,
Orlese schalle 36 Bretan,
Thru3e a kny3te kene
!

XXIII.

A kny3te

schalle kenely croyse the croune,

And at Carlit be crounet for king,
That segge schalle ensese him, atte a session

Mykille barette, and bale, to Bretan schalle bring

schalle
be told in Tuskan, of that tresun,
36
And be turnut a-gaynne with that tithing;

Ther

schalle the Rountabulle lese the

renowun,
Be-syde Ramsay the riche, atte a ryding ;
In Desesde schalle dee the du3ty of alle.

XXII.

The Frolo, and the Farnayhe, es frely by-leuede.

2.
Freol and his folke,fey ar they leued. MS. D.
XXIII. 2. Carelyon. MS. L. Carlele. MS. D.
9.

And

at Dorsett.

MS.

L.

MS. L.

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

12

Gete the wele, Syr Gauan,

The baldest of Bretan
For in a slac thou schalle be slayn,
Seche ferles scliyn falle
!

XXIV.
with-outen any fabull,
with
cost,
kny}tus fulle kene ;
Opon Corneuayle
Ther Arthore auenaXt, onest, and abulle,
Schalle be woundut, i-wis, wothelik I-wene ;

Seche

ferles schalle [falle]

Alle the rialle route of the Rountabulle

schalle dee that day, tho du5ti be-dene
Sussprisut with a subiecte, that bere schalle of sabulle,

Thay

With

He

a sauter engralet, of siluer so schene

berus hit of sabulle, quo sotheli wille saye

In Kyng Arther's halle,

The

child playes atte the balle,

schalle 30 alle,

That outray

Derfly that daye

XXV.
Ho sayd, " Haue gode day, Syr Gauan, and Gaynour the gode
I have no lengur tyme 30 tithinges to telle,
For I mun walke on my way, thro3e-oute 3ondurwud,
For in my wunnyng place is wo for to welle.
For him that ry3tewis rest, and rose on the rode,
Thenke quat dounger, and dele, that I inne duelle

Funde

saule with

sum

of thi gode,
my
And myn me with massus, and matyns i-mele.
For massus ar medesins for us in bales bides ;
to grete

Vs thing a masse als squete,

As any spyce that euyr thou
Thus with a grysliche grete,
The gost a- way glidus.

ete."

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

XXVI.
Noue with a griseliche grete, the gost away glidus,
And a sore gronyng, with a grym here
The wynd and the welkyn, the wethur in that tide,
The cloude vnclosut, the sune wex clere.
The kynge his bugul con blau, opon the bent bides,
;

His fayre folke on the

And

alle

the

rial

fuilde, they flocken in fere,

route to the quene ridus ;

Meles to hur mildely, opon thayre manere ;

of the wederinges forwondret thay were

Tho wees

Princys, pruddust in palle,

Gay Gaynoure and

Thay wente

alle,

to Rondalle-sete halle,

Vn-to thayre sopere.

XXVII.
Quen he to sopere was sette, and seruut in his sale,
Vndur a seler of sylke, with dayntethis di}te ;
With alle welthis to wille, and wynus to wale,
Briddes bacun in bred, on brent gold bry}te,
in a seteter, with a symbale,
lufsum lady ledand a kny3te ;

So come

Ridus to the he dese, be-fore the rialle,

And hailsutte King Arthore hindely on he3te
Sayd to the soueran, wlonkest in wede,
" Thou
niakeles of

mon,

This

is

Thou do him resun and

For

my3t,

a riayre, and a kny3t,

thi

ry3te,

mon-hed."

XXVIII.
Monli

he sate atte his mete,

With palle puret in poon, was prudliche
Trowlt with trulufes and tranest be-tuene,
in his mantille

13

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

14

The tassellus were

of topeus, that was ther-to ti3te

ene, that gray were and grete,

He glysset up with his

With

his beueren herd, opon the birne bry3te ;

was the semelist soueran on sittand in his sete,
That euyr segge hade so3te, or seen him sy3te.
Thenne oure comeliche King carpus hur tille,
And sayd, " Thou wu^ycKjwi}^
Li3te, and leng alle ny3t,
Quethun is that ayre and that kny3t,
And hit were thi wille ?"

He

XXIX.
Ho wos

the wurliche wi3te, that any wee wold ;

Hir gide that was glorius, was of a gresse-grene

Her

was of

with brid^us ful bold,

Beten with besandus, and bocutt ful berie i~
belte

blenkei;,

Her fax in fyne perre, was frettut .and fold,

Her count ur-felit and hur kelf^ were colurt
With a croune cumly, was clure^o be-hold ;

ful clene,

Hur kerchefes were curiouse, with mony a proud

Hur enparel was a-praysut, with princes of my3te

prene

Bry3te birdus and bold,

Hade i-nuj^e to be-hold,

Of that'freli to fold,

And

the kene kny3te.

XXX.
Than the kny3te in his colurs was armit ful clene,
With a crest comely, was clure to be-hold,
His

brerie,

With

and

his basnet

was busket

ful

bene,

a bordur a-boute, alle of brent gold

His mayles were mylke quyte, enclawet full clene,

His stede trapput with that ilke, os true men me told \
With a schild on his shildur, of siluer so schene,

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

With bore-hedis of blakke, and brees full bold ;
His stede with sandelle of Trise was trapput to the
Opon his cheueronne be-forn,
Stode as a vnicorn,

'15

hele.

Als scharpe as a thorn,

AnVnanlas of stele.

XXXI.
In

stele

was he

stuffut, that sterne

on

his stede,

With
His

his sternes of gold, stanseld on stray ;

gloues and his gariiesuns gloet as the gledes,

A-rayet aure with rebans, rychist of raye ;

his schene schinbandes, scharpest in schredus.

With

His polans

witli his

Thus launce opon

A fauyh on
The

pelidoddes were poudert to pay,

he ledus ;

lofte that louely

a fresun

Km folut, in fay,

freson was afrayet, and ferd of that fare

For he was syldun wunte

tablet flourre

to se

Seche game, and siche

Se3he he neuyr are.

glee,

XXXII.
Then the king carput him tille, on hereand horn alle,
" Qwethun art
thou, wurliche we, and hit were thi wille ?

me quethun thou come, and quethir thou schalle,

Quy thou stedis in that stid, and stondus so stille ?"

Tell

Then he auaylet vppe his viserne fro his ventalle,

With a kny3teliche countenaunse, he carpes him tille
" Quethir thou be
Sayd,
Cayselle or Kyng, here I the be-calle,
;

For to fynde me a freke to fe3te on my fille ;

For fe3ting thus am I fraest and foundut fro home."

Then speke the kynge opon he3te,

"
Sayd, Li3te, and leng alle ny3te
As thou art curtase kny3te,
;

Thou

telle

me

thi

name.^

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

16

XXXIII.

He

ee

My

sayd,

nome

is

Syr Galrun, with-outen any

gile,

The grattus of Galway, of greuys and of gillus;

Of Carrake, of Cummake, of Conyngame, of Kile,
Of Lonwik, of Lannax, of Laudoune hillus ;
That thou hase wonun on werre with thi wrang wiles,
Gif hen horn to Syr Gauan, that my hert grillus ;
thou wring thi hondus, and wary the (juiles,
Or any we schild hom weld, atte my unnewilles

3ette schalle

Atte

unnewilles, i-wis, he schalle hom neuyr weliUfj

Qwil I the hed may here,

my

With

and with scharpe spere,

may wynne hom on were,

schild

Butte he

Opon

a fayre fylde.

XXXIV.
For in a fyld wille I fe3te, ther-to I make faythe,
With any freke opon fuld, that is fre born ;
To lose suche a lordschip, me wold thinke lay the,
And iche lede, opon lyue, wold laghe me to scorne."
,

"36,

we

ar in wudlond/' cothe the king,

"and walkes on owre

wayth,
hunte atte the herd, with houunde and with
thou
be gome gladdest, now haue we no graythe,
Gyf
3et may thou be machet be mydday to morne ;

For

to

home

mon, thou rest the all ny3te."

Thenne Gauan, graythest of alle,
Lad him furthe thni3he the halle,

For-thi I rede, rathe

Vn-tylle a pauelun of pafle

Was

prudlyche i-py3te.

XXXV.
Hit was prudlyche y-pi3te, of purpure and palle,
With beddus brauderit o brode, and bankers y-dy3te ;

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

Ij

Ther-inne was a schapelle, a chambur, and a halle,

schimnay of charcole, to chaufen the kny3te.

Thay halen vppe his

stede,

had him

to stalle,

Hay hely thay hade in haches vn-hi3te ;

Prayd vp with a burd, and clothes couthe calle,
With salers and sanapus, thay serue the kny3te,
With

troches and broches and stondartis bi-twene

For to serue the kny3te,

And

the wurliche wi3te,

With ryche

dayntethis dy3te,
In syluyr so schene.

XXXVI.
Thus

in siluyr so schene, thay serue of the best.

With TOrna^ejTmcl verres, in coupus ful clene

With

lucius drinkes,

and metis of the

best,
*"

eh-doret, in dysshes bi-denei

tyde as that rialle was rayket to his rest,

Ryche dayntes

As
The

kiiige callut his councelle, the do3ti be-dene,

And bede, " Vmloke 30, lordinges, oure lose Be notte lost,
Quo schalle countur with 3ondur kny3te, cast 30 bi-tuene."
Thenne sayd Syr Gauan, " Hit
I wille

schalle vs no3te greue

countur with the kny3te,

For to maynteine

my

Ther-to

y the

36,

my trothe

ry3te,
ply3te,

Lord, with thi leve."

XXXVII.
"
((

"
quod the kinge, thi lates ar Iy3te,
But I wold notte for no lordschip se thi life lorne ;"
Lette go/' cothe Sir Gauan, " God stond with the ry3te

I leue wele/'

For and he scapette

XXXV.

6.

XXXVI.

2.

scatheles, hit

One hyghte. MS. L.

In verrys and cowppys.

CAMD. SOC.

MSS.

were a gret scorne."

L. and D.

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

18

And

dayng of day ther do3ty were dy3te,

[and] mas, myldelik on morun ;
In myd Plumtun Lone, hor paueluns were pi3te,
Quere neuyr frekes opon fulde hade 03 tun be forne.
Thay sette listes on lenthe, olong on the lawnde ;
Thre soppus of demayn,
in the

Herd matyns

Wos
For

bro3te to Sir Gauan,

to

cumford

The king

gart

his brayne,

cummaunde.

XXXVIII.
The kinge commawundet
For

kindeli the Erie of Kente_,

kepe the to ther kny3te

his meculle curtasy, to

And made him with dayntethis to dine in his tente,

And sythun this rialle men a-rayut hom o-ry3te.
And aftur Quene Waynor warly thay wente,
And be-Ieues in hur warde, that wurlyche wi3te
r

Sethin the hathels in me, fior horses haue hente,

In mydde the lyste of the lawunde, the lordus doune
Alle butte the stithest, in steroppus that stode

King Arther schayer was *sette,

O-boue in his cTiaselette^

And

thenne

Dame Gay n our

Ii3te

grette^

For Gauan the gode.

A Fitte.
XXXIX.
[GAWAYNE and

Galleronne gurdenne here stedis_,

Alle in gleterande golde^ gaye was here gere ;

The lordes be-lyfe hom to list ledis,

Withe many seriant of mace, as was the man ere.
The burnes broched the blonkes^ that the side bledis
XXXVIII.

XXXIX.

1.
Krudely, the erles sonne of Kent. MS. D.
This stanza is given from the Douce MS.

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

Aythire freke apponne fold has fastned his spere
Schaftis in shide wocle thay shindre in schides
So jolyly thes gentille justede one were

19

Schaftis thay shindr, in sheldes so schene ;

And sithenne with braiides bryghte,

Riche mayles thay righte ;

There encontres the knyghte
With Gawayne. one grene.]

XL.
Thenne Syr Gauan the gode was graythet in grene,
With his griffuns of gold .engrelet fulle gay,
Trowlt with trulofes, and tranest be-twene
;

Opon a siartand^stede he strikes oute of stray.

The tother in his turnyng, he talkes tille him in tene,

And

sayd,

" Querto draues thou so

drejghe, and mace suche

deray ?"

He

sqwapputte him in at the squyre, with a squrd kene,

That greuut Syr Gauan euer tille his dethe day.

The dyntus of that chi3ty were douteouse be-dene;
Syxti maylis and moe,

The squrd squappes

His canel-bone

And

He

in toe,

allsoe,

cleuet his schild clene,

^^,_^.

keruet of the ^antef, Ihat cauu?f tiie kny3te,

;

Thro

his shild

and his

shildur, a schaft-mun

he share

Then the latieTest'Ibrd loghe opon he3te,

And Gauan grechut ther with, and greuut wundur
a
Sayd, he shuld rewarde the

He

this route,

and

sore

con rede o-ry3te."

foundes into the freke with a fresche fare

Thro3t basynet andbreny, that burnyschet wos bry3te,

With a bytand brand euyn throghet he him bare ;

He bare

thru3e his brenys, that burneyst were bry5te.

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

20

"

Qa~r*-*&+

Then gloppunt
Hit was no

that gaye,
ferly, in faye,

His stedes startun on "stray e,

With steroppus

fulle stry3te.

XLII.
he strikes,
wode ;
he
were
Waynes atte Sir Wawane,
Thenne his lemmon on lofte scrilles and scrykes,
Quenne the balefulle birde blenked on his blode.

Thenne with steroppus

fulle stre3te, stifly

ry3te as

Other lordus and

lades, thayre laykes welle likes,

Thonked God of his grace, for Gawan the gode.

With a squappe of his squrde, squeturly feim strykes,
Smote of Gauan stede heued, in styd quere he stode
The fayre fole foundret, and felle bi the rode ;
Gauan was smyther and smerte,
Owte of his steroppus he sterte,
As he that was of herte,

Fro Greselle the gode.

XLIII.
"

Greselle,"

quod Gauan, "gone

is,

God

ote

,_

He wos the burlokkefst] blonke, ther euyr bote brede

By him that inne Bedelem wasse borne for oure bote,
I schalle reuenge the to day, and I con ry}t rede,"
"
" Foche the
my fresun," quod the freke, is fayrest on
He wulle stond the in stoiire, in-toe so mycul styd/'
" No more for thi
then for a
rote,

fresun,

Butte for dylle of a

I

mowrne

dowmbe

9.

no matyttory, for I may gete more."

And as he stode bi his stede,
That was gud in iche nede,
Ne3tehond Syr Wauan wold wede.
So wepputte he fulle sore.

for

Imournefor no monture.

fote,

rysche

best, that thus schuld

^^

XLIII.

MSS.

L. and D.

be ded ;

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

Sore wepput for woe, Syr

XLIV.
Wauan the

wi3te,

Bbuun to his enmy, that woundut was sore ;

The tother dro^ghe him 6-dreghe, for drede of the kny3te,
Then he brochet his blonke, opon the bente bare.
5
" Thus
"
may we dryue furthe the day/ quod Gauan, to
dirke ny3te,
sun is past the

The
merke of mydday and more,"
In myddes the lyist on the lawunde, this lordes dpun Iy3te ;
A-gayn the byrne with his brand, he busted Turn 3 are
:

Thus

to batelle thay boune with brandis so bry3te;

Shene schildus thay shrede,

Welle ryche mayles wexun rede,

du3ty hadun drede,
So fursely thai f03 tun.

And mony

XLV.
Thus on

As

fote

con thai

fresch as

ij

opon the fayre fildus,

that
fawtutte the fille :
lions,
fe3te,

Witturly ther weys, thayre weppuns thay weld ;

Wete

36 wele, Sir

Wauan, him won tut no

wille,

He

berus to him with his brand, vndur his brode shild,

Thro the wast of the body wowundet him ille ;

The squrd styntet for no stuffe, he was so wele stelet,

The tother startes on bakke, and stondus stone stille
If

he were stonit ,in that stounde, 3ette strykes he sore

He girdus to Syr Gauane,
Thro3he ventaylle and pusane,
That him lakket no more to be slayne,
Butte the brede of hore.

XLVI.

And

21

^P-A.-**"

thus the hardy on heyte, on helmis thai heuen,

Betun downe berels, in bordurs so bry3te,

the

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

22

iraille were strencult and strauen,

Frettut with fyne gold, that failis in the fi5te.
With schildus on ther schildurs, schomely thay shewen,

That with stones

Stythe stapuls of

stele,

thay striken doune

stre3te.

Thenne byernes bannes the tyme, the bargan was bruen,

That evyr these du}ti with dyntus, so dulfuly were di3te.
Hit hurte King Arther in herte, and niengit liis mode ;
Bothe Sir Loter and Sir Lake,
Meculle menyngJcon make;^

Thenne Dame Gaynor grelte

For Gawan the gode

for his sake,

XLVII.
Thenne grette Dame Gaynour, with hur gray een,
For grefe of Sir Gauan grimliche wouundes
Thenne the kny}te, that was curtase, cruail, and kene,
;

With

a stelun brand, he strikes in that stounde ;

Alle the cost of the kny3te, he keruys doune clene,

Thro the riche mayles, that ronke were and rouunde

Suche a touche in that tyde, he ta^te hym in tene,

And gurdes me Sir Gallerun, euyn grouelonges on grounde.

Alle grouelonges in grounde, gronet on grene,
Als wowundut-as he wasse,

Wundur

rudely he rose,
Fast he founides atte his face,
With a squrd kene,

XLVIII.
Thus that cruelle and kene, kerues on he3te,
With a cast of the carhonde, in a cantelle he
r

3orne waitis with woe, Sir

XLVIII.

MS.

2.

With a

caste

for caste reads seas.

Wauan

strikes

the wi3te,

of the care, in kantelle he

strikes.

MS.

L.

The other

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

Butte 3ette him limpus the wurs, and that me wele
with a slyiiyng, hade slayn him with sly3t,,

He wend

23

likes.

The squrd slippus on slonte, and on the mayle suites,

Thenne Sir Gauan bi the coler, clechis the kny3te,
Thenne his lemmon on lofte, ho scrilles and scrikes,

And

Dame Gaynour, with grones full

" Thou
Lade, makelest of my3te

sayd to

grille,

Haue pety
That

And

of 3ondur nobulle kny3te,

so dilfully dy}te,

is

hit

were

thi wille."

XLIX.
Thenne

wilfulle

Waynour to the king wente,

curonalle, and knelit him tille

Ke3te of hur
" As thou
Sayd,

and rialle in rente,

And I thi wedut wife, atte thi none wille ;
3ondur byrnesin batelle, that bidus on the bent,
Thay ar were i-wisse, and woundut fulle ille ;
Thro3ghe schildus, and shildurs, schomfully shente ;
art ray richist,

11

The grones of Sir Gauan, hit dose my hert grille,

The gronus of Sir Gauan the gode, hit greuis me sore
Wold 36, luflyche Lord

Make 3ondur

kny3tes at a-cord,

Hit were a grete cumford,

For alle that ther ware/'
L.

But thenne speke Sir Galrun to Gawan the gode,

" I wende
neuyr we 3ette, hade bene so wi3te ;"
And sayd, " Here I make the relesche, rengthe, bi the rode
Before this

And

sithin I

rialle

make

route resigne the my ri3te :

the monraden, mildist of mode,

As mon on this mydlert that most is of my3te."He stalket touward the king, in stid quere he stode,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

24

.<

And bede the burlyche his brand,

And sayd, " Of rentis and of richas,

that burneschit
I

make

was

bri3t

the relesche."

Doune

And

knelis the kny3te,

speke these wurdis opon hi3te

The king stode vppe ry3te,

And cummawundut pese.
LI.

The king cummawundut pese, and stode vp-ry3te,

And Gauan godely he sesutt Tor his sake
;

And

then these lordus so

lele, thai

lepe

vp

Ii3te,

Huaya Fus-uryayn, and Arrake

Fy-lake,
Sir Meliaduke the Marrake, that mekille wasse of my3te,

These

men, truly vppe thay take.

men stond vppe ry3te,
So for-bnssutte^' and for-bled, thay re blees were so blake;
Alle blake was thayre Blees, for-betun with brandis.
With-outun any hefsing^
There di3te was thayre s^tenyng,
ij

trauelirig

Vnnetlie inj3te these sturun

Be-fore the comeliche king,

Thay heldun vppe thayre hondus.

LII.

" Now here

I gife the/'

"
quod the king, Gauan the bold

Glawmorgan londus, with greuys fulle grene ;

The wurschip of Wales, to weld and thou wold,
Kirfre Castelle with colurs ful clene
;

Iche Hulkershome, to haue and to hold,

LI. 4.

LII. 4.
5.

Sir Owayne fytz-Vryene, and Arrake full rathe

Marrake and Menegalle. MS. L.
Ewaynnefiz- Erian and Arrake fiz-Lake
Sir Drurelat and Moylard. MS. D.
Griffon's Castelle. MSS. L. and D.
The Hustershaulle. MSS. L. and D.

THE ANTUBS OF ARTHEB AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

Wayifforthe and Waturforthe, wallet, I wene ;
Toe baroners in Bretan, with burgesse fulle bold,
That is batelt aboute, andbiggutte fulle bene.
Here I doue the as Duke, and dub the with my hondus

With
That

25

thou sa3tun with 3ondur kny3te.

so hardi and so wi3te,

thi,
is

And resingne him thi ry3te,

And graunte him his londus."
LIII.

" Nowe here I

any gile

gif the,

Galrun," quod Gauan,

Alle the londus for-sothe fro Logher to Layre

Carrake, Cummake, Conyngame and Kile,
[That if he of cheualry, chalange ham for aire

The Lother, the Lemmok, the Loynak, the

ce

with-outyn

Lile,]

and sithun to thine ayre,

With thi, tille oure lordschip, thou leng in a qwile,
And to the Roundtabulle to make thi repare
Here I feffe the in fild, frely and fayre."
Bothe the king and the quene,
Sir, to thi seluun,

And

other du3ti bi-dene ;

Thro3ghe owte the greuis so grene

To

Carlille

thay kayrit.

LIV.
[The kyng

comen, with knyghttis so kene,]

so
grene, held the Rountabulle with rialle
greuis

to Carlele es

Throghe

aray;

These wees that were wothely woundet, I wene,

Thenne surgens horn sauyt, quo sotheli wynne say
Cumfordun horn kindely, the king and the quene,
And sithin dubbut horn Dukes, bothe on a day,
And thenne he weddutte his wife, wlonkest I wene,
With giftus, and with gersums, Sire Galrun the gay.
;

CAMD. SOC.

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

26

Thus Gauan and Galrun, gode

frindes ar thay ;
Qwen thay were nolle and sownde ;
Thay made Galrun in that stounde,

A kny3te of the Tabulle Rounde,

Vntille his ending day.

LV.
Thenne gerut Dame Waynour

To

alle

to write into the west,

the religeus, to rede and to sing

Prustes, prouincials, to pray were fulle preste,

With a meliun of massus, her modur mynnyng.

Boke-lornut byrnus, and bischoppus of the beste,

Thro-oute Bretan so bold, these bellus con ring.

And

this ferli be-felle in

Ingulwud

forest,

Be-side holtus so hore, at a hunting

Suche a hunting in a holt, aw no3te to be hidde,
:

These kny}tus, stalwurthe, and

Thro3he the forest thay fore,
In the tyme of King Arthore
This anter be-tidde.
FINIS.

store,

SIR

AMADACE.

I.

Thenne the kny3t and the stuard fre,

Thay casten there houe hit best my3te be
Bothe be ferre and nere ;
The stuard sayd, ee Sir, 36 awe wele more,
Thenne 36 may of 3 our londus rere, /*
In faythe this seuyn 3ere

Quo

so

may

best, furste 36

mun

pray,
a-nothir day;
And parte 3 our cowrte in sere;
And putte away fulle mony of 3 our men,

A-byde 30

tille

And

hald butte on, quere 36 hald ten,

Tha3ghe thay be neuyr so dere."
II.

Amadace

"I

Thenne

Sir

Or

these godus qwitte ware,

alle

sayd,

my3te lung spare,

And haue no3te to spend ;

Sithun duelle here, quere I was borne,
Bothe in hething and in scorne,

And I am so wele kennit

And men fulle fast wold ward me,
:

o^

That of thayre godus hade bynne so

That I haue hade in honde ;

fre,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

28

I schuld hold men in awe or threte,

That thay my3te no3te hor awne gud gete,
Thenne made I a fulle fowle ende

Or

III.

Butte a-nothir rede

Wurche

wulle

me

toe,

way then soe,

Bettur sayd soro thenne sene
Butte, gode stuard, as thou art me
a-nothir

lefe,

Lette neuyr mon wete my grete mischefe,

Butte hele hit vsbe-twene.

For seuyn 3 ere wecfsette my lond,

To the godus that I am awand,

Be quytte

holly bi-dene

For oute of the cuntray I wille weynde,

Quil I haue gold, siluyr to spende,
And be owte of dette fulle clene.
IV.
3ette wulle I furst, or I fare,

Be wele more rialle then

was

Therfore ordan thou schalle

are,
;

For I wulle gif fulle ryche giftus,

Bothe to squiers and to kny3tis ;

To pore men, dele a dole

Suche mon myjte wete, that I were wo,
That fulle fayn, wold hit were suche toe,
That my3te notte bete my bale
So curtase a mon was neuyr non borne,
That schuld scape with oute a scorne,
Be iche mon had told his tale/ 5
:

V.

Thanne
Amadase,
Hase ordanut him opon
Sir

as I 30 say,
[a]

day,

SIR

AMADACE.

29

Of

the cuntray in a stowunde ;

he gafe ful riche giftus,
Bothe to squiers, and to kny3tis,
Stedus, haukes and howundes.
Sethun afturward, as I 30 say,

3ette

Hase ordanut him opon

[a] day,
furthe thenne conne he founde

And
Be

He

that he toke his leue to wynde,

lafte no more in his cofurs to spende,

But euyn

xl.

powunde.
VI.

Thenne Sir Amadace, as I 30

Rode furthe opon his way,

say,

Als fast as euyr he my3te ;

Thro owte a forest, by one cite,
Ther stode a chapelle of stone and tre,
And ther-inne se he a Ii3te.
Commawundut his knaue for to fare,

To wete, quat

And

Ii3te,

that were thare,

tithing bring me ry3te ;

did, as his maister him bade,

The knaue

Butte suche a stinke in the chapelle he hade,

That dwelle ther he ne my3te.
VII.

He

stopput his nase with his hude,

Nerre the chapelle dur he 3 ode,

Anturs for to lere ;
And as he loket in atte the glasse,

To wete quat

meruail that ther wasse,

So see he stonde a

bere.

Candils ther were brennyng toe,

A woman
Lord

sittyng,
carefulle

and no rnoe,
wasse hur chere

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

30

Tithinges there conne he non frayn,

Butte to his lord he wente a-gayn,

Told him quat he see

thare.

VIII.

"

3ondur chapelle haue

sayd,
selcothe si}te ther haue I sene,
herte is heuy as lede ;

LAnd

Sir, atte

bene,

My

Ther stondus a here, and canduls toe, J

Ther sittus a woman, and no moe,
Lord carefulle is hur rede.
Seche a stinke as I had thare,
Sertis thenne had I neuyr are,
/No quere in no stid ;
For this palfray, that I on ryde,
Ther my3te I no lengur abide^7
j
I traue I haue ke}te my
dejle."
!

IX.

Thenne

Amace commawundut his

quat woman that there ware,

Sir

To witte
And tithinges
As
As

bring thou me
he loket in atte the walle,

squier to fare,

the knaue sayd, he fund with-alle,

Him

tho3te hit grete pete

Butte in his nace smote suche a smelle,

That there my3te he no lengur duelle,

But sone a-gayn gose he

" Gud
Lord, now with 3our
sayd,
hit
take
no3te on greue,
pray 30
For 36 may notte wete for me."
;

He
I

leue,

X.
I He

sayd,

A woman

"

Sir, ther stondus a bere, and candils toe,

sittyng,

and no moe,

SIR

Lord

carefulle is

AM AD ACE.

hur chere

31

Sore ho sikes, and hondus wringus,

And

euyr ho crius on heuyii kynges,

How lung ho schalle be thare

Ho says, Dere God, quat may that be.
!

The

grete soro, that ho opon

Stingcand opon his bere

him

se,

Ho

ho wille notte leue him alleone,

ho falle dede downe to the stone,
For his life was hur fulle dere."
says,

Till

XI.

Thenne

Sir

Amadace smote

his palfray with his spur,

And rode vn-to the chapelle dur,

And hastele doune he Ii3te
;

As

That

And

He
Ho

menne

sayd, so con him thinke,

he neuyr are hade suche a stynke,

his

inne thenne wente that kny3te.

"Dame, God rest with the!"

sayd,

<e

salit

A[nd]

He

welcum most 36 be
him anon ry3te

Sir,

sayd,

"
sayd,

Dame, quy

this

\"

sittus

thou here,

dede cors opon this bere,

Kepand
Thus onyli vpon

a ny3te ?"

XII.

Ho

"

Sir,

nedelonges most I

sayd,
Hi-fath, ther wille

sitte

him non mon butte

For he wasse my wedutte fere."

Thenne Sir Amadace sayd, " Me likes
36 ar bothe in plyit to spille,
He lise so lung on bere.

Quat a mon

in his lyue wasse he ?"

him by,

I,

full ille,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

32
"

marchand

Sir, a

Hade

And

euiryche

rej*e

thre hundrythe pownde,

and of rowunde,

3 ere

Of redy monay

And

of this cite,

riche rentus to

for dette 3ette lise

he here."
XIII.

Amadace sayd, " For the rode,

On quat maner spendutte he his gud,

Thenne

Sir

That thusgate is a-way ?"

Sir, on gentilmen and officers,
On grete lordus, that was his perus,

"

Wold giffe horn giftus gay ;

Riche festus wold he make,

And pore men, for Goddus sake,

He fed horn euyriche day
:

Quil he hade any gud to take,

He

wernut no mon, for Goddus

That wolnotte onus say nay.

sake,

XIV.
3ette

He

he didde as a

cladde

mo men

fole,

a-gaynus a 3ole,

Thenne did a nobulle kny3te ;

For his mete he wold not spare,
Burdes in the halle were neuyr bare,

With

clothes richeli di3te,

Giffe I sayd he did no3te wele,

He sayd, God send hit eueryche dele,
And sette
wurdus atte Ii3te ;

my

Bi thenne he toke so mycul opon his name,

That I dar notte telle 30, lord, for schame,
The godus now that he a3te.

SIR

And
And

AMADACE.

thenne come dethe,

partutt

me

Lafte

my

lord

XV.
wo hym be

33

and me,

in alle the care ;

Quen my ne3teburs herd telle, that he

Thay come to me, as thay best may,
Thair gud aschet thai thare

seke lay,

Alle that euyr was his and myne,

Hors and naute, shepe and sqwyne,

A- way thay drafe and bare ;

My dowary
And

alle

Lord

to my lyue I sold,
the peneys to horn told,
3ette a3te he wele mare.

XVI.

Quen
3ette

hade quytte alle that I my3te gete,

a3te he thritte powunde bi grete,
I

Holly
Tille a

tille

a stydde

marchand of this

cite,

Was fer oute in a-nothir cuntre,

Come home quen he was dede.
And quenne he herd telle of my febulle
He come to me as breme as bare,

fare,

This corse the erthe forbede ;

And

sayd, howundus schuld his bodi

Then on the fild his bonus to-gnaue,
Thus ca refulle is my rede.

to-draw,

XVII.

And

this xvi.

Kepand
With

this

weke

haue setyn here,

dede cors opon this bere,

brennand bry3te ;

candils

And

so schalle I euyr more do,

dethe cum, and take me to,
CAMD. soc.
Till

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

34

9
Bi Mary, most of my3te V
Thenne Sir Amadace franut hur the marchandes name,
That hade done hur alle that schame,
Ho told him a-non ry3te;
He sayd, " God, that is bote of alle bale,
Dame, cumford the, and so he schale,
And, Dame, haue thou gud ny}te \"

THENNE

Sir

XVIII.
Amadace on his palfray

Fitte.

lepe,

Vnnethe he my3te forgoe to wepe,

For his dedus him sorefor-tho3te;
U

3ondur mon, that lise 3ondur chapelle with-inne,

fulle wele be of my kynne,
For ry3te so haue I wro3te \"
Thenne he told his sometour quat the marchand he3t,
And sayd, " [I] wille sowpe with him to-ny3te,
Sayd,

He my3te

Be God, that me dere bo3te

Go, loke thou di3te oure soper syne,
Gode ryalle metis and fyne,
And spicis thenne spare thou no3te."
!

XIX.

And
To

sone quen the sometour herd,

the marchandus howse he ferd,

And

ordanut for that kny3te

Thenne Sir Amadace come riding thoe,

But in his hert was him fulle woe,

And

hasteli

dowun he

Ii3te.

Sithun in-tylle a chambur the kny3te 3ede,

And kest opon him othir wede,

With

torches brennyng bry3te

He cummawundutte

his squier for to goe,

SIR

AMADACE.

35

To pray the marchand and his wife

To soupe with him that ny}te.

allsoe,

XX.
Thenne the

And

to the

squier weyndut vpon his way,

marchand conne he say,

His ernde told he thenne ;

" Be
Jhesu, Mare sone
squere,
Thi lordus wille hit sehalle be done,
Of cumford was that man.
Thenne thayre soper was nere di3te,
Burdes were houyn hee on hi3te,

He

[The] marchand [the] dees be-gan

and made gud chere,

Butte on the dede cors, that lay on bere,
Ful myculle his tho}te was on
Sir

Amadace

sate,

XXI.
Sir

Amadace

I see

a,

sayd,

si}te I

That

sittus

"To

ny3te, as I

come

bi the strete,

thenke on 3ete,

me nowe

fulle sore

In a chapelle, be-side a way,

A dede cors opon a bere lay,

A womon

alle

mysfare/'

"

God gif
sayd,
as
he wasse,
alle suche waisters

"36," the

And

Marchand

him

a sore grace,

For he sittus me nowe sare ;

For he lise there with my thritti powunde,
Of redy monay and of rowunde,

Of

hitte gete I

Thenne
Thenke

neuyr more."

XXII.
Amadace sayd, "Take the
that Gode for-gaue his dede,

Sir

Grette merit thou

may haue

tille

abetturrede,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

36

Thenke how God ordant

for the,

Bettur grace then euyr had he ;

Lette the cors go inne his graue."
Thenne he squere, " Be Jhesu, Mare sun,

That body

My

schalle

siluyr

ho be dede as wele

Tille

That howundus

On

Quen

He

filde

as he,

schalle, that I

may

thayre bonus to-gnaue

se,

!"

XXIII.
Amadace herd that he hade squorne,
his stuard him beforne,

Sir

cald

Of kyndenesse

And

neuyr in the erthe come,

that I haue

tille

bede,

"

Go

that kny3te con kithe;

foche

Of redy monay and

me

thritti

powunde,

of rowunde,

Hastely and be-lyue."

The

stuard tho3te hit was a-gaynus

Butte he most nede do his maistur

Now

listun

and 36 may

lithe

skille,

wille,

Amadace payd him thritti powund

And thenne Sir Amadace asket to wyne,
And prayd the Marchand be blythe.
Ther

Then

Sir

Amadace

XXIV.
" Awe
asket,

of

monay

fyne,

he the any mare ?"

" wele most
he
36 fare
Nay, Sir,"
sayd,
For thus muche he me a3te/"
Thenne Sir Amadace sayd, " As furthe as x. pounde wille take,
I schalle lette do for his sake,
Querthro3e he haue his ri3te.
I schalle for him gere rede and singe,
Sir

"

Bringe his bodi to Cristun berunge,

That schalle thou see wythe si3te ;

SIR
alle

Go, pray

AMADACE.

37

the religius of this cite,

To morne that thay wold dyne with me,

And loke thayre mete be

XXV.
Howe
Then

erly quen the day con spring,

holli alle the bellus con ring,

That

was

in the cite

men

euirichon,
Religius
Toward this dede cors are thay gone,
With mony a riche burias.

Thritty prustus that day con sing,

And thenne Sir Amadace offurt a ring,

Atte euyriche mas

Quen

He

the seruise was

alle done,
him atte none,
horn
to
ete
with
prayd

Holli

more and

lasse.

XXVI.
Thenne the marchand wente tille one
Mony a mon dro3he him nere,

To wete

He

sayd,

"

A ded cors

pillere,

quat he wold say ;

Sirs, there hase byn here,

opon a

bere,

36 wotte querfore hit lay.

And hase comun a fulle rialle kny3te,
Of alle the godes the cors me he3te,

Hase made me redi pay ;

Vnto his cofurs he hase sente,

And geuyn x. powunde to his

Wythe riche ringus to day.

termente,

XXVII.
Hit

He

on his nome that I say,

prays 30 holly to mete to day,
is

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

38

Alle that ther bene here ;"

Thay did as the marchand bade,

Mete and drinke y-nu3he thay hade,

With licius drinke and clere.
And Sir Amadace wold no3te sitte downe,
Butte to seme the pore folke he was fulle bowne,
For thay lay

And quen

his hert nere

thay hade etun with inne that

Thenne Sir Amadace toke leue atte

Vn-semand with fulle glad chere.

halle,

alle,

XXVIII.
Quen Sir Amadace hade etun,
To sadulle his horse was no3te for} etun,
Thay bro3te hym his palfray
Thenne his sometour-mon before was dy3te.
Ther as that lord schuld leng alle ny3te,
;

And hade

nothing to pay.
hit, tha3he him were wo,
his godus were spendutte him fro,

Quat wundur were

Quen alle
The sothe gif I schuld say ?
Thenne Sir Amadace kidde he was gentilman bornne,

He come
Toke

the grattust maystur be-forne,

leue,

and wente his way.

XXIX.
Qwen he was gone on this kin wise,
Thenne iche mon sayd thayre deuise,
Quen he wasse

Sum

passutte the 3ate

" This
sayd,
gud fulle

Ii3teli he wan,
That thusgate spendutte hit on this man,
So Ii3tely lete hit scape."
" In
Sum
were he

sayd,
borne,
gud tyme
That hade a peny him bi-forne,
That knew fulle li tulle his state."

SIR

AMADACE.

39

how thay demun the gentille kny3te,

Quen he hade spendut alle that he my3te

Lo,

Butte the trauthe

fulle litulle

thay wote.

XXX.
Quen he come

sex mile the cite fro,

crosse partut the way a-toe,

Thenne speke

Sir

Amadace

To

his stuard he sayd fulle rathe,

His sometour and his palfray-mon bothe,
And alle ther euyr was,

" Gode
Sirs^ take no3te on greue,
For 36 most noue take 3our leue,
For 3oure seluun knauyn the cace
For I may lede no mon in londe,
Butte I hade gold [and] siluyr to spende,
Neuyr no quere in no place."
Sayd,

Now
For

XXXI.
men that

the hardust hertut

to

wepe

my3t notte

thai

there ware,

spare,

Quen thay herd him say so;

" Gode
Sirs, haue 36 no care,
sayd,
For 36 mone haue maysturs euyrqware,
As wele wurthi 36 ar soe
3ette God may me sende of his sele,

He

That

I may keuyr of this fulle wele,

And cum owte of this wo
A mery mon 3ette may 36 se me,
And be fulle dere welcum to me,
Bothe 36 and mony moe V
;

XXXII.
[Sir

Amadas seyd

" The warst hors

St.

XXXII.

in that
is

stonde

worthe ten pownde,

From Weber's

edition.

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

40

Of horn

all

that here gon

Sqwyar, yomon, and knave,

Ylke mon his owne schall have,

That he syttes apon,
and oder geyre,
Sadyll, brydyll,

Fowre so gud thofFe hit were,

I woch hit save, bi Sen Jon
God mey make yo full gud men!
!

Y yo beken 1"
and
partyd ylke
Theiweped,

Cryst of hevon,

on.]

XXXIII.
Quen alle his men wos partutte him fro,
The kny}te lafte stille in alle the woe,
Bi him seluun allone
Thro3he the forest his way lay ri3te,
Of his palfray doune he Ii3te,
Mournand and made grete mone,
Quen he tho3te on his londus brode,
;

His castels hee, his townus made,

That were a-way euyrichon ;
That he had sette, and layd to wedde,
And was owte of the cuntray for pourte fledde,
Thenne the kny3te wexe wille of wone.

XXXIV.
Thenne be-speke

Sir

Amadace,

A mon that litul gode hase,

^9

him bye
powunde

Men
For

sittus ry3te no3te

I hade thre hundrythe

I spendut

two

Of suche
Euyr

in that entente.

forloke

quylle I

was

suche housold hold,

For a grete lord was

I tellut,

of rente,

SIR

AMADACE.

41

Muche holdun vppe thare-by

wise men sitte atte home,
Quen folus may walke full wille of wone,
;

No we may

And, Crist wotte, so may hi

XXXV.
He sayd, " Jhesu, as thou deet on the rode,
And for me sched thi precius blode,
And alle this word thou wanne;
Thou lette me neuyr come in that sy3te,
Ther

haue bene knauen

Butte

And

gif

if

me

may

for a kny3te,

avoue hit thanne ;

grace to

somun

alle tho,

That wilsumly ar wente me fro,

And alle that me gode ons hase done ;

Or

ellus,

Lord, I aske the rede,

Hastely that I were dede,

Lord, wele were

me

thanne

XXXVI.
" For alle for
wonting of my witte,
Fowle of the lond am I putte,
Of my frindes I haue made foes ;
For kyndenes of my gud wille,
I

am

in poynte

my

selfe to spille

5>
;

Thus note Syr Amadace.

He sayd, " Jhesu, as thou deut on tre,

Summe of thi sokur send thou me,
Spedely in this place
thi sokur and thou
!

For summe of

And 3ett

On

alle that

CAMD. SOC.

me

send,

I schuld ful gladely spende,

mestur hase."
G

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

42

XXXVII.

Now
He

thro the forest as he ferd,

wende that no mon hade him herd,

For he se3he non in 513 te ;

So come a mon ryding him bye,
And speke on him fulle hastely,
Ther-of he was a-fry3te.
Milke quyte was his stede,
And so was alle his othir wede,

Hade

Now

conciens of a kny3te ;

thoshe Sir Amadace wasse in mournyng bro3te,

His curtase

He

saylut

Quod
That

he no3te,

him anon

ry3te.

XXXVIII.
" Quat mon

the quite knyste,

alle this

With
/

for3ete

is this,

mowrnyng makes thus,

so simpulle chere ?"

Thenne Syr Amadace sayd, " Nay \"

The quite kny3te bede " do way,
For that quile haue I bene here.
Thowe schild no3te mowrne no suche wise,
For God may bothe mon falle and rise,
*
For his helpe is euyr more nere
!

$w

For gud his butte a lante lone,

Sum tyme men [haue] hit, sum tyme none,

Thou

hast fulle

a pere

mony

XXXIX.
"
L Now thenke on him, that deut on rode,
That for vs sched his precius blode,
For the and monkynd alle
For a mon that geuees him to gode thewis,
!

Authir to gentilmen or to schrewis,

SIR

On summe

43

side wille hit falle.

A mon that hase

Sum

AMADACE.

alle

way bynne kynde,

mon 3ette may he

That mekille may stonde in
curtas

fynde,
stalle

Repente the no3te, that thou hase done,

For he that schope bothe sunne and mone,
Fulle wele

may pay

for alle !"

"^

XL.

Quod the

quite kny3te,

"Wold

thou

luffe

him aure

That wold the owte of thi mournyng bringe,

And keuyr the owte of kare ?
For here be-side duellus a rialle king,
And hase a do}tur fayre and 3inge,

He luffis nothing mare.

And thou art one of the semelist

kny3te,

That euyr 3ette I see with sy3te,

That any armes bare ;
That mun no mon hur wedde ne weld,
Butte he that furst is inne the fild,

And best

thenne Justus thare.

XLI.
" And thou
schalt cum thedur
Als any erliche mon may,

als

gay

Of thi sute schalle be non

Thou schalle haue for thi giftus geuand,
;

Grete lordus to thi honde,

And loke thou spare ri3te none.

Thou

say the

menne

that

come with

That thay were drounet on the

the,

see,

With wild waturs slone

Loke that thou be large of feyce,
Tille thou haue wonun gode congrece,
;

And

I schalle

pay ichone."

alle thing.

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

44

XLII.

He sayd, w That thou be fre of wage,

And I schalle pay for thi costage,
x. thowsand gif thou ladde ;
Ther schalle thou wynne fulle mekille honowre,
Fild and frithe, towne and towre,
That lady schalle thou wedde
And sithun I schalle come a-3ayne to the,
Qwen thou hase come thi frindus to see,
!

In stid quere thou art stadde

Butte a forwart make I with the or that thou goe,
That euyn to part be-twene vs toe,
;

The godus thou hase wonun and spedde."

XLIII.

Thenne be-speke

Sir

Amadace,
((
And thou haue my3te thru}e Goddus
So to cumford to me ;
Thou schalt fynde me true and lele,

And

grace,

euyn, lord, for to dele,

Be-twix the and me I"

" Fare
Sir Amadace
wele," he sayd,
And thou schalle wurche thru3e Goddus grace,
And hit schalle be with the."
Sir Amadace sayd, " Haue gode day,
And thou schalle fynde me, and I may,
Als true as any mon may be \"
!

A
XLIV.

NOW als Sir Amadace welke bi the se sonde,

The broken schippus he

ther fonde,

Hit were meruayl to say ;

He fond wrekun a-mung the stones,

Fitte.

SIR

AMADACE.

45

Kny3tes in meneuere for the nones,

Stedes quite, and gray.

With alle kynne maner of richas,

That any mon my3te deuise,
Castun vppe with waturs lay ;
Kistes and cofurs bothe ther stode,
Was fulle of gold precius and gode,

No mon

bare no3te a-way

XLV.
Thenne

And

Amadace he him cladde,

was in a gold web be,

Sir

that

A bettur my3te

none be

And

the stede that he on rode,

Wasse the best that euyr mon hade,

In iusting for to see.

Ther he wanne fulle mecul honoure,
Fild and frithe, toune and towre,
Castelle arid riche cit&

Aure that gud he houet fulle ry3te,

That see the king and his do3tur bry3te,

The

iusting furthe schild be.

XLVI.
The kinge sayd
"

Lo,

to his do5tur bry3te,

ond houes a

rialle

A messyngere he ches
His aune

squier,

kny3te \"
;

and kny3tes

thre,

And bede, " Go loke, quat 3one may

And telle me quo hit is.
And his gud hitte schalle be tente,
Holly to his cummawundemente,
Certan with owtun lesse ;

Go we

to his

comyng

alle to-gethir,

be,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

46

And say that he is welcum hethir,

And he be comun o pese v
!

XLVII.
As

the messingerus welke bi the see sonde,

Thay toke Sir Amadace bi the quite honde,

And tithinges conne him fraynne

And sayd, " Oure lord, the king, hase send
To wete 3oure comyng alle to-gethir,
And 36 wold vs sayn.
He says, 3 ore gud hitte schalle be tente,
;

vs hethir,
/

^sf

Holly atte 3aure commawundemente,

Sertan is no3te to layne ;
Quat-seuer 56 wille with the kingus men do,
30 thar butte commawunde horn ther to,

And haue

seruandis fulle bayne."

XLVIII.

And
And

Sir

Amadace

ee

sayd,

wasse a prinse of mekil pride,

here I hade tho3te to ryde,

For-sothe atte this iournay;

was vetaylet with wyne and

Hors, stedus, and armoure,

Kny3tus of gode
Stithe stormes

Mi nobulle

me

flowre,

a-ray.

ore-drofe,

schippe hit

all to-rofe,

Tho sothe 3oure seluun may say

To spend, I haue enu3he plente,
Butte alle the men that come with me,
;

For-sothe, thai bynne away."

XLIX.
Then Sir Amadace,
To the castelle 3ates

that wasse so stithe on stede,

thay conne him lede,

SIR

And

AMADACE.

told the king alle the cace

47

"

The king

Thou art welcum here,

sayd,
I rede the be of fulle gud chere,

Thonke Jhesu of his grace

Seche a storme as thou was inne,
That thou my3te any socur wynne,
!

A fulle fayre happe hit wase

I see

neuyr man

So muche of

As thou

my

that sete in sete,

lufue my3te gete

thi seluun hase/'

L.

Thenne the king

for Sir

Amadace

sake,

A rialle cri thenne gerutte he make,

Thro-oute in that

To

alle that

cite

ther wold seruyse haue,

Kny3te, squiere, 3oman and knaue,

Iche mon in thayre degre.

That wold duelle with

Hade

lost his

men

Sir

Amadace,

in a cace,

And drownet horn on the se

He wold gif horn toe so muche,
As any

And

or ellus more,

lord wold euyr or qware,

thay wold with him be.

LI.

Quen gentilmen herd that cry,

Thay come to him full hastely,
With him for to be ;
Be then the iusting wase alle cryed,
There was no lord ther be-syde,

Had

halfe as

mony men

as he.

Ther he wanne so myculle honoure,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

48

Fild and frithe, towne and toure,

and riche cite ;

Castelle

A hundrithe

stedis

he wan and moe,

And gaue

the king the ton halue of thoe,

Butte ther othir til his felo keput he.

LII.

Quen the iusting was alle done,

To vnarme horn they wente a-none,
Hastely and be-lyue

Then sayd the king a-non

ry3te,

"

And

bede, Gromersy, gentulle kny3te

Ofte and fele sithe.

!"

Then

the kingus do3tur that wasse gente,

Vnlasutte the kny3te, to mete thay wente,
Alle were thay gladde and blithe ;

Quen

aythir of othir hade a

813 te,

Suche a lufue be-tuene horn Ii3te,

That partut neuyr thayre lyue.
LIII.

Quen thay hade etun, I vndurstonde,

The king toke Sir Amadace bi the quite honde,
And to him conne he say
;

"

he sayd, " with-outun

Sir,"

lesse,

haue a do3tur, that my nayre ho isse,

And ho be to 3aure pay.
And 36 be a mon that wille wedde a wife,
I vouche hur safe, be my life,
I

On

30 that fayre

Here a
Halfe

may ;

gifte schalle 1 30 gife,

kyndome, quiles I life,

my

Take

alle aftur

my

daye."

SIR

AMADACE.

49

LIV.
seyd Sir

[" Gramarcy,"
the

And thonkyd

Amadas,

kyng of that
gudde ;

Of his

grace,

gyfftes
after, as y yow sey,

Sone

To the kyrke yode thei,

To wedde that frely fode.
Ther was gold gyffon in that stonde,

And

plenty of syluer, mony a ponde,

the way as thei yode ;

Be

And
The

after in hall thei satte

all,

and the lades small

That comon wer of gentyll blode.]
lordes

LV.
Amadace keuyrt of his wo,
That God lene grace, that we were so
A rialle fest gerut he make
Thus

is

Sir

Ther weddut he that lady

bri3te,

The maungery last a faurteny3te,

With schaftes for to schake.
Othir halfe

3 ere

A fayre knaue

thay

lifd in

gomun,
somun,

child hade thay

Grete myrthes con thay make.

Listuns now, lordinges, of anters grete,
Quylle on a day before the mete,
This felau come to the

3 ate.

LVI.

He come

in als gay gere,

Ry3te as he an angelle were,

Cladde he was in quite ;

Vn-to the porter speke he thoe,

" To thi lord
ernde thou
Sayd,

CAMD. SOC.

myn

go,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

50

Hasteli and

And

alstite.

he frayne 03 te aftur me,

For quethun I come, or quat cuntre,
if

Say him

And
I

say

hope

He

my

sute

we haue

fulle

is

quite

wele he haue

wille hitte

to-gethir bene,

me

sene,

neuyr denyte."

LVII.

Thenne the porter wente

in-to the halle,

Alsone his lord he metes with-alle,

He sailles him as he conne ;
"
Lord, here is comun the fayrist kny3te,
Sayd,
That euyr 3ette I see with sy3te,
Sethen I was market mon.

Milke quite

And

so

is

is alle

his stede,
his other wede,

That he hase opon

says 36 haue to-gethir bene,
hope fulle welle 36 haue him sene,
Butte with him is comun no mon."
:

He
I

LVIII.
" Is he
"
comun/' he sayd, my nowun true
To me is he bothe lefe and dere,
So aghet him wele to be
!

Butte, alle my men, I 30 cummawunde,

To serue him wele to fote and honde,

Ry3te as 36 wold do me."

Then

And

Sir

Amadace a-3aynus him wente,

allso did that ladi gente,

That was so bry3te of ble ;

did wele that hur aghte to do,
Alle that hur lord lufd wurschipput ho,
Alle suche wemen wele my3te be.

And

fere

SIR

AMADACE.

51

LIX.

Quo

schuld his stede to stabulle haue

Kny3te, squier, 3oman, ne knaue,

Nauthir with him he bro3te ;
Thenne Sir Amadace wold haue takyun his stede,
And to the halle him seluun lede,

Butte so wold he

He

1103 te.

"

Sertan, the sothe to telle,

I wille nauthir etc, drinke, ne duelle,
sayd,

Be God,

that

me

dere bo3te

Butte take and dele hit euun in toe,

Gif me my parte, and lette me goe,

Gif

be wurthi

03 te \"

LX.
Thenne speke Sir Amadace so fre,
" For Goddus
luffe, lette suche wurdus be

Thay greuun my
For we my3te no3te

Owre

and

di3te,

liun so wide quare.

lette vs leng to-gethir here,

Ri3te as

As

this faurteny3te,

riche londus dele

Thay
Butte

herte fulle sore

we

brethir were,

alle thi

none

hit

ware

And

othir gates no3te part wille wee,

Butte att thi wille, Sir, alle schalle bee,

Goddes

forbote, Sir, thou hit spare '"

LXI.
" Broke wele thi londus
brode,
Thi castels hee, the townus made,
Of horn kepe I ri3te none ;
Allso thi wuddus, thi waturs clere,
Thi frithis, thi forestus, fer and nere,
Thi ringus with riche stone,

He

sayd,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

52

Allso thi siluyr, thi gold rede,

For hit may stonde me in no stidde,
I squere, bi

Sayn John

But, be my fay the, with-outun stryue,

Half thi child, and halfe thi wyue,

And

thay

sclialle

with

me

gone."

LXII.
" Alas !"
sayd Sir Amadace than,
" That
euyr I this woman wan,
Or any wordes gode
For his lufe, that deet on tre,
Quat-seuer 36 wille, do with me,
For him that deet on rode
!

take alle that euyr I haue,

Wythe thi, that 36 hur life saue

36,

!"

Thenne the kny3te wele vndurstode,

And squere, " Be God, that me dere bo3te,
Othir of thi thinge then kepe I no3te,

Of

alle thi

wordes gode

LXIII.
Butte thenke on thi couenand, that thou made,
In the wode, quen thou mestur hade,

How fayre
Amadace
But my lady

Sir

thou hettus
"I

sayd,

me

thare

wotte, hit

!"

was

soe,

for to sloe,

Methinke grete synne

hit ware."

Then the lady vndurstode a-non,

The wurd that was be-twene horn,

And
Then
Loke

greuyt hur neuyr the more

" For his luffe that deut on

3 ore couandus holdun be,

ladi sayd,

Goddes

forbotte 36

me

v
spare

tre,

AMADACB.

SIR

53

LXIV.
Thenne be-speke that ladi bi^te,
" Ye schalle him hold that
Sayd,

Be God, and Sayn

For

his lufe that deet

Dri3tine

on

forward was

haue

hi3te,

tre,

Loke 3aure couandus holdun

3 ore

je

be,

fulle fyne.

Sithun Crist wille that hit be

so.

Take and parte me euun in toe,

Thou wan me and I am thine
Goddus forbotte that 36 hade wyuut,
That I schuld 30 a lure makette,
!

3 ore

9
wurschip in londe to tyne V

LXV.
ho stode, with-outun lette,
Nawthir changet chere, rie grette,
That lady myld and dere
"
Bede, Foche me my 3ung sun me be-forne,
For he was of my bodi borne,
Still

And lay my

herte fulle nere."

"
Now/' quod the quite kny3te thare,
" Quethur of horn luffus thou mare ?"
He sayd, " My wife, so dere \"
" Sithun thou luffus hur the
more,
Thou schalt parte hur euyn before,

Hur

quite sidus in sere/

LXVI.
Thenne quen Sir Amadace see,
That no bettur hitte my3te bee,
He ferd as he were wode ;
Thenne all the mene in that halle,

Doune on squonyng

ther con thay

falle,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

54

Be-fore thayre lord thay stode.

bro3te, that schuld hur on dele,

The burd was

Ho

kissutte

And

hur lord

sithis fele,

sithun therto ho

3 ode;

Ho

layd hur downe mekely emi3he,

clothe then aure hur eiiyn thay dro3he,

That lady was myld of mode

LXVIL
:

" I wille do the

quite kny3te,
schalt dele hit atte thi wille,

Thenne the

Thou
The godus

that here

Thenne speke

Sir

Sir

Amadace

so

fre,

alle schalle be,

a squrd vppe-hente,

To strike the ladi was his entente,

And thenne the quite kny3te be[de]

He

vnskille,

now is."

Amadace

" Atte our

wille, lord,
3
Sayd,
And so I hope hit is/' J

Then

no

sese

ladi, and the litulle knaue,

And to Sir Amadace ther he horn gaue,
" Now is
And
of
\"

toke vppe the

sayd,

tyme

pees

LXVIII.
" I con notte wite
the, gif thou were woe,
sayd,
Suche a ladi for to slo,

He

Thi wurschip thus wold saue ;

was largely as gladde,
Quen thou gafe alle that euyr thou hade,
My bones for to graue.
In a chapelle quere I lay to howundus mete,
3ette I

Thou payut

furst thritty

powund by

grete,

Sethun alle that thou my3tus haue 5

Ther I be-so3te God, schuld keuyr the of
That for me hade made the so bare,

Mi

wurschip in lond to saue."

thi care,

is?

AMADACE.

SIR

55

LXIX.
"
" Fare-wele
now," he sayd, mynne awne true fere
For my lenging is no lengur her,

With tunge sum I the telle ;

Butte loke thou lufe this lady as thi lyue,
That thus mekely, with-outen stryue,
Thi forwardus wold

fulfille \"

Thenne he wente oute of that toune,

He glode a-way as dew in towne,

And

thay a-bode ther

Thay knelutte

stille

downe opon thayre kne,

And thonket God and Mary fre,

And so thay hade gud skille
!

LXX.
Thenne Sir Amadace and his wiue,
With joy and blis thay ladde thayre Hue,
Vnto thayre ending daye
Ther is ladis now in lond fulle foe,
;

That wold haue seruut hor lord soe,

Butte sum wold haue sayd nay.

God truly,
modur, Mary fre,

Botte quo-so serues

And

his

This dar I sauely say ;

Gif horn sumtyme like
3ette

God

Tille

fulle ille,

will graunte horn alle

hor

wille,

heuyn the redy waye.

LXXL
Then

Sir

Amadace send

his messingerus,

Alle the londus ferre and nere,

Vnto his awne cuntre ;
Till all that

euyr his lond with-held,

Frithe or forest, towne or

filde,

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

56

With

tresur owte bo3te he.

His stuard and

othir, that

He
And

send aftur horn, as 36

And

with him were,

may

here,

gafe horn gold and fee ;

thay ther with him for to leng,

Euyrmore tille thayre lyuus eiide,

With myrthe and solempnite!

LXXII.
Thenne sone

aftur the kinge deet, at

Goddus

And thay a-bode thare stille,

As 36 schalle vndurstond;
Thenne was he lord of toure and towne,
alle thay comun to his somoune,

And

Alle the grete lordus of the londe.

Thenne

Sir

Amadace,

as I 30 say,

Was crownette kinge opon a day,

Wyth gold so clure schinand
;

Jhesu Criste in Trinite,

Blesse and glade this cumpany,
And ore vs halde his hande
!

FINIS DE SIR AMADACE.

wille,

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

KAYE, AND SIR

SIR

GAWAN,

BAWDEWYN OF BRETAN.

I.

He
And

that
fair

Atte his

The

made

"

vs on the mulde,

&/i

fourmet the folde,

he wold ;

wille, as

see,

and the sande

Giffe horn joy, that wille here,

Of du}ti men, and of dere,

Of

haldurs, that be-fore vs were,

jM

That lifd in this londe.

One was Arther the kinge,
With-owtun any letting,
With him was mony lordinge,
Hardi of honde ;
Wite and war ofte thay were,
Bold vndur banere,
And wi^te weppuns wold were, ^ r
And stifly wold stond.
II.

This

is

no fantum, ne no

fabulle,

36 wote wele of the Rowuntabulle,

Of

prest men, and prmeabttUe,

Was holdun in prise ;

CAMD. SOC.

SIR

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

58

Cheuetan of chiualry,
,

Kyndenesse of curtesy,
Hunting fulle warly,
As wayt men and wise,

To the forest tha fare,

To hunte atte buk, and atte bare,
To the herte, and to the hare,
That bredus

in the rise

king atte Carlele he lay,

hunter cuinmys on a day,

The
The

Sayd,

"

Sir, ther

walkes in my way,

A welle grim gryse

*Vnrs<

III.

He

is

a balefulle bare,

Secheon seghe I neuyr are

He hase wro3te me myculle
!

And

hurte of

my

U
care,

howundes

Slaynhom downe sidy, fe^

With f63 ting fulle furcely,
Wasse ther none so hardi,
Durste bide in his bandus.

On him
And

spild I

myculle of

my spere,
my nothir

gere,

Ther mone no dintus him dere,

Ne wurche him no wowundes
He is masly made,
Alle of fellus that he bade,
Ther is no bulle so brade,
That in frithe foundes.
IV.

He

is

he3er thenne a horse,

That vn-cumly
In fayth, him

corse,

faylis

no

force,

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

Quen

And

SIR

that he schalle fe3te;

ther-to, blake as a bere,

Fejj folke will he fere ;

Ther may no dyntus him

dere,
to dethe di3te.
he quettus his tusshes,

Ne him
Quen

Thenne he betus on the busshes

Alle he riues and he russhes.

That the rote

He

is

vnry 3 te

hase a laythelychejuffe,

Quen he castus vppe his stuffe

Quo durst a-bide him a buffe,

I-wisse he were wi3te I"

V.

He

sais, in

Ingulwode

is

hee,

The

tother biddus lette

We

schalle that Satnace see,

him bee

Gifie that he be thare.

The king

callut

on kny3tis thre;

Him seluun wold the fuyrthe be

He sayd, "There schalle o mo mene
5
Wynde to the bore/
;

Bothe Kay and Sir Gauan,

And Bowdewynne of Bretan,

The hunter and the howundus-squayn,

Hase 3arket horn 3 are
The kinge hase armut him in hie,
And tho thre biurnes him bie,
;

Now

ar thay fawre alle redie,

furthe conne thay fare.

And

VI.
Vn-to the forest thay weynde,

GAWAN,

ETC.

59

60

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

That was hardy and heynde,

The hunter

atte the northe ende,

His bugulle con he blaw ;

Vn-coupult kenettis as he couthe,
Witturly thay 503 te the southe,

Raches with opon mouthe,

Rennyng on a raw,

Funde

fute of the bore,

him

Faste folutte to

thore,

Quen that he herd, he hade care,

To the denne conne he draw ;

He slo3e horn downe slely,

With fe3ting fulle fuyrsly,
But witte 36, Sirs, witturly,

He

stode butte

awe.

litutie

VII.

Thay held him

He

fast in his hold,,

brittunt bercelettus bold,

Bothe the 3unge and the

And

hom

r^ste

A*

old,

the rest

comun rengnyng him

And bayet him fulle boldely,
The

raches

by,

Butte ther was non so hardy,

Durste on the fynde fast.
Thenne the hunter sayd lo him thare,
*c
jaw thar suche him no mare,

Now may

36

sone to him

fare,

Lette see quo dose beste ?

$aw thar suche him neuyr more,

Butte sette

my

Butte

he

giffe

That

hed opon a

store,

flaey 30 alle fawre,

griseliche geste

tp**?-

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER, SIR GAWAN, ETC.

VIII.

Thenne the hunter turnes home a-gayn,

The king callut on Sir Gauan,
On Bawdewin of Bretan,

And on kene Kay

He sayd, " Sirs, in 3 our cumpany
Myne a-vow make I,
;

Were he neuyr

so hardy,

one Satenas to say,

To brittun him, and downe bringe,
With-oute any helpinge,
3

And

may haue my

Her

tille

And now,
To do

leuynge,

to-morne atte day ;

Sirs, I

cummaunde

30,

haue done nowe,

Ichone make 3 our a-vowe "
as I

Gladdely grawuntutte thay.

IX.

Then vnsquarut Gauan, 3*^ y/4,

And
"

sayd godely a-gayn,

a-vowe to Tarnewathelan,

To wake

hit alle ny$te."

v
sayd Kaye,
" To ride this forest or
daye ;
Quo- so wernes me the waye,

"And

I a-vow,

Hym

to dethe di3te !"

Quod Baudewyn, " To

I

a-vow, bi

my

stynte owre

life,

to be jelus of my wife,
of no birde bry3te ;

Neuyr

Ne

Nere werne nomon

Quen

Ne

my

mete,

gode may gete,

drede

my

dethe for no threte,

Nauthir of king ner kny3te."

strife,

61

6*2

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

X.
vowes made,
haue
thayre
thay
and
furthe
buskutte
rade,
horn,
Thay

now

Butte

To hold

that thay he3te hade,

Ichone sere way ;
The king turnus to the bore,
Gauan, with any more,
To the tarne con he fore.

To wake
Thenne

He

hit to day.
Kay, as I conne roune,

rode the forest vppe and dowrie,

Boudewynne turnes

Sum that
And sethun

Butte carpe we

How

to toune,

his gate lay ;

to bed bownus he,

now

of ther othir thre,

thay preuyd hor weddej-fee,

sothe for to say.

&?# qj/\

Tho

XI.
Furst to carpe of oure kinge,
Hit is a kyndeliche thinge,
Atte his begynnyng,

Howe
Tille his

he dedde his dede ;

houndus con he hold,

The bore with

his brode schilde,

Folut horn fast in the filde,

And

spillutte

on horn, gode spede,

Then the kinge con

And

crye,

carputte of venerie,

To make his howundus

Houut on a stede

hardi,

Als sone as he come thare,

A-}aynus him rebowndet the bare

He se neuyr no sy3te are
So sore gerutte him to drede.

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

GAWAN,

XII.

He

hade drede and doute,

Of him

that was stirrun, and stowte,

He be-gan to romy and rpwte,

And gapes and gones p i*vS
Men my3te no3te his cowche kenne

For howundes and for slayn men,

That he hade draun to his denne,

And

brittunt alle to bonus.

Thenne

Opon

his tusshes con he quette,

the kinge for to sette,

He

liftis vppe, with-outun

Stokkes and stonis ;

lette,

With wrathe he be-gynnus

to wrote,

He

ruskes vppe mony a rote,

With tusshes of iij. fote,

So

he gronus

grisly

XIII.

Thenne the kinge spanos

Opon

his spere,

that bore for to bere,

Ther may no dyntus him dere,

So sekir was his schilde
The grete schafte that was longe,
!

Alle to spildurs hit spronge,

The gode stede that was stronge,

Was

fallun in the filde

As

the bore had mente,

He gaue the king suche a dinte,

Or he my3te

his bridulle hente, C^frA,

That he my3te euyr hit fele;

His stede was stonet, starke ded,

He

sturd neuyr owte of that sted,

a bone he bede,

To Jhesu

Fro wothes
~

hym

weylde
*

ETC.

G.3

64

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

XIV.
Thenne the king in his sadul sete,
And wi3tely wan on his fete,

He

prays to Sayn Margarete,

Fro wathes him ware
Did as a du}ty kny3te,
Brayd oute a brand bry3te,
And heue his schild opon hi3te,
For spild was his spere.
Sethun he buskette him 3 are,
1

Squithe with-outun any mare,

A-3aynus the fynde for to fare,

That hedoes was of hiere ;

So thay cowunturt in the fild,
For alle the weppuns that he my3te weld,
-

The bore

On

brittunt his schild,

brest he conne bere.

_

XV.
There downe knelus he,

And prayus tille him that was so

" Send me the
vittore,
This Satanas me sekes !"
Alle wrothe

wex

that sqwyne,

Blu, and brayd vppe

his bryne,

As kylne other kechine

Thus rudely he rekes.
The kynge my3te him no3te see,
Butte lenyt him doune bi a tree.
;

So nyje discumford was hee,

For smelle other smekis ;
And as he neghet bi"a noke,

The king

sturenly

him

stroke,

That bothe his bre_es con blake,

His maistry he mekes.

fre,

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

GAWAN,

XVI.
Thus his maistry mekes he.
With dyntus that werun du3te,

Were he neuyr

so harde,

Thus bidus that brothe ;

The kinge with a nobulle brande,

He mette the bore comande,

On his squrd tille his hande,
He rennes fulle rathe.
He bare him inne atte the throte,
He hade no myrthe of that mote,
He began to dotur and dote,
Os he hade keghet scathe
With sit siles he a-downe,
To brittun him the king was bowne,
;

And

sundurt in that sesun,

His brode schildus bothe.

XVII.
The king couth e of venery,
Colurt him fulle kyndely,
The hed of that hardy,

He sette on a stake ;
Sethun brittuns he the best,
As venesun in forest,
Bothe the 3onge and lees,
He hongus on a noke.
There downe knelys hee,
That loues her that is free,
"
Sayd, This socur thou hase send me,
For thi Sune sake !"
If he were in a dale depe,
He hade no kny}te him to kepe,
For werre slidus he on slepe,
No lengur my3te he wake.

CAMD. SOC.

ETC.

65

66

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

XVIII.
The king hase fillut his avowe
Of Kay carpe we nowe,
How that he come fro his prowe,
;

36 schalle here

more

Als he rode in the ny3te,

In the forest he mette a kny3te,

Ledand a birde

bry3te,

Ho wepputte wundur sore.

Ho sayd, " Sayn Mare my3te me
And saue me my madun-hede,
And

spede,

the kny3te, for his dede,

Bothe soro and care \"
giffe

XIX.
Thus ho talkes him tille,
Quille ho hade sayd alle hur wille,
And Kay held him fulle stille,

And in the holte houes

He prekut oute prestely,
And aure-hiet him radly,
And on the kny3te conne cry,
And pertely him reproues.
And sayd, " Recraiand kny3te
;

Here

Be chesun
I

of that biurde bri3te,

bede the

my

glouus

The

tother vnsquarut

And

sayd,

am

That forward to
In

I profur the to fi3te,

alle

the

me

\"

him with

skille,

redy, at thi wille,

fulfille,

be-houus."

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

GAWAN,

XX.
"

Now

quethun art thou \" quod Kay,

" Or
quethur is thou on way ?
Thi 113 te name thou me say,
Quere wan thou that wi3te T y

The

him agayn,
no3te to layn,

tother vnsquarufc

"Mi

ri3te

name

is,

Sir Menealfe of the

Mountayn,

My gode-fadur hi3te.
And

this lady

sum

I the telle,

hur atte Ledelle,

Ther hur frindus con he felle,
I fochet

As

foes in a fi^te

So I talket horn tille,

That muche blode conne I spille,
And all a-3aynus thayre awne wille,
There wan I this

XXT.
Quod Kay, The batelle I take,
Be chesun of the birdus sake,
And I schalle wurche the wrake \"
And sqwithely con squere
;

Thenne thay rode to-gedur

As frekes redy to 63 te.,

Be chesun of that birde

Gay

in hor gere

ry3te,

bry3te,

Menealfe was the more my3ty,

He stroke Kay
Witte

stifly,

36, Sirs, witturly,

With a scharpe spere ;

All to-schildurt his schilde,

And aure his sadulle gerut him to

And felle him flatte in the filde,
And toke him vppe on werre.

held,

ETC.

67

6*8

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

XXII.
Thus hase he wonun Kay on werre,

And
And

alle to-spild in his spere,

mekille of othir gere,

Is holden to the pees ;

Thenne unsquarut Kay

And

"

Sir, atte

sayd,

a3ayn,

Tarnewathelan,

Bidus me Sir Gauan,

Is derwurthe on dese
Wold 36 thethur be bowne,
!

Or

36 turnut to the towne,

He wold

pay my rawunsone,
With-owtyn delees."
He sayd, " Sir Kay, thi lyfe I the he3te,
For a cowrce of that kny3te ;"
3ette Menealfe, or the

Him

mydny3te,

ruet alle his rees.

XXIII.
Thus thay turnut to the Torne,
With the thriuand thorne,
Kay callut on Gauan 3orne,
Asshes,

"

Quo

is

there

He sayd, " I, Kay, that thou knawes,

That owte of tyme bostus and blawus,
Butte thou
I lif

me

lese with thi lawes,

neuyr more.

For

as I rode in the ny3te,

In the forest I mette a kny3te,

Ledand a birde bry3te,

Ho wepput wundur sore ;
There to-gedur

Be chesun

On

fa}te

we,

of that lady free,

werre thus hase he

Gif that

me

wonun me,

lothe ware

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER, SIR GAWAN, ETC.

XXIV.
This kny3te, that

Hase takyn me

is

of renowun,

to presowun,

And thou mun pay my rawunsun,

Gawan, with thi leue."
Then vnsquarutte Gauan,

And
u

sayd godely agayn,

I wille,

wundur

fayne,

Quatt schalle I geue ?"

" Quen thou art armut in thi
gere,
Take thi schild and thi spere,
And ride to him a course on werre,
Hit schalle the no3te greue."
" Is hit soe ?"
Gauan
asshes,

To tother kny}t grauntus, 306,

He sayd, " Then to-gedur schulle we
How-sumeuyr hit cheuis."

goe,

XXV.
And
And

these kny3tus kithum hor crafte,

aythir gripus a schafte,

Was

als

rude as a

rafte,

So runnun thay to-gedur ;

So somun conne tha hie,
That nauthir scaput for-bye,
Gif Menealfe was the more my3tie,
3ette dyntus gerut

him

to dedur.

He stroke him sadde

and

sore,

Squithe squonut he thore,

The blonke him a-boute

bore,

Wiste he neuyr quedur

Quod Kay, " Thou hase that thou hase
Mi rauunsun is alle redy bo3te,
Gif thou were ded I ne
!

For-thi

come

hedur.

803 te,

69

70

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

XXVI.
Thus Kay scornus the kny3te,
And Gauan rydus to him ry3te,
In his sadul sette him on hi3te,
Speke gif he may
Of his helme con he draw,
Lete the wynde on him blaw,
;

He
"

speke with a vois law,

Delyueryt hase thou Kay.

With

thi laa hase

Butte him

is

made him leyce,

lothe to be in pece,

And thou was aye curtase,

And prins of iche play
Wold thou here a stowunde
;

bide,

A-nother course wold I ride,

This that houes by my side,
In wedde I wold hur lay !"

XXVII.
Then vnsquarut Gauan,
Sayd godely a-gayn,
" I am wundur

fayn,

For hur for to fi3te."

These kny3tus kithum thay

And

gere,

aythir gripus a spere,

Runnun to-gedur on werre,

Os hardy and wi3te.
So somen that thay 3 ode,
That Gauan bare him fro his stede,
That bothe his brees con blede,

On growunde qwen he Ii3te

Thenne Kay con on him calle,

And sayd, " Sir, thou hade a falle,

And thi wenche lost with-alle,
Mi trauthe I the pli3te \"

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

GAWAN,

XXVIII.

Quod Kay, " Thi

leue hase thou loste,

alle thi brag or thi boste,

For
If

thou haue 03 te on hur coste,

I telle hit for tente !"

Thenne speke Gauan to Kay,

" A mon's
is notte
Is

happe
ay,
none so sekur of a say,
Butte he may harmes hente."

Gauan rydus

And

to

him

ry3te,

toke vppe the tother kny3te,

That was

dilfully dy3te.

And stonet in that stynte

Kay wurdus tenut him mare,
;

Thenne

He

the harmes that he hente thare,

alle
(e

sayd,

And we

This stryf schuld

allone ware,
I stynte."

XXIX.
"
36, hardely !" quod Kay,
" Butte thou hast lost thi
fayre may,

And thi

liffe

I dar lay,"

Thus talkes he him tille;

And Gauan sayd, " Gode forbede
For he

is

du3ti in dede/'

Prayes the kny3te gud spede,

To take hit to none ille,
If Kay speke wurdes kene,
" Take thou this dameselle
schene,
Lede hur to Gaynour the quene,

This forward to fulfiUe

And

say, that Gawan hur kny3te,

Sende hur this byurde bri3te,

And rawunsun

the a-non

Atte hur awne wille."

ri3te,

ETC.

7l

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

72

XXX.
Ther-to grawuntus the kny3te,

And

truly his trauthe pli3te,

Inne saue-ward that byurde bry3te,

To Carlele to bringe
And as thay houet and abode,
He squere on the squrd brode
;

Be he his othe hade made,

Thenne waknut the king.
Thenne the day be-ganne to daw,
The kinge his bugulle con blaw,
His kny3tus couthe hitte welle knaw,
His was a sekurthinge;
Sethun thay busket horn 3 are,
Sqwith with owtun any mare,
the kingus welefare,

To wete

With-owtun

letting.

Primus Passus.

XXXI.

TO

the forest thay take the way,

Bothe Gawan and Kay,

Menealfe and the fare May,

Comun

to the kinge

The bore brittunt thay funde,

Was
If

colurt of the kingus hunde,

he were lord of that londe,
He hade no horsing.

Downe

thay take that birde bry3te,

Sette hur one, behinde the kny3te,
Hur horse for the king was dy3te,

With-outun

Gaue Kay

letting

the venesun to lede,

And

hiet hamward, gode spede,

Bothe the birde and the brede,

To

Carlele thay bringe.

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

GAWAN,

XXXII.

Now

as thay rode atte the way,

The kynge him seluun con say,

Bothe to Gauan and to Kay,
" Quere wan
36 this wi3te?"
Thenne Kay to the king spake,

"
Sir, in the forest as I con wake,
sayd,
Atte the Anturis hoke,

He

Ther mette me this kny3te.

Ther to-gedur fa3te we,

Be chesun

of this lady fre,

On

werre hase he thus wonun me,

With mayn and wythe my3te;

And Gawan

hase my rawunsun made,

For a course that he rode,

And felle him

He wanne

in the fild brode,

this biurde bry3te.

XXXIII.
"

He

toke

him

there to presunnere ;"

Then loghe that dameselle dere,
And louet with a mylde chere,

God and

Sir

Gawan

Thenne sayd the king opon

m'3te,

Alle sqwithe to the kny3te,

6(

Quat

is

thi

rawunsun opon

ry3te,

The sothe tliou me sayn ?"

The tothir vnsquarut him with
"

skille,

conne notte say the ther-tille,

Hit is atte the quene wille,
I

Qwi
Bothe

schuld

my

I layne ?
dethe and my

lyfe,

Is inne the wille of thi wife,

Quethur ho wulle stynte

Or putte me to payne

CAMD. SOC.

me
!"

of

my

strife,

ETC.

73

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

74

XXXIV.
" Grete

God I" quod the king,

Gawan gode endinge,

" Gif
For he is sekur in alle kynne thinge,
To cowuntur with a knyjte
Of alle playus he berus the prise,
Loos of ther ladise,
Menealfe, and thou be wise,
Hold that thou be-he3te,
!

And

I schalle

helpe that I maye,"

The king him seluun con

saye,
Carlele thay take the waye,

To

And inne the courte is lijte

He toke this dameselle gente,

he wente,
Medame, I am hedur sente

Be-fore the quene

And

(e

sayd,

is

Fro Gawan, jour knyjte."

XXXV.
He

sayd, "Me-dame, Gawan jour knyjte,

On werre hase wonun me to-nyjte,
Be chesun of this birde brijte,

Mi pride conne he spille

And gerut me squere squyftely,
;

To bringe the this lady,

And my nowne body,
To do hit in thi wille,

And
"

me bade,"
the quene, " and I am glade,

haue done as he

Now/' quod

Sethun thou

art in

my

wille stade,

To

spare or to spille ;
I giffe the to my lord, the
kinge,
For he hase mestur of suche a thinge,

Of knyjtus

in
a-cowunturinge,
This forward to fullfille/'

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER, SIR GAWAN,

XXXVI.
"

Now,"

the quene sayd,

God Almy3te

ee

Saue me Gawan, my kny3te,

That thus for wemen con fi^te,
Fro wothus him were \"
"
Gawan
as God

Medame,
sayd,
du}ti of dede,
blithe burne on a stede,

He

me

spede,

is

And

graythe in his gere."

Thenne thay fochet furthe a boke,

Alle thayre laes for to loke,
his othe toke,
%

The kinge sone

And squithely gerut him squere

And sekirly, with-outen fabulle,
Thus dwellus he

atte the

Rowuntabulle,

As prest kny3te, and preuabulle,

With schild and with spere.

XXXVII.
Nowe gode

frindus ar thay,
carpus Sir Kay,

Then
To the
"

king con he say,

Sire, a mervaelle thinke

me,

Of Bowdewyn's avouyng,
3ustur euyn in the eunyng,
With-owtun any lettyng,
Wele more thenne we thre."
" Sothe to
Quod the

sayn,

king,

kepe no lengur for to layn,

wold wete wundur fayn,

How best

my3te be."
u And
30 wold
Quod, Kay,

And

gif

me

sithun take hit o no greue,

Now schuld I propurly preue,

As euyr my3te

thee."

leue,

ETC.

75

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

76

XXXVIII.
" on that
couande,
3isse," quod the king,
That o payn on life and on londe,
"

do him no wrunge,
Butte saue wele my kny3te

That

36

As men monly him mete,

And sithun for-sette him the strete,
36 fynde him 1103 te on his fete
Be warre, for he is wy3te
!

For he

And

horsutte fulle wele.

clene clad in stele,
is

none of 30 but he mun fele,

That he may on-ly3te ;
36 wynnun him no3te owte of his way,"
The king him seluun con say,
Is

66

Him

is lefe, I

dar lay,

To hald that he he3te."

XXXIX.
Thenne sex ar atte on assente,
Hase armut horn, and furthe wente,
Brayd owte aure a bente,
Bawdewyn to mete ;
With scharpe weppun and

Gay gownus of grene,

To hold thayre armur

scherie,

clene,

And

were hitte fro the wete.

Thre was sette on iche side,

To werne him

the wayus wide,

Quere the kny3te schuld furthe

For-sette

With copus

hym

the strete

ride,

couert thay horn thenne,

Ry3te as thay hade bene vncowthe men,

For that thay wold no3te be kennet,

Euyn downe

to thayre fete.

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER, SIR GAWAN, ETC.

XL.

Now

as thay houut, and thay hyild,

Thay so a schene vndur schild,

Come prekand

On

fast aure the filde,

a fayre stede

Wele armut and dy3te,

As freke redy to fy3te,
Toward Carlele ry3te,

He hies, gode
He see ther sixe
Thenne
"

Now

in his way,

thaym seluun con thay

to

he

spede.

is ferd, I

say,

dar lay,

And of his lyfe dredus;

Then Kay crius opon he3te,
5'

Alle squythe to the kny3te,

" Othir flee or
fi3te,
The tone be-houus the nede

!"

XLI.
Thenne thay kest thayre copus horn
Sir Bawdewyn se that hit wasse so,

And

e(

sayd,

36 gerutte
I

haue

my

fro,

And 36 were als mony mo,

me notte to flee
;

ways

for to

weynde,

For to speke with a frynde,

36 ar herdmen hinde,
36 marre notte me \"
Thenne the sex sembult horn in fere,
And squere, " By him that 003 te vs dere

As

Thou passus neuyr a- way

Butte
"3isse

gif

thou dede be

here,
\"

hardely," quod Kay,

"

He may take a-nothir way,

And ther schalle no mon do nere
That

schalle greue the."

say,

77

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

78

XLII.
" Gode the
fo^ilde/' quod the kny3te,

" For
3istur

am

euyn

my wais

in

I the

To cumme

to

ri3te,

king m^te,

my

mete

be 36 bold,
I holde ;"
wille
My ry3te ways
A spere in fewtre he foldes,
I

warne

30, frekes,

A gode
Kay

and a

grete.
him in his way,
aure on his play,

stode nexte

He jorput him

That heuy horse on him

He squonet in
He rode to there

lay,

that squete
othir fyue,

Thayre schene schildus con he

And faure felle he belyue,
In hie in that hete

riue,

XLIII.
Hardely, with-outen delay,
The sex to horn hase takyn vppe Kay,
And thenne Sir Bawdewin con say,

" Wille
36 any more ?"
The tother vnsquarutte him ther

tille,

" Thou
may weynd quere thou wille,
Sayd,
For thou hase done vs no3te butte skille,
Gif we be wowundut sore/'

He

brayd aure to the kinge,

With-owtun any

He

asshed,

if

letting,

he hade herd any

tithing,

In thayre holtus hore ?

The kny3te stedit and stode,
"
Sir, as I come thro 3ondur wode,
Sayd,
I herd ne se butte gode,

Quere

schuld furthe fare/'

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER, SIR GAWAN, ETC.

XLIV.
Thanne was the kinge ameruaylet
That he wold telle him no more,
Als squithur thay ar

To masse

ar thay

thare,

3 are,

wente

By the masse wasse done,

Kay come home sone,
Told the king be-fore none,
" We ar alle schente.

Of

Baudewyn, 3 our kny3te,

nobulle in the 63 te,

Sir

He is

Bold hardy and wi3te,

To bide on a bente ;
Fie wille he neuyr more,

Him
I

is

muche

leuyr dee thore,

may banne hur that him bore,

Suche harmes haue I hente !"

XLV.
Noue

the king sayd, " Fie he ne can,

Ne werne

his

mete to no man,

Gife any biurne schuld him ban,

meruail hit ware !"

Thenne the king cald his mynstrelle,

And told him holly his wille,
Bede him layne atte hit were stille,
That he schuld furthe

fare,

To Baudewins of Bretan,
" I cummawunde the or thou cum
Faurty days o payne,
Loke that thou duelle there
And wete me preuely to say,
If any

For

mon

go meteles away,
wareson for ay,
thou me neuyrmore."

thi

Do

a-gayne,

80

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

XLVI.
the mynstrelle weyndus on his way,

Then

Als fast as he may,

Be none

of the thryd day

He

funde thaytn atte the mete

The lady and hur mene,

And

gestus grete plente,

Butte porter none funde he,

To werne him

the

,3ate.

Butte rayket in-to the

halle,

Emunge the grete and the smalle,

And loket a-boute him aure alle,

He
Butte

herd of no threte

and fyne
thay the wyne,

rialle seruys,

In bollus birlutte
And cocus in the kechine,
Squytheli con squete
!

XLVII.
Then

And

the ladi conne he loute,

the biurdes alle a-boute,

Bothe with-inne and with-oute,

No faute he ther fonde
Kny3te, squyer, 3oman, ne knaue,
:

Horn

Thay

lacket no3te that thay schuld haue,

nedut notte aftur hit to craue,

Hit come to hor honde.

Thenne he wente to the dece,
Be-fore the pruddust in prece,

That lady was curtase,

And bede him stille stonde ;
He sayd, he was knoun and couthe,
And was comun fro bi-southe,
And ho had myrthe of his mouthe

To here

his tithand.

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

GAWAN,

ETC,

81

XLVI1I.

A senny}! duellut he thare,

Ther was no spense

for to spare,

Burdes thay were neuyr bare,

Butte euyr couurt clene ;
Bothe kny}te and squiere,
Mynstrelle and messyngere,
Pilgreme and palmere,
Was welcum, I wene.
Ther was plenty of fode,
Pore men hade thayre gode,
Mete and drinke or thay 3ode,

To wete, wythe-outyn wene ;

The lord lenge wold no3te,
Butte come home, qwen him gode tho3te,
And bothe he hase with him bro3te
The kinge and the quene.

Fitte.

XLIX.

NOW ther come fro the kechine

Rialle seruice and fine,
Ther was no wonting of wine,
To lasse ne to mare ;
Thay hade atte thayre sopere,
Riche metes and dere,

The king with a blythe chere,

Bade horn sle care
Then sayd the kinge opon hi3te,
!

Alle sq withe to the kny3te,

" Suche a seruice on a
ny3te

Se

neuyr are

\"

Thenne Bawdewyn
Sayd,

"

Sir,

God

smylit,

and on him loghe,

hase a gud plu5e,

He may send vs alle enughe,

Qwy schuld we spare ?"
CAMD. SOC.

82

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

L.

" Now

cummawunde

the," quod the king,

To-morne in the mornyng,
That thou weynde on huntyng,
I

To wynne

vs the dere

Fare furthe to the fenne,

Take with the howundus and men,
For thou conne horn best kenne,

Thou knoes best

For

here.

alle

day to-morne wille

And no

forthir wille I ride,

I bide,

Butte with the lades of pride,

To make me gud chere/'

To bed bownut thay that ny}te,
And atte the morun atte days Ii3te,
Thay blew hornys opon

And

hi}te,

ferd furthe in fere.

LI.

Thenne the kynge cald his huntere,

And sayd, " Felaw, come here ;"
The tother, with a blithe chere,
Knelet on his kne ;

Dowun
" I

to the kinge

commawunde

con he lowte,

the to be alle ny3te oute,

Bawdewyn, that is sturuii and

With the schall he be.

stowte,

Erly in the dawyng,

Loke
If 36

that 36 come fro huntyng,

no venesun bring,

FuU

litiUe

rechs

me

!"

The

tother vnsquarut him ther tille,

Sayd, "Sir, that is atte 3 our aune wille,

That hald

resun and

As euyr my3te

skille,

I the !"

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

GAWAN,

ETC.

LIL
And atte euyn the king con him dy3te,
And callut to him a kny3te,
And to the chambur full ri3te,
He hiees, gode waye
;

Qwere the lady of the howse,

And maydyns ful beuteowse,

Were

curtase and curiowse,

For sothe in bed lay.
The kyng bede Vndo ;"
The lady asshes, " Querto ?"
" I am comun here
He
sayd,

loe,

In derne for to play ;"

Ho sayd, " Haue 36 notte 3 our aune quene here,

And I my lord to my fere,

To ny3te more ne3e 36 me nere,
In faythe

gif I

may V

LIII.

"Vndo

the dur," quod the kinge,

u For bi him that made alle
thinge,

Thou

schalle haue no harmynge,

Butte in thi none wille \"

Vppe

rose a dameselle squete,

In the kinge that ho

He

sette

And
Sayd,

lete,

him downe on hur beddus

talkes so

hur

tille.

"Medame, my kny3te

Mun

lye with the alle ny3te,

atte days Ii3te,
to-morne
Til

Take hit on non ille ;

For als euyr my3te I the,

Thou

We

schalle harmeles be,

do hit for a wedde-fee,

The

stryue for to stylle."

fete,

83

84

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

LIV.
Thenne the kyng sayd to his kny3te,
" Sone that thou were
vndy3te,

And

in

Hie

3ondur bedde ry3te,

the,

The kny3te

gud spede

!"

him bade,
him vnclad,

did as he

And qwenne ho se
Then the lady wex drede,
Worlyke in wede.
He sayd, " Lye downe preuely hur by,
Butte neghe no3te thou that lady,
For and thou do, thou schalle dey,

For

Ne
Ne

thi derfe

dede

no3te so hardy thou stur,

onus turne the to hur ;

The

tother sayd,

"

Nay, Sur,"
For him hade he drede.

LV.
Thenne the kyng asshet a chekkere,

And cald a damesel dere,

Downe thay sette horn in fere,
Opon the bed syde
Torches was ther mony Ii3te,
And laumpus brennyng fulle br3te,
;

Butte notte so hardy was that kny3te,

His hede onus to hide.
Butte fro thay be-gan to play,

Quyle on the morun that hit was day,

Euyr he lokette as he lay,

Baudewynne

to

byde

And erly in the dawyng,

Come thay home from huntyng,
And hertis conne thay home bring,
And buckes of pride.

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER, SIR GAWAN, ETC.

LVI.

Thay toke

And hade

venesun fyne,

this

hit to kechine,

The kinge sonde after Bawdewine,

And bede him cum see
To the chaumbur he takes the way,
;

He

fyndus the king atte his play,

A kny}te in his bedde lay,

With his lady.
Thenne sayd the king opon
" To
ny3te myssutte I

And

hithir folut I

Here funden

And
For

do horn in
gif thou take

No

Nay,

Ne

ry3te,

stille,

thi wille,
hit

now

tille ille,

selcouthe thinge me."

Then the king

"

him
hee

hi}te,

kny3te,

here I held horn bothe

to

And

is

my

he sayd,
the lady no lothe,

Sir,"

wille

LVII.
" Art thou wrothe
" with-outen

asshed,

?"

othe,

I telle 30 as

quy ;
was atte hur awen wille,
Els thurt no mon comun hur tille,

For

hitte

And gif I take hitte thenne to ille,

Much maugreue haue Y,
For mony wyntur to-gedur we haue bene,
And 3ette ho dyd me neuyr no tene,
And iche syn schalle be sene,
And sette fulle sorely ;"
The king sayd, fe And I hade tho3te,
Quy that thou wrathis the no3te,
And fyndus him in bed bro3te,
By thilaydy?"

85

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

86

LVIII.

Quod Bawdewyn, " And

I schalle
ee

3isse/'

36 wille sitte,

do 30 wele to witte;"
"
quod the king, I the

hete,

And

thou wille no3te layne."

" Hit be-felle in our fadur
3
tyme,

That was the kyng of Costantyne,

Puruayed a grete oste and a fyne,
And wente in-to Spayne.
We werrut on a Sawdan,

And alle his londus we

And him seluun, or we
Then were we

fulle

wan,
blan,

fayn

wos so

lufd with the king,

He gafe me to my leding,
Lordus atte
bidding,
I

my
Was buxum and

bayne.

LIX.

He

me

a castelle to gete,
gafe
With alle the lordschippus grete,
I

hade

men

atte

my

mete,

Fyue hundrythe and mo

And no wemen butte thre,
That owre seruandis schild be ;
One was bry3tur of ble
Then ther othir toe,
Toe were atte one assente,
The thrid felow haue thay hente,
Vnto a welle ar thay wente,
;

And

says hur alleso ;

alle the loce in the

" Sithin

Thou

lise,

schalle tyne thine aprise ;"

wurchun as the vnwise,

And
And

tite

conne hur

sloe.

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

LX.

And

for tho

werkes were we wo,

Gart threte tho othir for to

Thenne sayd the tone

ee

Lette vs haue oure

And we

schalle atte

As myculle
Is

as

we

slo,

of tho,
life

our bidding be,

alle thre

none of 3 aw in preuete
Schalle haue wontyng of wyfe."

Thay held vs wele

that thay he3te,

And di3te vs on the day 113 te,

And thayre body vche ny3te,
With-outun any stryue

The tone was more louely,

That the tother hade enuy,
Hur throte in sundur preuely,

Ho

cutte hitte with a knyfe.

LXI.

Muche

besenes hade we,

that best my3te be,

How

Thay asshed cowuncelle

To do hur to dede ;

atte

me,

and sayd, " Nay,

Loke furst qwatt hur seluun wille say,
Quether ho may serue vs alle to pay,
That is a bettur rede.
Ther ho hette vs in ther halle,
To do alle that a woman schild falle,

And

I vnsquarut,

Wele

for to serue vs alle,

That stode in that stede ;

Ho heldvs wele that ho he3te,
And di3te vs on the day 113 te,
And hur body iche ny3te,
In tille oure bed beed.

GAWAN,

ETC.

87

88

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES,

LXII.

And

bi this tale I vndurstode,

Wemen

that

is

of

mylde mode,

And

syne giffes horn to gode,

Meculle may ho mende ;
And tho that giffus horn to the

And sithin

I telle 30 wele,

No

ille,

folis wille fullfille,

thayre

be propur

skille,

inne horn lenge.

With gode wille grathely horn gete,
Meke and mylde atte her mete,
luffe wille

Thryuandly with-outun threte,

And joy atte iche ende ;
Forthi jelius schalle I neuer be,

For no si3te that I see,

Ne no biurdes bri3te of

ble,

Iche ertheli thinke hase ende

\"

LXIII.
" Thou
sayd,
says wele,
"
ee
he
as haue I sele,
Sir,"
sayd,
I wille thou wote hit iche dele,

The king

Therefore come

Thi lady gret me to squere squyftele,

Or I my3te gete entre,
That ho schuld harmeles be,
And alle hur cumpany.

Then gerut

To go

On

in

my

kny3te,

the fur syde of the

And
I sette

lay hur

Ii3te,

dowun by ;

me doune

Here the

He

bed with the biurde bry3te,

horn besyde,

for to a-bide,

ne3hit neuyr no naked syde

Ofthilady.

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

GAWAN, ETC.

LXIV.
For- thi of jelusnes be thou bold,

Thine

a-

vow may thou

hold,

Butte of tho othir thinges that thou

I wold wete more ;

me

told,

Quy thou dredus notte thi dede,

Ne non that bitus on thi brede,
As euyr brok
Thi

3atis ar

my

euyr

hede,
3 are !"

Quod Bawdewyn, "I

Atte the same

Quere

schalle 30 tellej

castelle,

this antur befelle,

Be-segitte we ware ;
a day we vsshet oute,

On

And

toke presonerus stoute,

The tone

And

of owre foloys had doute,

durst notte furthe fare.

LXV.
The

caytef crope in- to a tunne,

That was sette ther owte in the sunne,

And there come fliand a gunne,

And lemet as the leuyn
;

Ly3te opon hitte atte the

TIi at

was fastnut so

last,

fast,

Alle in sundur hit brast,

In six or in seuyn.

And
And

there hit slu3e him als,

his hert was so fals,

Sone the hed

Hit lyputt

fro the hals,

fulle

And we come

euyn

fro the fe3ting,

Sowunde with-outun hurting,

then we louyd the king

And

That heghehest was

CAMD. SOC.

in

heuyn

89

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

90

LXVI.
Then owre

feloys con say,

Schalle nomon dee or his day,
Butte he cast him selfe a-way,

Thro5he wontyng of witte

And there myne a-vow made

I,

So dyd alle that cumpany,

For dede neuyr to be drery,

Welcum

is hit.

Hit is a kyndely thing. 5

" Thou

'

says sothe," quod the king,

(e

Butte of thi thryd a-vowyng,

Telle

me quyche

is

hit ?

Quy thi mete thou wille notte warne,

To no leuand barne
Ther is no man that may hit tharne 5"
?

"

Lord, 36 schalle wele wete.

LXVII.
For the sege a-boute vs lay stille,
We hade notte alle atte oure wille,
Mete and drinke vs to fille,

Vs wontutte

the fode

So come a messyngere,
"
Bade, 3ild vppe alle that

is

here,"

And

speke with a sturun schere,

I nyll, by the rode
!

I gerutte

him bide

to none,

Callud the stuard sone,

Told him alle as he schuld done,

As

counselle

is

gud ;

Gerutte trumpe on the walle,

And couerd burdes in the halle,

And
As

I my-self

emunge horn

a king stode.

alle,

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

LXVIII.
gerut horn was she, to mete wente,
Aftur the stuard then I sente,
I

bede that he schuld take entente,

That alle schuld welle fare f
Bede bringe bred plente,
And wine in bollus of tre,
That no wontyng schuld be,
To lasse ne to mare.
We hade no mete, butte for on day
Hit come in a nobulle aray,
I

The messyngere

And

He

lokit ay,
se horn sle care ;

toke his leue atte me[te] ;

drinke atte the 3ate,

We gerutte him
And gafe him
And furthe

giftus grete,

con he

fare.

LXIX.
But quen the messyngere was gone,
These

officers ichone,

To me made thay grete mone,

And drerely con say
i

" In this howse is no

bred,
Sayd,
No quyte wine nyf red,
30 be-houes }ild vppe this stid,
And for oure lyuys pray."
3ette

God

helpus ay his man,

The messyngere come a-gayn

than,

With-oute to the cheuytan,

And sone conne he say ;
36 sege this seuyn 3ere,
Castelle gete 36 none here,

"Tho3he

For thay make

als mirry chere,

Als hit were 3ole day \"

GAWAN,

ETC.

91

EARLY ENGLISH METRICAL ROMANCES.

92

LXX.
Then

the messyngere con say,

" I rede
30, hie 30 hethinne a- way,
in 3 our oste is no play,
v
Butte hongur and thurst ;
Thenne the king con his kny3tis calle,
Sethinne to cowunselle wente thay alle,

For

"

Sythinne no bettur may

This hald I the best/'

be-falle,

Euyn atte the mydny3te,

Hor lordis sembelet to a sy3te,
That were hardy and wi3te,
Thay remuyt of hor rest ;

Mete laynes mony

And
And

lakke,
there mete hor sege brake.
gerut horn to giffe vs the bake,

To preke thay were

fulle preste

LXXI.
And
And
And

then we lokit were thay

see oure enmeys a-way,

lay,

then oure felawis con say,

The

lasse

and the mare

He that gode may gete,

And wernys men of his mete,
Gud Gode, that is grete,
Gif him sory care

For the mete of the messyngere,

Hitte mendutte alle oure chere."

Then sayd

the king, that thay my3te here,

And sqwythely con squere,

" In the conne we
fynde no fabulle,
Thine a-vowes arne profetabulle ;"
And

thus recordus the Rowndetabulle,

lasse and the more.

The

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

SIR

GAWAN,

LXXII.
Thenne the kinge and his kny3tis alle,
Thay madun myrthe in that halle,

And

then the lady conne thay

The

fayrist to fold

calle,

fc

Bawdewyn, and thou be wise

Take thou this lady of price,
For muche loue in hur lyce
Sayde,

To

Ho

thine hert hold

a biurde fulle bry3te,

therto semely to thy si3te,

is

And
And

As

Now

thou hase holdinne

alle

that thou

a kni3te schulde \"

Jhesu Lord, Heuyn kynge,

He graunt vs alle his

And gife vs alle gode

blessynge
endinge,

That made vs on the mulde

ETC.

93

NOTES.

ANTURS OF ARTHER.
St. 1,

I.

7, 8.

Fellun

to tho
femalus in

forest was fredde,

Fay re by fermesones, by fry thy and felles.

The Douce MS. reads,
To felle of the femmales, in the foreste wele frythede,
s-)

Faire in the fernysone tyme, by

frithis,

and

fellis.

The Lincoln,
To falle

of the femmales, in foreste and frydde,

the
By
firmyschamis in frithes and fellis.
Fellun to tho femalus, i. e. got the scent of, or tracked.

the

Thus

in

GREEN KNIGHT,*
The howndes

that hit herde, hasted thider swythe,

And fellun
The same

as faste to the fuyt.

1425.
If
expression occurs in St. 4, /. 7.

error of the scribe,

fredde be not an

we may

The word fermysown

is

explain it \*y feared, fray ed, frightened.

also met with in the GREEN KNIGHT.

For the fre lorde hade defende in fermysown tyme

Thatther schuld no mon mene to the male dere. 1156.
The following extract from a deed quoted in Blount's Law Dictionary (voce Fermisona)
the Fermysones.

is

sufficiently explicit

upon the matter of

Quod idem Hugo et hseredes sui de caetero quolibet anno possint

capere in praedicto Parco (de Blore) unam damam in Fermisona
inter festuoi Sancti Martini et Purif. Beatae Marios, et unum dam urn
* Sir F. Madden's
Syr Gawayne.

ANTURS OF ARTHER.
in Pinguedine inter festum Sanctae Crucis in
Septemb. in perpetuum.

95

Maio

festum S. Crucis

et

in

St. 5.

12.

I.

Seriandys ofmase.

Serjeants a mace were instituted by Philippe Auguste when in the

Holy Land (1190). They formed the body guard of the monarch,

and towards the end of the fourteenth century were called Serjeants
Arms.*

at

St. 9.

I.

There

4.

is

an expression something like this in Ywaine

and Gawine.f

Than bigan
For sorow
Ib.

I.

12.

Enyn,

hir noyes al new,

failed hir hide

and hew.

885.

eyes,

Therfore he that hath a sharp

sijte,

And cler eynyn, and as bri3te,

As a beste that men linx callis,
That may

thoruh nyne ston wallis.

se

Hampole, MS.
St. 18, I. 11.
Vndur.
" The true form is undorn or
undern, i. e. unter, inter, between
and means the intervening period it therefore sometimes denotes a
part of the forenoon or meal taken at that time, and sometimes a
period between noon and sunset.
Ulphilas translates apurror, Luc. 14,
Quart. Rev. vol. Ivi. p, 376.
12, by undaurnimat. Lane, oandurth"
;

St. 28,

I.

2.

Trowlt with

trulufes.

When

the corpse of Edward the First was discovered on opening

his tomb in 1774, his stole of rich white tissue was found " studded

with gilt quatrefoils in philagree work, and embroidered with pearls

in the shape of what are called true-lovers' knots."!
*

Meyrick, Critical Enquiry,

Ritson's Metr.

Rom.

vol.

i.

vol.

i.

p. 88.

p. 38.

I Planche, History of British Costume, p. 104.

96

NOTES.

St. 29,

1.

I.

Gresse-grene.

" Green
appears to have been the prevailing colour of the robe
the reign of John."*
St. 30.

Colurs.

In the time of Richard the

throat.

in

The word

First, collars

here, however,

were used

may mean

to protect the
the colours of the various

splendid accoutrements with which the knight was equipped.

Crest.

The earliest

instance of the crest with the lambrequin and wreath,

is said to be found on the seal of Edmund Crouch-

as heraldic insignia,

back, Earl of Lancaster, prior to the year 1286.

exhibited on the seal of Richard the First. f

But

a crest

is

was a

sort of

also

Brene.

The Saxon Birne, Byrny

the

Norman Broigne

iron tunic formed of rings, or plates (the mayles) stitched upon

leather in various forms, fitting close to the body.
It formed, in fact,
the coat of mail. This tunic gradually became covered with plates of
steel, and its use being thus superseded,
by the time of Richard the Second.

it

had very nearly vanished

Basnet.
Bascinet, or Basinet, a light helmet, shaped like a basin

a visor

was sometimes added to it. The Badnez a visieres occur in the

French Romances of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and they
were commonly worn by the English infantry in the reigns of Edward
II. and III. and Richard II.
Enclawet.

" The chain mail consisted of four

Perhaps riveted or nailed
rings connected by a fifth, all of which were so fastened by rivets,
that they formed a complete garment of themselves. "J
His stede trapput with that like.
The horse of the knight also had on a coat of mail, over which was
The head was protected by
a housing of silk, reaching the ground.
the cheveron or chanfron, from which the Anlas, a long, pointed
;

dagger, protruded.
*

Plancb.6, p. 89.

The cheveron

first

occurs in the Clause Roll of

f Ibid. p. 84.

J Ibid. p. 97.

ANTURS OF AETHER.
Armed

the fifty-fourth of Henry III.*

Edward the First.

97

horses were

common

in

the

reign of

And

war thre thousand,

helyt horss in plate and mailye.

off th aim yeit

With

Bruce, II. 105.

f.31,

I.

2.

With

his sternes

of gold, stanseld on stray.

Stanseled appears to be the English form of extencellatus , a term

made use of in the Wardrobe accounts of Edward the Third " Et
:

ad faciendum

cum

argento

unum harnesium

viz.

tunicam

et

de bokeram albo pro rege, extencellato

scutum operata cum dictamine Regis

Hay, hay the wythe swan

By Godes soule I am thy man.
Et croparim, pectorale, testarium
argento. "f Fr. etince!6.

et

arcenarium extencellata

cum

Gamesuns.

The Gameson

or

Gambeson, was a padded or quilted doublet,

which, about the middle of the fourteenth century, gave place

to the

Pourpoint. It was made, according to Sir S. Meyrick, of leather

stuffed with wool. I
Schinbandes.

In the Bayeux Tapestry, the legs of the figures are, generally

speaking, bound with bands of different colours rising out of the shoe
in the ancient Saxon manner, being wound round the leg to the
top of the calf, in imitation of the hay bands used by their rude ancestors.

Polans.

The
the

poleyns, or knee-pieces, were the first additions of plate to

In a manuscript entitled the Lives of the

mail armour.

Offas, written by Matthew Paris (MS. Cotton. Nero D.) and of the
Henry III. the knights appear generally in gamboised ar-

time of

mour (padded work,

stitched), with surcoats,

or greaves of steel.

They have

and wearing shin-pieces

also the poleyns.

* Sir H. Ellis,
Penny Cyclop. Art. Armour.
f Warton's History of English Poetry, i. 251.
Ibid.
Sir H. Ellis, loco citato.

||

J Planch6, p. 85.

\\

CAMD. SOC.

98

NOTES.
Pelidoddes.

In the
ing some

tale of

Emare we

find the

word perydotes apparently mean-

sort of precious stone.

Deamondes and

koralle,

Perydotes and crystall,

And gode garnettes bytwene.
St. 32,

The

I.

5.

Then he auaylet vppe his visernefro his ventalle.

various contrivances for defending the face, were confounded

together under the term aventail, or avant taille ; and even at the
early period when our MS. was written, at the beginning of the fifteenth century, there must have been some obscurity about this part
of the helmet.
Amongst the earlier forms was one where the visor,
the part pierced for sight, was let down, availed, if the knight intended to shew himself. If this was the practice when the poem was
first

written,

we may

easily see the necessity of the posterior scribe,

or reciter, endeavouring to
combination " availed up.' 7

make himself

intelligible

by the curious

St. 39.

There are so many points of resemblance between the encounter of

Sir Gawan and Sir Galrun, and that of Governar and Sir Aunselle,
in the Romance of King Arthur of Little Britain, (supposed to be of
the 14th or 15th century)
that I shall, without apology, copy the
quotation from Sir S. Meyrick.*

"

They drew

aparte fro other, and dressed their speres to the

to the horses sydes, and met togider
so rudely, that they frusshed their speres to theyr listes like hardye
be it Syr Aunselle's
knightes and ful of great valure.
restes,

and dashed theyr sporres

How

valure was not to be compared with Governar for Governar had

been a man greatly to be redoubted.
And after the breking of
:

theyr speres, they past by, and in the retorninge they set theyr
to theyr swerdes.
And Governar stroke Syr Aunsell so

handes

rudely,

that

he did ryve his shelde

great part of his harneys

so that

* Critical
Enquiry, vol. i. p. 158.
t Ritson's Metr. Rom. vol. ii.p. 210.

to

the bocle,

and brake a

the swerde entred depe into the

ANTURS OF ARTHER.

99

and Syr Aunsell stroke again Governar on the helme, and

broke with the stroke many barres thereof; and the stroke glanced
down on the lifte syde, and share away a great parte of his barneys
to the bare sadell, but God
kept him that it entered not into the fleshe.

flesshe,

Then Governar

florysshed agayne his swerde, and stroke Syr Aunsell

on the heyght on his helme, and cut it to the harde sercle of stele,
and the stroke glanced downe by the shelde so rudely that he clave
it to the middes.
And with the same stroke the swerde did lighte on
the necke of the horse, wherewyth the horse was so sore wounded
that he fell downe to the erthe.
And when Sir Aunsell felte his
horse fallen under hym, he lept on his feet with his swerde in his
hande ; wherfore he was of some greatly praysed and some other
dyd greatlye prayse the stroke of Governar. And when Governar
saw him on the erthe, he thought that he would not renne on his
enemy with his horse, he being on fote. Therfore incontinent he
dyd alyght downe on fote, and putte his shelde before hym and wente
:

sekynge his enemy and gave hym such a stroke, that he strake a
waye parte of his cheke and the stroke dyscended to his sholder and
wounded him to the harde bones wherwith Syr Aunsel was constrayned to knele, and right nere to have fallen. Then al the lordes
sayd that theyr was non coude longe endure the strokes of Governar.
Therewith Arthur laughed with a good herte, so that Governar harde
;

hym, wherby his herte douwbled in courage.

Aunsel felt hymself thus hardly bestad, he sware

And whan
in his

mynde

Syr
that

he wolde be avenged of that stroke, and therwith lyfte up hys swerd

but when he sawe the stroke coming, he
to have stricken Governar
and
his
shelde
before
hym,
advysed wel how that Syr Aunsell had
put
his arme up a loft, and with a backe stroke he stroke at Syr Aunsell
under the armour so rudely, that the arme and swerde and all flew
wherof $>yr Aunsel had so much payne, that he fel to
into the felde
And then Governar lept to hym to have
the erth in a traunce.
stryken of hys head but he cryed for God's sake mercy."
;

Pusane.
St. 45, 1. II.
This was either the Gorget or a substitute for it. In the Acts of
Parliament of Scotland (anno 1429), it is ordered that every one
worth 20/. a-year, or lOO/. in moveable goods, " be weie horsit and

NOTES.

100

And uther sympillare of

haif
hat,
gudes
gorgeat or pesanne, with
rerebrasares, vambrasares and gluffes of plate, breast plate, and leg
haill

enarmyt

lib.

as a gentill
L lib. in

man

aucht to be.

of rent or

splentes at the lest, or better gif

him

likes."*

St. 53.

The

lines in brackets are copied from the Douce MS. as is the first
next stanza. With respect to the former, we should have

line of the

a somewhat more intelligible arrangement of the verse, thus,

"
" Nowe here I
gif the, Galrun," quod Gauan,
with-outyn any gile,

he of cheualry, chalange ham for aire,

the Lemmok, the Loynak, the Lile,
Alle the londus for-sothe, fro Logher to Layre,
Carrake, Cummake, Conyngame and Kile,
Sir, to thi seluun, and sithun to thine ayre."

That

if

The Lother,

* Act Parl. Scot.

vol.

ii.

p. 18.

SIR AMADACE.

THE
lished

following are a specimen of the variations in the copy pub-

by Weber.

St. 5.

Sir Amadas, as Y yow say,

Buskyd hym apon a day
On his way to fovnde.

He

gaffe ther

Bothe

ryche gyfftes,

sqwyars and to knyghttes,

Stedes, hakes, and howndes ;

And

to

sythyn, apon a day,

He buskyd hym
Hastely
This

St. 10.

St. 13,

I.

is

on hys jornay,

in that stonde.

one of the Stanzas omitted in Weber's edition.

10.

Whoso wolde cum to is yate,

And aske owghth for Godes sake,

He
St. 14,

I.

cowd not say horn nay.

3.

Ther myghte no mon is bred sowe,

Nor no draper is clothe drawe,
His meyt was redy to ylka wyghth.
St. 16,

/.

3.

Weber

reads, only to a styd ; and gives as the meaning of styd,

horse.
I should rather interpret it as implying that he owed
steed,
thirty

pounds

in

one place.

102

NOTES.

St. 18.

Sir

Amadas

He was

toke his palfrey than

man
His deydes he hym forthoght
" This mon Y
myght wele be sybbe
a full sory

Thut he apon the here thus lygkes

For as sche says thus have Y wroght."
:

He

cald apon his sompter-mon

" At the marchandes hows owre
yn thou tak on
:

On hym

is all

my

thoghtt.

Loke thou dyght owre soper be tyme,

Of delycyous meytes gud and fyne,

And

that thou spare ryght noght."

The mon dyd as the lord hym bad

A reyde wey to the town he had,

He

spyrd to the marchandes yn

he to his yn come,

And when

His lordes soper he dyght full sone,

Of gud meytes and fyne.
Be that the soper was dyght,
Sir Amadas was com and don lyght,
And hit was soper tyme.
St. 20,

I.

6.

Y wyll com to that mon."

The bord was seyt, the cloth was layd,
The soper was all redy grey thy d,
The marchandes wyfe began.
Sir Amadas made hot lytyll chere,
"

Bot on the deyd cors on the here

Full mykell his thoght was than.
St. 22,

I 12.

Wastars bwones gnave.

Was

this the proper pronunciation of the

consider it as a poetical licence ?

word gnaw, or are we

to

SIR

AMADACE.

103

St. 25.

At morne when

the dey began to spryng,

All the belles of that cety he gard to ryng

That soole

for to plese.

All the relegyne of that towne

Ageyn the cors yede with processyon,

With mony

a ryche burges.
xxxti
gard
prestes that day sing
Sir Amadas offerd, withowt lesyng,

He

Truly at ylke a masse

he preyd horn then also
That thei wold to the innes go.
The more and the lasse
;

And

St. 34.

"

Now am

As

of a

he

mon

that

that noghthas,

sumtyme was

Full mykyll seyt by.

Ther
had an hondorthe marke of rent

The

St. 36.

spentte hit all in lyghtte atent,

Of suche forlok was Y."
last six lines of this

stanza are not in Weber's copy

the meaning seems to be, " For if thou wert to send me socour, even
yet I should gladly give it to those who are in want."
St. 45,

1.

7.

This betyd besyde a towre

After befell hym greyt honour,

Besyde

that feyr cete.

The kyng hymselfe saw hym with

And

syght,

his doghtter feyr and bryght,

The turnament that for schuld be.

St. 53,

I.

6.

In halle scho eytte

St. 54.

From Weber.

to

dey

NOTES.

104
J.7.

S*.55,

Thre yer

thei

dwellyd togeyder than

A feyr son on hur he wan,

Of no kynnes wo

thei watte.

St. 69.

" Fare now wele,

My

my

frend so dere,

dwellyng his no lenger here

For sothe

as

thfc tell.

Luffe wele thi chylde and thi wyfe,

That thus wolde, withowton stryfe,

Thi forward e halde and

fullfyll."

He

glod away as dew in son ;

Ther west no mon where he become

Amadas dwellyd theyr styll

And thonkyd God with all his myght,
Sir

And his moder Mare

bryght
Therto he hade grete skyll.

He glode a-way as dew in towne.

correct reading is downe.
the
Perhaps

Ib.

I.

8.

St. 71

and 72 are not

in

Weber.

THE AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

ETC.

BALLAD, which was first published by Dr. Whitaker in his

History of Craven, and afterwards by Evans,* under the title of the
" Felon Sowe and the Freeresof
Richmonde," has very much the appearance of having been a parody of the one now offered to the reader.
Dr. Whitaker says the story is told "with great spirit, and in a vein
of flowing and harmonious verse.

The manners

are strictly correct.

a knight

A mendicant friar would fight for a bacon hog as eagerly as

would encounter a wild boar. The manners of chivalry too are every
where kept in view. The circumstances of the poem do not enable
* * * From the
style, 1 should suppose it to be
to
the
of
VII."
reign
prior
Henry
The deficiencies and errors of the MS. are numerous, and have

me

to fix its date.

neither been pointed out nor corrected by its editor ; but, in spite of
its imperfections, it affords a very curious and valuable series of illustrations to the boar-hunt in the present ballad.
men that will of aunters wynne,

It

commences,

Ye

That

late within this land

hath been,

Of one I can you tell

Of a sow that was sae strong,
;

Alas, that ever she lived sae long

For fell folk did she whell.

Her walk was endlang Greta

side,

Was

no barn that could her bide,

That was frae heaven to hell
Ne never man that had that might,
That ever durst come in her sight,
Her force it was so fell.
;

* Old
Ballads,

CAMD. SOC.

vol.

iii.

p. 270.

NOTES.

10G

She was more than other

The

grisliest beast that

three,

ever might be,

Her head was great and grey

She was bred in Rokeby wood,
There were few that thither yoode,
That came on live away.*
:

Ralph of Rokeby, with good will,

The freers of Richmond yaf her tyll,
Full well to gar them fare ;
Freer Middleton by name,
was sent to fetch her hame,

He

rued him syne full sare.

took wight men two,
Peter of Dale was one of tho,
It

With him he

T'other was Bryan of Beare,

That well durst strike with sword and

And fight full manfully for their

What time as musters were.

knife,

life,

St. 6.

That the MAKER of the FELON sow was well acquainted with this
or some similar ballad, and had a delicate perception of the ^ridiculous,
will be apparent on comparing the first encounter with the sow and
the knightly attack upon the BOAR.
These three men wended at their will,
This felon sow qwhyl they came tyll,
Liggand under a tree
Rugged and rusty was her hair,
;

She

rose

To

up with a felon

fere,

fight against the three.

Grisly was she for to meet,

She rave the earth up with her feet,
The bark came from the tree ;
* Some liberties have been taken in
re-arranging these stanzas
deficiency here.

there seems to be a

AVOWYNGE OF KING ARTHER,

When

freer

Wete ye

ETC.

Middleton hersaugh,

well he

list not laugh,

Full earnsful looked he.

These men of aunters were so wight,

They bound them baudly for the fight,

And
Unto a

struck at her full sore

kiln they garred her flee,

Would God

send them the victory,

ask him no more.

They would

(Half the stanza appears

The sow was

to

be wanting.)

in that kiln hole

And they were

down,
on the bank aboon

For hurting of their feet

They were so sauted with this sow,
That 'niong them was a stalwarth stew,
:

The kiln began to reek.

Durst no man nigh her with

his hand,

a rope down with a wand,

heltered her full meek :

But put

And

They hauled her forth again her

While they came until a hill,

will,

A little from the street.

And

there she

As had

made them such

they lived until

They could

it

a fray,

Domesday

ne'er forget.

She braded up on every side,

And ran on them gaping full wide,
For nothing would she let.
She gave such hard brades at the band,
That Peter of Dale had in his hand.

He

might not hold his feet

so, to and fro,
The wight men never were so wo,
Their measure was not mete.

She chased them

107

108

NOTES.
She bund her boldly

for to bide,

To Peter of Dale she came aside,

With many a hideous yell
;

She gaped
*

so

wide and cried so high,

*

As
Thou

a fiend of hell.

if

are corned hither for some train,

I conjure thee to go again,

Where thou art wont to dwell.

He

signed him with cross and creed,

forth a book, began to read,
Of Saint John his gospel.

Took

The sow she would no Latin hear,

But rudely rushed at the frere,
That blinked all his ble ;
would have taken hold,

And when she

The

freer leapt as Jesu wold,

healed him with a tree.

And
*

She was

And

as

brim as any boar,

gave a grisly hideous roar,

it was no boot ;

To them

On tree and busk that by her stood,

She venged her as she were woode,
And rave them up by the root.

He said, Alas, that I was freer !

I shall be lugged asunder here,
Hard

is

my

destiny

Y-wist my brethren in this hour,

That I was set in sik a stour,
They would pray for me.
This wicked beast that wrought this woe,
Twan the rope from t'other two,

And

then they fled

all

three

ETC.

J09

They fled away by Watling Street,

They had no succour but their feet,
It

was the more

pity.

Friar Middleton attempted in vain to persuade the Warden that

this redoubtable sow was nothing less than the fiend himself.

The warden waged on the morn

boldest men that ever was born,

Two
*

I ween, or ere shall be

*
*
#

These men the battle undertook

Against the sow, as saith the book,

And

sealed security

That they should boldly bide and fight,

And scomfit her in main and might,

Or

therefore should they die

sealed to them again,
said, If ye in field be slain
:

The warden

And

This condition make I

We shall for you sing and read,

Doomsday with hearty speed,
With all our progeny.
Then the letters were well made,
The bonds were bound with seals brade,
Until

As deed

of arms should be.

After a hard contest the two champions are victorious, and bear
away the conquered foe in triumph.

They

hoisted her on a horse so hee,

On two * * * * of tree,
And to Richmond anon
When they saw the felon come,
;

They sang merrily Te Deum,

The freers everichone.

They thanked God and Saint Francis,

That they had won the beast of pris,
And ne'er a man was slain
;

110

NOTES.
There never did man more manly,
The knight Marous or Sir Guy,
Nor Lewis of Lorraine.
If you will any more of this
Freer at Richmond written

I* th'

it is,

In parchment good and fine ;

How freer Middleton so hende,
At Greta Bridge conjured a fiend,
In likeness of a swine.
It is well known to many a man,
That freer Theobald was warden then,

And this fell in his time.

And Christ them bless both
All that for solace

And him

that

this

made

far

and near,

do hear,
the rhime.

GLOSSARY.
The following may

be considered as general formula of the early

in the Ireland MS.
exhibited
English orthography
The plural of nouns and the third person singular of verbs are
formed in -us, -ys, -es, -is as \efais,for leads, redys for reads, fyc. The

plural of verbs ends in

The perfect

tense

-un, -en.

and passive

participle in

-ut, -utte,

as warnut, for

warned.

Hie aspirate is sometimes omitted, as onest for honest; at others

added, as hittefor it.
Sch-for sk or ch ; shfor ch.

Qufor

w, as squete for sweet; qw-, q\i-,for wh-, as qwi for why,

; 3 for gh, as myjtun, might ; wyjte, wight ; for y, as

quen for when

3aure,3/ow;

The
dace,"

30, you.

A. B. C. refer severally

letters

and the " Avowynge ."

Adecoue? A.

Probably an er-

16. 11.

ror of the scribe

the other

MSS.

read avow.
Afrayet, afraid, frightened.

A. 31.

to

the "

Anturs" " Sir Amaand line.

thefigures to the stanza

9.

Aprise, adventure, undertaking.

14.

Ayre, heir.

Are, ere, before.

Aythire, either.

At, that.

Als, also.
Alstite, as

And, occasionally
Antur, adventure
adventures

for
;

B. 4,

A. 14. 10.

Auaylet, let down.

C. 65. 9.

soon as possible.

An,

if.

B. 56.

6.

A. 16.

2.

Anturis hoke, oak of

C. 32. 7.

MS. Douce

Apraysut, valued? A. 29. 9.

has praysed.

2.

Lancashire, of.

A. 32.

5.

Auenant, comely, handsome.

Avow, oath. C. 8. 6.

A. 24.

Aure, over.
Aure-hiet, overtook

C. 59.

C. 19. 6.

3.

GLOSSARY.

112
Aw,
p.

A. 55. 9: owe.

ought.
t.

B.

1. 4.

B. 14 12.

a3te.

Awen, own.

B. 28. 11.

Beforne, before.

Beken, commend to. B. 32. 11.

"
tyl Leaute be Justice,

C. 57. 5.

And
Bacun, baked. A. 27. 4.
" With birdes in bread

have power to

y-bake."

ofbede, infra, shewed

t.

Piers Ploughman.

C.

A.

Bales.

B. 4. 9

Belyue,

Banne.

A. 7.

46. 7.

Bandum,

& vostre

Fr.

bounds,

Bandus,

3,

C.

neighbourhood.
C.

Banere, banner.

Bankers, table-clothes

coverlets

A.

Barbere, barberry.

A.

4. 2.

without a moveable front.

A. 30.

Basynet. 41. 7.

The

stable

C. 7. 2.

and the

A.

Bere, noise.

30.

44, 4

Berse-

setes set,

Bede, to proffer, offer.

A. 32.

A. 50.

Beed, C. 61. 16.

8.

7.

C.

Bede do

way, asked him to do away, or leave

his grief. B. 38. 5. Bedus. A. 20. 2.

A. 16.

5.

10. 8, 9.

bear, carry.

C. 14. 16.

A. 28.

6.

A. 46.

Berunge, burial.

2.

B. 24.

8.

Besandus, besants.

A. 29. 4.

Besenes, business.

C. 61.

Best, beast.

Be-call, require, challenge.

Bedus, prayers.

3.

A. 3. 11.

Berels, beryls.

Be, occasionally for by.

19. 12.

29. 4

A. 26. 5

fields.

Berd, beard.

6.

Basnet, a light helmet, worn with or

6. 6

G. 39. 3.

A. 33. 10.

Barrens, hinds not gravid.

A.

fair.

A. 29.

Wyntown.

A. 52. 7.

A. 18.

Be-lyfe.

part of a

6.
?

4.

mistake of scribe for baro-

Barne, child.

15.

mantle

Bercelettus, hounds.

11

6. 6.

6.

Hymself with bow and breslet."

A. 23.

Barette, grief.

Baroners,

A.

C. 2. 10.

Bare, boar.

nies

Bene, well,
3: 52. 8.

lette.

35. 2.

A.

bonfire.

lady's dress, the

49.5.

1. 14.

B. 23.

3.

Bente, plain,

3. 8.

lib. 3, cap. 12.

quickly.

A. 39.
Belle,

A. 22.

disposal.

bandon.

d' Arthur,

17.

8. 12.

C. 45. 3.

Ban, curse.
11

Be-leues, leaves.

C. 70. 15.

Bake, back.

Bale, harm, evil, grief.

4. 2.

A. 38. 6.
" and the
lady was beleft with the
two squyres in the pavelions." Morte

B. 47. 12.

C. 7. 6.

Bayet, baited.

10.

Beker, to attack, act hostilely against.

A.

3. 14.

Bayne, prompt, ready.

punyshe hem,

then put forth thy reson,

For Ich bykenne the Crist quath hue."

Squier of Low Degree, 319.

Bade, p.

Biforne.

29. 8.

Bete, amend.

B. 4.

9.

Beten, inlaid, adorned.

"

Hur

1.'

C. 17. 5.

coronell on hur

clothys

A.

8. 12.

A. 29.

hedd

4.

sett,

wyth bestes and byrdes

were bete."

Le Bone Florence of Rome,

v.

182.

GLOSSARY.
Be-tydde,

A.

befell.

Beueren, flowing

1. 1

55. 13.

A. 28.

Bouun, going, advancing

6.

Bi-dene, continuously
ther

A.

36. 4, toge-

36. 6. moreover?

11:

1.

A. 10.

cap. 15.

1.

A. 24. 6: 40. 9: 53.

B. 3.

11.

Bidus, abides, waits, stays.

A. 10.

5.

A. 46,

Byernes, nobles.

7.

See Birne.

Birde, Byrde, (pi. Birdus,) lady. Biurde.

C. 32. 16: 19.11. Byurde. C.29. 14.

52. 8.
built, inhabited. A. 6. 6

Byggyt,

C. 46. 14.

Birlutte, poured.

Birne, (pi. byrnes,) man, knight, noble.

C.

Biurnes.

5. 14.

t.

ceased, stopped.

C. 58. 11.

stuff.

A. 29.

3. written

else-where Blunket and Plonkete.

Blenked, glanced. A. 42. 4.

Blonke, steed. A. 3. 3 39. 5
:

Blu, blew.

C. 15.

A. 4.

Boes, boughs.

30. 4

circlet
:

bit, ate.

A. 55.

5.

C. 23.

CAMD.

A.

SOC.

A. 30.

Brees, brows.
27. 11.

C. 15. 15

8.

braham's Glossary.
B. 16.

Wil-

Cheshire, eye-brows.

8.

Breme, savage.

A. 30.

Breny. 41. 7. pi. 41. 9?

Brenne, burn. A. 15. 6. Brent, bur-

A. 27.

nished.

4.

A. 27.

4.

Brittunt, broke in pieces.

C.

14.

15.

A. 27. 4.

Bred, pastry.

2.

A. 35.

Broches, tapers.

A. 39.

A.

salvation.

8.

i.

e. all

over.

9.

A. 44.

4.

Broched.

5.

A. 12.

Broes, brows.

1.

Brok, enjoy. C. 64.7. Broke. B. 61. 1.

Brothe, enraged, used substantively. C.

6.

A. 14.
19.

io. breadth,

2.

Brochet, spurred.

A.

43.3. remedy. B. 17. 10. what good

A. 16. 9.
is it to hide it.

Boune, ready.

and breed for their

horses." Morted'4rthure,}3.3.c. 10.

A. 35.

round the helmet.

Boumet, embalmed.

C. 64. 5.

They toke lodgyng, and was there

gras, otys (oats),

embroidered

1.

C. 46. 14.

A. 43.

bread.

Erode, Beddus brauderit o brode, beds

pi. 46. 2.

Bostus, boasts.

Bote,

43. 2.

C. 13. 15.

Bollus, bowls, cups.

Bordur,

C. 31. 15.

4.

Boke-lornut, book-learned.

Bone, prayer.

A.

synonymous with venison

hunting term applied to dividing the

wild boar.
C. 8. 9 16. 14.

6.

A. 29.

Bocult, buckled.

A. 45. 13. food.

Brede, breadth.

Briddes, birds.

Ble, hue, colour, complexion, stspe.

Blenket, a white

hastened?

3.

Blawus, blows, puffs himself. C. 23. 6.

Blan, p.

6.

Brene, burny, hauberk, cuirass.

C. 15. 15.

Blake, blacken.

39. 3. Braydet.

C. 15.

C. 43. 9.

"

C. 5. 14.

Bie, with.

C. 14. 6

5. bristled ?

43. 2.

9.

2.

C. 3. 15.

Brade, broad.
Brayd, drew.

A. 44.

C. 10. 13.

Bownus, goes.

"'
That many knyghtes shoke and
beuered for egrenes." Morte ft Ar-

thurey book

113

6.

B. 27. 8.

16.4.

Bruen, brewed, made.

Bryne, pi. brows or

Burd, table.

A. 46. 7.

bristles.

C. 15. 6.

A. 35. 7 pi. B. 14.

Burias, burgess.

B. 25.

6.

5.

GLOSSARY.

114

Burlyche, Burliche, (superl. Burlokkest.

A. 43.

2.)

huge, big.

A. 50.

substantively.

Busket, Buskutte,

A. 44.

But if,

8.

Clyppus, eclipse.
prepared.

C. 10. 2.

8.

unless. A. 19. 10.

Butte,33.12.

2.

A. 40. 13.

Cleuet, cleaved.

arrayed,

A. 10.

Clething, clothing.

A. 16. 8. used

A.

8. 3.

A. 12.

Cloes, valleys, cloughs.

Clure, bright.

A. 29. 7

Cocus, cooks.

C. 46. 15.

7.

30. 2.

Code, chrysom cloth, used in baptism.

A. 18.3.

A. 12.

Cachet, gone.

A. 40. 12.

A. 41.

Cantel, corner, piece.

telle,

Term

48. 2.

A. 48.

t.

2.

Chaselette,, the canopied platform

which the chair of

7.

on

was placed ?
In the Morte d* Arthur

A. 38. 11.

state

(Southey's ed.) 2. 436,

Kyng Arthur

satte

is chaflet.

it

upon a chaflet in a

A. 35. 4.

Chefe, upper part, top

A.

B. 46.

used as auxiliaries before verbs, to

Con falle, hapexpress a past tense
:

pened. A.

Con

C. 5. 16.

Con

Conne

6. 7.

A. 35.

horse's head.

C. 19. 11

for

C. 2.

Cholle, jowl, cheek.

A.

Claryfiet, glorified.

A. 11.

Couchet,

C. 39. 13

5.

laid.

A. 12.

B. 42.

4.

Coupus, cups.

A.

48.7.

A. 36.

40. 13.

5.

celebrated

which bound up
A. 29. 6.

2.

A. 41.

Couurt, covered.

Couthe, understood.
30.

2.

9.

fillet

the cawl or head-tire

4.

Clechis, clutches, seizes or strikes.

41. 1.

C. 4. 2.

C. 28. 3.

Countur-felit, the

6.

A. 11.

Coste, spent?

B. 41. 11.
3.

16.6.

5.

9. 10.

A. 10.

A. 29. 6

B. 37. 9.

A. 11.

A. 47.

&c*

Couand, agreement, covenant. B. 63.

11: 64. 5. C. 38. 1. Convent. A.

C. 24. 16.

Cheuetan, chieftain.

Clanser, cleanser.

Cost, side.

1.

18. 3.

Costage, expence, cost.

A. 30. 10.

Chonget, changed.

A.

B. 25.

C. 30. 11.

7.

Corse, body, animal.

of.

went.

fare,

blawe, blew, 6. 4.

spring, dawned.

Couthe.

Copus, clokes.

1.

chanfron, armour

Cheuis, happens.

fair.

Comande, coming. C. 16. 6.

Con, Conne, Couthe, are very frequently

Coniurt, conjured.

9.

3.

Chesun, reason, account

21.2.

Clene,

1.

A. 48. 7.

Congrece, suite of servants.

9. 10.

C. 55.

Chekkere, chess-board.

Cheueronne,

A. 30.

Condul, candle.

A. 21.

Chefe, obtain, achieve.

A. 29. 6.

Coloured.

Conciens, cognizance

chayer.

Chaufen, warm.

Ches, chose.

31. 6.

Coler, collar.

Emperor. A. 32.

Cayselle, for Cayser,

17. 2

Colurs, colours. A. 52. 4. armorial surcote.

shield.

Carputte, p.

speak.

tell,

Cast, stratagem.

Can-

1.

in heraldry, the

dexter upper corner of the

Carhonde ? A. 48. 2.

Carpe, say,

Colurt, collared, a term of venery apC.

plied to the cutting up of a boar.

8. 9.

Canel-bone, collar-bone.

1.

C. 17.

47. 13.

1.

C:

See Con.

6.

GLOSSARY.
Cowche, den.

C. 12. 5.
4, 5.

3.

Cummys, comes.

6.

C. 2. 14.

A. 37.

Dayng, dawning.

A.

Dayntethis, dainties.

Daren, manifest

B.

Dede, death.
t.

15. 1.
4. 13.

Dill, dole, torment.

A. 15.

A. 43.

22. 4.

C. 25. 8.

8. 12.
1.

Deut.

Dylle,

A.

12. 11.

Dulfuly,

dolefully. 46. 8.

40. 9

Dyrkyns,

B. 35.

Deet.

2.

8.

Dintus, strokes, blows.

dither.

estate.

14. 13. B. 20. 9. C. 47. 9: 22. 8.

Lordes in halle wer

A.

lies hid.

5. 1.

Di3te, Dyjte, prepare,

treat,

dispose,

sette,

The two knyghtes

i. e.

the dese began.

Sir Eglamoure.
Defoules, conquers, vanquishes A. 21.2.

Dele, bestow.

Divide. B.

A. 18. 11.

B. 14.

8.

Torment.

6.

C. 22. 12.

Dellun, dells.

A.

Demayn? A.

37.

rage.

4. 12.

error of the scribe.

10.

lose cou-

C. 16. 11.

Douteouse,

A, 52.

fearful.

Do-way, cease.
Do3ti, Du3ti,

9.

A. 40.

Drafe, drove.

9.

B. 38. 5.
doughty,

brave,

B. 15.
suffer.

some-

A. 40.

9.

9.

A. 11. 11.

Drerely, drearily, sorrowfully. C. 69. 4.

Probably an

" And
yafe him

mete and drink of main," i. e. of

Ywain and Gawin, 1865.
strength.

Drery, sorrowful. C. 66. 7.

B. 64. 3.
Dri3tine, the Lord.

Dre3ghe, back ? A. 40. 6.

backwards. A. 44. 3.

O-dre3ghe,

The kynges doughter, which

this sigh

For pure abasshe drew hir adrigh.

See Soppus.
judge, condemn.

Deray, disorder.

22.4.

Dusiperis.

Dotur and dote, tremble and

Ore, endure,

Delees, delay.

Denyte, deny.

King Arthur's knights. A.

times used subtantively.

59. 10: 66. 7.

Dele, part, bit.

applied to

Doue, endow.

presided.

C.4.8.

Dosiperus, the Douze-Pairs of France,

1.4.

waytes blew to the mete,

A.

C. 3. 11.

46. 8.

do. A. 1.6: 12. 11. B. 60. 5.

Dees, Dese, Dece, dais or table of

Demun,

C. 22. 8.

A.

Dylful, dolefull.

A.

36. 7.

A. 25.

C. 52. 12.

Deuyt, confounded.

sorrow.

5.

C. 11. 4.

did.

And

A.

24. 13.

Derwurth, honorable.

fear, tremble.

Dedur, tremble, Lane,

A.

C. 3. 11.

C. 54. 12.

Derf, foul.

Derne, secret.

Curtase, courteous, scepe.

die, jo.

1.

C. 1.6.

Derfly, strongly, fiercely, sternly.

A. 4.

Cumfordun, encouraged.

Dee,

4.

Dere, hurt, injure.

Crisumte, wrapt in the chrysom cloth.

Dedde,

A.

Dere, Deure, noble, honorable.

A.

Cowpullus, couples of dogs.

Croyse? A. 23 rl.

A. 18.

115

B. 29. 10.

B. 56. 12.
A. 40. 6.

Gower, Conf.

Droupen, droop.

A.

Dn>3he, Dro3ghe, drew.

26. 2.

4m.

4. 13.

A. 44.

3.

B.

116

GLOSSARY.
as for an C good knyghtes, I
haue myself, but I fawte L, for so
many haue been slayn in my days.

And

Duelle, dwell, abide.

Dure, deer.

A.

4. 7.

Enyn,

A.

9. 12.

Morte d'Arthure,
eyes.

B. 66. 11.

A. 30.

riveted?

5.

Fr. Encloses.

A. 36. 4.

En-doret, gilded*

Enmeys, enemies.

sperit,

e.

i.

A. 29.

9.

A. 23. 3.

7.

Fellun.

fell,

strike

Felles, hills,

A.

Eyrthely, Weler.

Fales, Failis,

A. 18. 12

C.

ado, bustle

31. 9.

C.

Faste, fasten.
?

A.

7. 2.

riegated.

8.

unusual

onset.

i.

e.

41. 6.

A. 18. 11.

Fast, liberally.

It

ly in composition

shining, va-

read Fan, Sax.

used, frequent-

as Fen-land, Fen-

hof.

Fauyn

A. 31.

8.

Perhaps we should

i.

e.

fanon, the knight's

readyizwyn,

banner.

Fawre, four.

B.51.12.

1.

Felau.

C. 59.

50. 16.

acted.

to

Fellun.

8.

A.

10.

3. 7.

B. 55. 12.
66. 1.

Feloys.

C. 3. 14.

A. 31.
B. 19.

9.
2.

C.

B. 66. 3.

C. 4. 6.

Fere, fear.

Fere, companion.
fere,

B. 12. 3.

A.

together.

Fery

error for fey

dead.

Ferly, wonder, marvel.

C. 52. 14.
26.

6.

C.

Ferles.

2.

fau 3 te of her fode."

Deposition of K. Richard,

2.

A. 23. 13.

closed,

A.

or not allowed to be killed.

1. 8.

B.

1. 3.

Fewtre, the lance-rest.

A. 45.

A. 22.

A. 41. 11. pi.

Fermysones, a hunting term applied to

the time in which the male deer were

Ferre, far.

C. 7. 15.

Fawtutte, failed, wanted.

" For

A.

moors.

41. 9: 50. 16: 55.3.

Fah Sax.

Fsen, Fen, wet, fenny

See note,

C. 20.

Fellus, bristled hide?

In

7. 8.

may be

down.

A. 4.

Felle.

7.

Ferd, feared, frightened.

Qu. afare,

display, entertainment.

8.

1.

Ferd, fared, proceeded.

Fare, course, pursuit. A. 4.

Fau

wanting.

4. 3.

A. 23. 13.

Falle, befall.

4.

A.

Foloys. 64. 15.

is

fails,

Faylis,

46. 4.

31. 8.

everthrow.

Fellus, fellows, equals, peers.

Felow.

A. 41. 11

fell,

4. 11.

Felo.

Fay, faith.

2.

A.

fierce.

FeUe,

B. 20. 3.

B. 41.2.

6.

Feaful,

C. 38. 11,

inspired.

Ernde, errand.

4. 7.

Craven Glossary.

many. A. 21

Fele,

Perhaps for en-

Ensese, take possession.

Erliche?

2.

C. 71. 2.

A. 19.6.

Enperit?

A.

very, exceeding.

A. 40.

C. 4.

Feye, destined to death, fated.

Feyful, fatal, deadly.

Engrelet, interspersed.

Enparel, apparel

B. 41. 10.

Feyce, fees, rewards.

Emunge, among.
Enclawet, nailed

b. 3. e. 1.

A. 29. 5.

Fax, hair.

C. 42.

Fe3te, fight.
Filde, Fyld, Fylde, field.
Fille, belly-full

A. 45. 2.

7.

GLOSSARY.
Fynde,

C. 7. 8.

fiend.

B. 64.

Fyne, unconditional.
Flaey, flay, kill

6.

A. 31. 11.

Flourre, flowered, flory.

wrang now I hir wite.

Ywain and Gawin, 1027.
B. 54.

A. 29.

Fold, folded.

A.

Folde.

6.

B.

fool.

9.

4.

A. 18.

5.11.

Folut.

8.

Follutte. C. 6. }Q.p.

t.

For-bote, forbid.

8.

ill

C. 10. 7.

fortune

For-sette, obstruct, way-lay

C. 38. 6

or-fret with

Fry thy s,

34.

8: 4. 11.

Fuld, see Fold, earth.

C.

9.

A. 34.

Forur, furs

B. 18. 3.

Funde

A. 13. 10.

2.

C. 3. 6

6.

14.

C. 5. 6.

Fuyrthe, fourth.

For-tho^te, repented.

frostis

of Ores.
A.
Frythun, inclosed woods.
Test,

Furcely, Fuyrsly, fiercely.

A.

therefore.

25. 16.

"

unfaire,

Fuilde, field.

39. 12.
For-thi,

Feltrit

1.

B. 34. 6.

4.

belte his liart lockis laie

hore."

For-brissute, broken, bruised. A. 51. 8.

Fore-loke,

Rom. of the Rose, 3203.

B. 60. 12.

Fore, fared, went.

A. 43. 5.

of riche stones afret."

full

" Attour his

6.

A. 51.

6.

horse.

A. 29. 5 46.
" For round environ her crounet

Was

For-bled, covered with blood.

8.

used substantively.

Frettut, ornamented.

Folut, bap-

4.

C. 25.

1. 7.

8.

For-betun, thoroughly beaten. A. 51.9.

For-bye, past

9.

9.

A. 32.

B. 54.

Fresun, Friesland

B. 31.

A.

A.

Freli, noble, lovely,

14. 1.

Folo, follow.

A. 42.

A. 32.

Fredde, frightened

A. 29. 12.

A. 42.

P. P.'*

beter.

Foundes, strikes.

7.

Freke, man, warrior.

A. 39.

endea-

Frayn, ask, seek.

1. 2.

Fole, foal, horse.

don

to

A. 25.

B. 5.

9.

try,

for-flytte."

C. 72. 4.

Fold, earth, ground.

tised.

Fond

A. 32.

Funde,

Fraest, seek, find

6.

embrace.

5.

t.

16.

Foundret, stumbled.

said with

Fode, man, person.

C.

3.

Fowle ? B. 36. 2. Weber's MS. reads,

" As a fole Y am

herself fast gan she flyte,

29. 12.

47. 12.

B. 36. 6.

Flote, complained

And

Foundut, p.

Crede.

Brockett.

Unto

1.

9.

vour.

C. 7. 15. frighten,

117

fate,

scent.

C.

found the

track by the

6. 9.

Fleshly lustes and festes,

And

furures of divers bestes."

Warton,

2. 200.

Gaye, gay, used substantively. A. 41. 10.

B. 42.

Gamesuns, quilted doublet to defend the

body. A. 31. 3.

For wart, covenant, agreement.

10.

For-wundret, astonished.
For-3ilde, requite.

C. 42.

Founde, to go, journey.

A. 26.

Gart, caused.

9.

1.

A.

A. 37. 13.

SeeGer.

A.

Her

Gatys, way, path.

7. 1

21.

3. 2.

gatea

were gayne, her road was straight, di-

1J8

GLOSSARY.
A.

rect.

See Brockett,

7. 7.

v.

v.

Gate, Gain.

Gente,

B. 58.

fair.

B. 24.

7.

1.

8.

A. 17. 2

Ger, Gere, to cause.

Gerutte, p.

21. 12.

B. 50. 2.

t.

Gret. C. 63. 5.
39.

C. 3.

2.

10:

21.8.

Gersums, treasure.

A. 54.

Geste, pi.

guest.

Gestus,

34. 10.

C.

16

7.

A.

Gyde,

attire,

Giffe,

if.

5. 7.

Geuees, gives.

A.

gown.

2.

A.

7. 13.

A. 33.

Gillus, glens.

Girdus,

A.

A. 45.

10.

A. 10.

Gledes, burning coals, embers.

:31.3.
A.

Glemit, gleamed, shone.

A.

A. 28.

Glysset, looked.

A. 10.

Gloet, glowed.

A. 26.

48. 9.

8.

Gryse, monster

31. 3.

A.

knight, warrior.

spur.
7.

13

A. 34. 7

sport, pleasure,

A. 5.7:12.

Gones, groans

Gous? A.

"
:

Qu

game.

3.

for Glowes, looks

Grattur, greater. A. 12.4:33. 2. Grat-

B. 28. 11.

A.

8. 8.

2. 16.

A.

5. 7.

A. 39.

A. 47.

Ipomadon.
A. 47. 9.
8.

Gurdenne,

1.

gyrd rycht to the king couthe

he maik."
Bruce, 5. 629.

C. 12. 4.

10. 11.

fearful.

Grythe, respite, peace

Gurdes, smites.

5.
:

8. 9.

7.

C.

" For
bugelys Waste and brachys crye
With oppon mowthe full veralye
There myght no best have gryethe."

Gode, good, -Code-father, God-father.

C. 20. 8.

B. 55.

Grouelongs, grovelling.

41. 10.

Gomun, Gomen,

8.

Grym, Gryme, grim, hideous.

2. 2.

2. 2.

Gloppen, to wail, lament.

Gome, man,

A. 10.

A. 33.

Gryseliche, grisly, horrible, horribly.

8.

Gilderand, glittering.

t.

Greuis, groves.

2.

smites.

strikes,

Gurdus, 47.

7.

Grette, p.

Grille,

piercing

Grymlokkest, most
B. 54.

Gyffon, Gifhen, given.

33. 6.

4.

6.

2: 10.

29. 2.

1.

38. 12.

Grillus, torments.

A. 22. 10.

Geuen, gave.
B. 39. 4.

tust.

A. 40.

Grechut,grew angry. A. 41.

Gresse, grass. A. 29. 2.

Greundes, greyhounds.

Gete, get.

upon

Grathely, C. 62. 9.

properly, expertly.

Grete, weep.

8.

46.6.

12

The Lancashire word Graydely, means

Graythet, arrayed.

A.

Gere, array.

Grayth, preparation. A. 34. 7. ready.

C. 36. 8. Graythist, readiest. A.

Haa, azure. A. 2. 5.
" And in the
night she
t'

Hawe

listith best

apere,
as the leed, of colour
nothing

clere."
Test, of Creseide.
Haches, racks for hay. A. 35. 6.
A. 27. 8.
Hailsutte, saluted.

GLOSSARY.
A. 35.

Halen, haul, take.

B.

Hald, keep.

5.

1. 11.

C. 1.7.

Haldurs, elders, ancestors.

C. 28.

Happe, good fortune.

Hase, as. A. 19. 5.
A.

He, high.

A. 27.

5. 5.

Hyild, tarried

8.

C. 14. 12.
C. 6. 2.

Heynde, courteous.

C. 21. 14.

Held, to bend, go back.

B.

Hele, conceal, hide.

hold of.

A. 38.

7.

catch, lay

C. 13. 11. taken. C. 59. 10.

the hear-

alle, in

A. 32.

all.

1.

A.

their.

39. 2.

MSS.

Lettynge

A.

Hete, heat, attack

A. 51.

L. and D.

Hestus, bidding, commands.

Hete, promise.

2.

1.

A.

Hinde, courteous.

C. 41. 7.

9. 4.

Hindely, courteously.

A. 27.

Hyre, her.
Hit, its. A.

Lane. Hitte,

8. 11. 12.

A.

Holket, sunk.

" Full

8.

it.

9. 12.

laithly thus sail ly

thy lusty

heid

ThethreeDeidPowis.

Sibbald,l.l92.

Holle, hollow. A. 9. 12. whole. 54. 10.

B. 25. 12.

Holli, wholly.

Hersing, rehearsing, hesitation

10.

A. 10.

Holkit and how."

10. 13; 11. 1.

Here, on hereand horn

ing of them

C.40.

Hilling, covering.

Herdus, nobles, courtiers, attendants.

A.

C.

Hy3te (on), see He3te.

Hoes, hills. A. 5. 5.

3. 6.

Hely, wholly, above? A. 35. 6.

Hente, received.

38. 7.

C. 14. 12.

B. 12.

Hi-fath, in faith.

7.

Hedoes, hideous.

4. 3

13: 42. 16.

Hiere, hair, bristles

A. 30.

Hedis, heads.

B. 18. 7.

A.

Hyes, Hiet, hastens, hastened.

C. 19. 6: 52.4.
7.

6.

Hathels, noblemen, knights.

Haulen, halloo.

Hejt, was called.

Hie, Hye, haste.
5.

C. 65. 11.

Hals, neck.

119

A.

Holtis, forests.

4. 4.

Horn, them.

A. 19.

1.

Hor,

their.

A.

19. 1.

Hore, hoary.

C. 42. 16.

Horsing, horse.

Hething, contempt. B. 2. 5.
Hethun, hence. A. 19. 11.

4. 4.

C. 31. 8.

Houes, waits, tarries. B. 46.

Houut. C. 11. 12: 19.4.

B.20.

2.

Houet,

Hettus, promised.

B. 63. 3.

Houyn,

Heue, complexion.

A.

9. 4.

Howundus-squayn, whipper-in ? C. 5. 1 1 .

C. 14. 7.

Hud, hood.

Heue, heaved,

raised.

A. 42.

Heued, head.

Heuen, hew? A. 46.

He3er, higher.

8.

1.

C. 4.

raised.

A.

2. 5.

Hurlen, drag.

A. 15.

Hurles, earls.

A.

5.

3. 7.

A.

Hurstes, woods.

1.

8.

5. 5.

He^te (on,) on high, aloft, above. Opon

A. 41. 3.
he3te, aloud.

" Then

all

they leuche

upon

lofte."

Dunbar, in Sibbald,
Hejte, promised.

26.8.

C. 10. 3.

1.

owed.

213.

B.

Ichone, each one.

like, same.

A.

2.

B. 41.
10

12.

30. 6.

I-mele, together.

A. 25.

I-nu3he, enough.

A. 29. 11.

8.

C. 10. 4.

120

GLOSSARY.

lopput? lorput

C. 42. 10.

B. 48.3.
Iraille

Irke,

A. 46. 3.

incommoded.

A.

6. 12.
4.

A.

4.

Lay the,

hed a comeli

calle."

cf Tars, 365.

A. 11.9: 47.

Kene, bold, brave.

A.

Kenettes, hounds.

B.

3.

luffe,

3.

horrible laugh, grin.

C. 4. 13.

B. 38. 10.

Latelest, unmannerly.

A. 41.

1.

A.

Lauyst, superl.

A.

threw

B.

Keuyr, recover.
t.

Keuyrt,/?.

A.

off.

7. 6.

6.

4. 5.

3:

40.

68.

10.

" That me wald

help to cover of care."
Ywaine and Gawin, 2141.
caught.

A.

Kyd, 11.9. Kidde, shewed. B.

of,

maner, 44.

Kinwise. B. 29.
7.

17. 2.

3.

28. 10.

Kynne

C. 34. 3.

C. 11. 2.

Kindely

A. 38.

1.

Kithe, shewed, manifested.

Kithum, shew.
Kythe, country.

1.

1.

Kynne thinge.

Kyndelich, natural.

C. 25.

A. 12.

B. 23. 3.
:

27. 5.

A.

Left, leafy.

6. 5.

Lemmon,

leman, mistress.

B. 55.

Lene, lend, grant.

"

I sal lene the her

Ladise, ladies.

Laes, laws.

B. 70. 2
C. 34. 6.

C. 36. 10.

2.

ring,

Lenyt, leaned.

C. 15. 10.

Leng, Lengur, long, longer.

Leng, dwell, tarry, remain. A. 28. 11:
32. 11. B. 28. 5 71. 10.
:

8.

Laa, Lawes, law? C. 26. 9

led.

mi

But yelde it me at myne askyng."

Ywaine and Gawin, 737.

Lese, lose.

t.

leal.

C. 65. 4.

A.

Lere, countenance.

Ladde, p.

man,

Lele, loyal, faithful. B. 43. 4. Scot.

Lemyt, shone.

B. 8. 12.

2.

known, renowned.

Kin, kind

7. 5.

person. 22. 6. Lede, lady. 34. 4.

Lees? C. 17. 7.
Lefe, dear, agreeable.

55. 1.

A. 49.

1.

C. 26.

7. 5.

A. 13.

Lauchet, laughs.

3.

A. 37.

21. 8

Lede, speech, language. A.

of,

Kydde,

A. 34.

disgraceful.

Lante lone, lent loan.

7.

1.

Ke 3 te,

e.

i.

Lau, a low, flame.

Keruys, Kerues, carves, cuts. A. 47. 5

Keste

Laynes,

" Mete
laynes
meat hides many a

Lau, Law, low. A. 13. 8

C. 6. 5.

4. 6.

A. 41.

16. 9.

Lates, features, countenance.

2. 6.

Keruet, carved, cut.

lakke,"

Laythelych

16. 6.

Kelle, caul, lady's head-dress. A. 29. 6.

Kynge

7. 5

want.

C. 16. 12.

Kele, cool, assuage.

Kennit, known.

A. 42.5. Sax.

C. 70. 13.

conceals.

A. 53. 13.

Kayrit, returned.

hire

4.

of battle.

Layn, conceal. A.

A. 24.

mony

48.

strife

Lac. Goth. Laiks, sport.

I-wis, truly, certainly.

" And on

A. 34.

Laghe, laugh.
Laykes,

Keghet, suffered

t. left.

Lafte, p.

lournay, applied to the day of jousting.

23. 7.

42. 3.

7.

A. 22. 12.

Leyce, loose,

13. 6.
release.

free.

Lesse, falsehood.

B. 46. 9

Lette, hindrance.

A.

Letting. C.

1. 10.

C. 26.
:

3. 10.

sape.

C. 23.
9.

53. 4.

B. 65.

1.

GLOSSARY.
Leue, love. C. 28.
B.

5. 10.

alive. 22.

leue,

22. 2.

leave.

1.

A.

forsake.
6.

Leuet.

Lufsum,

A. 49. 10.

A. 27.

lovely.

liar.

Lure,

Leuand,

Lufd, loved. B. 58.

1.

Luflyche, courteous.

22. 6.

C. 8. 11.

B. 40.

C. 58. 13.

11.

A.

left.

Leuyt,

Luffe,

On-

7.

C. 44. 14.

Leuyr, rather.
Leuyng,life.

A. 36. 13.

14.

121

6.

B. 64. 11.

living.

C. 66. 14.
C. 65. 4.

Leuyn, lightening.

B. 24.

Licius, delicious.

Lynd? A.

Mace, makes. A. 40. 6.

Machet, matched in fight.

6.

C. 1.8.

Lifd, lived.

" And

17. 6.

thar to leynd,"

him

quhill

dwell.

e.

i.

May, maiden.

B. 53.

A. 34.

8.

9.

liket

Bruce,

Mayles, Maylis, coats of mail, rings of

mail.
A. 30. 5: 39. 11: 40. 10:

3. 747.

" And

47.6.
for to lende

The

by that lak."

Houlat.
11

down amangst

1 lenyt

the flowris

Makette, make.

B. 64. 11.

A. 27. 10. Make-

Makeles, matchless.
lest?

48.10.

sueit."

Henryson, ProL

C. 65. 12.

Lyputt, divided.

Listus, likes.

descend,

12

5.

A. 17.

5.

B. 70. 2.

Lyuus,

fall.

alight,

A.

3.

8.

See note.

39. 4.

C. 3. 13.

Masly, hugely?

71. 11. Lyuys. C. 69. 8.

live's.

A.

Lyce. C. 72. 7.

6.

Liue, Lyue, Life.

Lyjt,

Marre, mar, hurt, oppose. C. 41.

Marret, moaned ? A. 9. 6.

Mase.

B. 12.

Lise, lies.

to Fables. St. 4.

Matyttory or Matyccory, perhaps error

for Mantyccory.* A. 43. 9.
C.

Fr. malgre.

Maugreue, wrong.
:

57. 8.

17. 6. fallen. 13. 8.

Loce, honor, praise.

C. 59. 13.

See

A.

Mele, speak,

3. 6.

Loghe, loch, lake. A. 3.

C. 33. 2.
laughed. 41.3.
Loket, looked.

B. 7.

Loos, renown, praise.

A. 36.

5:

7.

5.

B. 55.

feast.

Mekes, makes.

Loos.
Loe, low.

Maungery,

talk.

A.

6.

1.

26. 8.

Mene, mention, commemorate. A. 6. 8.

Menes reflects, minds one of ? A. 1 3 1 1
.

Menet, moaned.

A.

9. 6.

4.

C. 34. 6.

Lose.

Mengit, troubled.

A. 46.

A. 46.

Menyng, moaning.

7.

Lome, lost. A. 37. 2.

Lothe, harm ? C. 57. 3.
Louyd, praised.
Loute, bow down, bend

9.

11.

* The Mantichora a fabulous beast

C. 65. 15.
to,

described by Pliny, Lib. 8.

obey.

A.

14.7.
Lucius, luscious.

A. 36.

3.

Luf, Lufue, love.

A. 17.

5.

CAMD. SOC.

5.

C. 15. 16: 16.

c.

21.

" Ther he fond addren and

monecores,
And a feoll worm, Cales and Manticores."

B. 52. 11.

Kyng

Alisaunder, 7094.

122

GLOSSARY.

Menn&, attendants. B.

Men.

41. 7.

66.4.

A.

6. 10.

A. 20.

Mesure, moderation.
B. 27.

Mete, dinner.

2.
6.

A.

Nyf, nor.

6.

hope

17. 8.

A.

to have

me

in hus masse,
in

C. 67. 8.

Noke, oak. C. 15. 13

Nome, name. B. 27. 1.
None, own.

And menge me

9. 4.

Nyll, will not.

18. 9: 25. 8.

his holdinge Ich

7. 2.

Ne3e, come nigh, approach. Neghe. C.

54.10. Neghet. 15. 13.

Myn, Mynne, mention, remember.

alle

B.

Nerre, near.

3.

Mydlert, middle-eartli, world. A. 50.

Mykyll, Mekel, much.

Myldelik, humbly. A. 37.

Nede-

1.

C. 52. 15.

Nere, never.

B. 36. 12. C. 35. 14.

Mestur, need.

" He

B. 12.

longes.

Meruel, marvel.

C. 40. 16.

Nede, of necessity.

Nowun.

A.

None, noon.

hus memorie among

Crystine."

49.

B. 60.

4.

9.

58. 1.

C. 46. 3.

Nones, nonce.

B. 44.

Nothir, other.

C. 3. 10.

5.

Piers Ploughman.

Mynnyng, commemoration,
A. 19.

Mys,

anniversary.

2.

A. 15. 11

fault, offence.

B. 21.

Mysfare, wretched.

16. 3.

B. 11. 12.
C. 38. 12.

On Jofte, on

A. 48. 8

high.

C. 16. 10.

Onus, once.
Or, before.

B.

Ote, knows.

Other,

A. 43.
C. 15.

or.

Nanlas, anlas, a pointed blade or spike.

A.

filthy.

Pay, pleasure.
61. 7.

Paye.

Pall, Palle,
7- 1.

A.

15. 3.

C. 9. 6.

4. 3.

1.

7. 12.

Outray, injure, destroy.

Padok, toad.

B.

13. 12.

A. 21.3.

Orennus, overruns.

A. 27. 11.

A. 30, 13.

till.

1.

Musut, looked fixedly, as out of the

A. 9. 6.
senses.

Nase, nose.

B.

9.

Ore-drofe, overthrew, castaway. B.48.7-

Mun, must.

heir.

42. 3.

2.

A. 12. 12.

A. 15.

Ordan, take order.

Mubulle, property, goods. A. 16. 4.

Mulde, earth, mould. A. 16. 4. C. 1.

Naxty,

A. 31.

6.

Mo3te, might.

Nayre,

11.

1.

7.

On-lijte, light on.

On-stray, apart.

Mote, note of music, used metaphorically.

B.

8. 8.

B. 66.

Oneli, lonely.

B. 12. 2.

Mone, must, may. C. 3. 11.

Monraden, homage. A. 50. 5.
A. 37.

A.

On, one.
6.

On, upon.

Mo, more. C. 5. 7.
Mon, moan, mourn for.

Morun, morn.

O-boue, above. A. 38. 11.

A. 11. 2.

Off, of.

A. 24. 12.

9. 11.

A.

2. 6.

A. 31.

B. 53.

rich or fine work.

10: 34. 12: 35.

1.

Palle-werke, fine cloth.

6.

C.

6.

A.

2. 6.

A. 26.

GLOSSARY.
A. 34. 12.

Pauelun, pavilion.
Pees,

B. 67. 12.

peace.

Pese.

A. 31.

A.

Perre, jewelry.

Quat, what.

2.

28.

ar-

7.

34.

13.

5.

Quellun,

Polans, knee-pieces in a suit of armour.

6.
9.

1 1

A.

kill.

4. 9.

Quen,when. C.

4. 9.

Questun, hunt in

full cry.

A.

A. 28. 12

4. 9.
:

32. 2.

like a peacock's tail?

A. 28.

A. 21.6. quele-wry3te,

Quethun, whence.

A.

Polle, pole, head.

whither

5.

Quethir. 32, 3.

wheelwright. 21. 11.

C. 49. 14.

Plu3e, plough.

A. 11.

Quedur, whither.
thou art going.
Quele, wheel.

C. 34. 5.

A. 12.

Ploes, ploughs.

29. 5.

A. 37.

rayed, ornamented.

A. 20. 10.

Quarte, joy.

B. 38. 12.

pitched, fixed.

Playus, plays, sport.

Poon,

at-

6.

Pere, peer, in like state.

A. 31.

Pusane, gorget of mail or plate,

tached to the helmet. A. 45. 11.

B. 46. 12.

Pelidoddes?

Pijte,

C. 22. 4.

123

Paon, Fr.

C. 4. 9

Quettus, whets.

12. 9.

Quyles, Quyl, Quille, while, until.

2.

19. 2.

A. 31.

Poudert, sprinkled over.

A. 14.

Pouere, power.

A. 12.

Quyte, white.

Quo, who. Quom, whom.

Qwen, when.

5.

A. 35.

Prayd? drew. SeeBrayd.

Preke, gallop away.

C. 33. 12.

Qwi, why.

7.

Qwitte, free, redeemed. B. 2. 2. Quytte,

C. 47. 10.

Prece, throng, company.

C.

3. 11.

6.

4.

B. 33. 11.

Pourte, poverty.

Poundes, ponds

B.

Quil.

C. 70. 16. rode up.

paid?

B. 16.

1.

19.5.
Prene, pin, bodkin? A. 29. 8.
Presowun, prisoner. C. 24. 2. Presunnere.

A. 55.

C.

3.

3: 36. 15.
C. 19.

Prestely, promptly.

5.

price,

estimation,

prize.

Prudliche, proudly.

A.

Prustes, prustus, priests.

Purtenans, appurtenances.
Puret, furred.

3:

A. 13.

5.

4: 31.

2.

king? 49.

4.

A. 28.

2.

2.

7.

A. 19.

5.

queen?

14.

3.

A.

Raykit, went, retired.

Raw, row.
B. 25.

7.5.

Radly, readily, promptly. C. 19. 6.

?
C. 25. 3. deprived, bereaved. C. 7. 4.

B. 30. 4.

9. 11.

18. 3.

A. 28.

9. 8, 9.

9. 8

Rathe, savage, hasty. A. 34.

72. 6.

Prykette, gnawed?
Pro we, proof. C.

A.

C. 19. 6.

Ray, array. A.

C. 2. 3: 36. 15.
Preue, prove. C.37. 15. Preued. 10. 15.

.34. 5

Rade, rode.

C. 6. 7

5. 6.

afraid.

Rafte, rafter

Preuabulle, proved in war, of prowess.

Price, Prise,

Radde, Rad,

Radder, redder.

33. 1.

Preste, ready, prompt.

2.

A.

Raches, hounds.

C. 16.
C. 6.

36

5.

9. quickly.

8.

8.

" Lo
quhair thay raik on raw."
Roline and MaJcyne. Hailes, 124.
Rebans, ribbons.

A.

2.

31. 4.

Rechase, the recheat, a hunting term ap-

124

GLOSSARY.
blown on the horn

plied to the notes

A.

to call the dogs.

A.

Rede, n. counsel.

B.

8. 2.

3. 1.

counsel. A. 34. 9: 41.

v. advise,

Douce,

MS.

reddoure.

3.

7.

fear.

A. 50.

Relesche, release.

Releues, follow

"When

res.

9. 8.

3.

continue

A.

A.

5. 6.

the chassers relyit war."

Bruce,

Hereleyt to him

mony

a knycht."

Ibid. 2. 401. 427.

It

bles.

Henryson, Prol.

A. 47.

seems the same word as rally in

Roune,

announce.

tell,

C. 10.

12.

6. 8.

9.

multitude.

3.

A. 41.

blow.

26. 7.

6.

A. 14.

Route, retinue.

and
Fa-

12. 14.

5.

Rowte, snort? C. 12. 3.

C. 25. 15.

Ro3te, care.

Rud, complexion. A.
Rude, big. C. 25. 3.

13. 5.

Rudely, speedily. A. 47.

Ruet, rued. C.22. 16.

these passages.

Remus, realms. A. 21. 3.

Remuyt, removed ? C. 70.
Rennyng, running. C.

C. 4. 12

to

91.

1.

Sibbald,

Rote, root.

24 5

7. 91.

rone

roseis reid arrayit

Ronke, strong.

C. 22. 16.

Rees, haste.

"

" The

ryss."

A.

Morted* Arthur, 1.137.

? A. 13. 5.

Ron, rose-bush

43. 4.

Redeles?

so hy-

dously."

C. 19. 9.

Recraiand, recreant.

Romy, growl. C. 12. 3.

" The bore rored and romed

C. 51. 12.

Rechs, recks.

Rede,

5. 10.

1.

C. 15. 8.

C. 12. 14.

Ruskes, roots.

Rengnyng.

7. 5.

Renghte, rent?
MS. L.
Rere, raise.

B.

A.

50.

3.

rentes,

5: 12. 9.

1.

7.4: 70.

12.

Saferes, sapphires.

A. 25. 5:

rested?

18. 10.

Reuet, bereaved.
Rialle, royal.

A.

2. 3.

A. 22.

A. 24. 5

Ryding, encounter.
Ry3t,

right,

A. 23.

Ry3tewis,

8.

A.

righteous.

25. 5.

Ri3te, rite, funeral service.

Rysche-rote, rush-root.
Rise, bushes.

Roe? A. 5.6.

C. 2. 12.

B. 24.

A. 43.

7.

6.

2. 8.

trial.

C. 28. 7.

Saylut, p.

6. 5

27.

t.

A. 35.

8.

A. 19.

10.

sauyt,

54. 4.

Sanapus, napkins.

A. 35.

8.

Sandelle, fine silk.

A. 30.

9.

Sare,

A. 39. 11.

Righte, retch, tear, cut.

A.

Saluen, heal, salve.

healed

stantively. 36. 5.

A.

Sambutes,

11.9.

Salit.

Salers, salt cellars.

26. 7. used sub-

11.

B. 57. 3.

Sailles, salutes.

Sale, hall.

8.

2.

Say, essay, try. C. 8. 8.

37. 12.

Reuersut, trimmed.

A.

MS. D.

housings,

Rest, resting place? quarters? A. 5. 6.

C.

Sa savmhellus

A.

sore.

7.

10. used

substan-

tively, 19. 10.

Satenas,
8. 8

Satnace, Satanas, Satan.

5.

15. 4.

Saule, soul.

Saueward, safe ward.

C. 30. 3.

C.

GLOSSARY.
Sa3tun,

become

A. 52. 10.

reconciled.

A. 51. 11.

Sajtenyng, reconciliation.

A. 37. 4.

Scapette, escaped.

C. 25.

Scaput.

6.

A.

Scha, grove.

A. 37.

16.

jaws

A.

11. 2.

Sembult, assembled.

6.

Semelist, fairest.

A. 41.

Schaftmun, half a foot.

5:

11.

32. 3.

A. 35.

Schapelle, chapel.

3.

Schente, disgraced.

A.

6.

B.

11.

Sesown,

6?

16.

16?
Schimnay, chimney. A. 35.
Schyn, shall. A. 23. 13.

4.

A. 31.

i. e.

A.

12

5.

C. 16. 15.

Sesun, time.

A. 51.

Seteler, player

on the

2.

citole,

A. 27.

Sethyn, Sethun, since, afterwards, then.

C. 10. 13.

5.

Shaturt, chattered? A. 11. 2.

Shredes,
2. 7.

" His tethe

A.

Schrod, shrouded, clothed.

A.

Shide, splintered

A. 41.

and shiveret with

Test,

2.

A. 39.

of Creseide.
7.

Schides,

splinters.

Shildur, shoulder.

2.7.
Schredus, shreds.

A. 31.

Schrewis, knaves.

B. 39. 5.

Shin, chin? A. 11. 2.

5.

Shindre, splinter.

Scoes, Scoghes, groves. A. 10. 12:5. 1.

A. 42.

Scrillus, screams.

Shol,jowl.

Syldun, seldom.
Siles, sinks.

42. 3.

A. 31. 10. 13. B. 6.

Se, Se3he,saw.

B. 44.

Segge, man.

Site,

4.

7.

A. 31. 10.

C. 16. 13.

torment. A. 17.

Sithe,

time,

1. Sit.

Fele sithe,

C. 16. 13.

often,

many

times.

28. 8.

Sekur, Sekir, safe, sure, trusty.

12: 34.3: 13.

6.

A. 23. 3

A. 39.

A. 11.2.

Siking, sighing. A.7. 10. Sikes. B.10.4.

3.

A. 10. 12. Scrykes.

Scryken, shriek.

sea.

chattrit

the chin."

A. 44. 10.

protects from.

shrouds,

a sort of

5.

Schomely ? A. 46. 5. Errorfor Schenely ?

Schrede, break in pieces.

39. 4.

Q. for

3.

Share, cut, sheared.

B. 39. 11.

Scho, she.

Schope, shaped, created.

Part

65. 12.

A. 23.

Sesutt, ceased.

A. 20.

5.

season, time

hurdy-gurdy.

Schinbandus, greaves? armour for the

legs.

C. 10. 4.
1.

Seruut, served.
Session, meeting.

C. 44. 8.

C. 13. 4:

Schilde, hide.

2. 9.

Seriandys, sergeants.

Schene, beautiful, bright, clear.

2: 31. 5.

B. 40. 7.

7.

6. 1.

Sere, several, diverse.

in sere, divide.

2. 9.

C. 41. 9.

A.

Serclet, circled.

A.

Schalle, soil, go, art going.

A.

2.

A. 28.
A.

Semelokest.

2.

A. 38. 10.

Schayr, chair.

A. 27.

Seler, canopy.

B. 55.

Schaftes, spears.

C. 63.

good fortune, prosperity.

B. 31.7.

Sele,

Seledyms, chalcedonies.

4.

6. 2.

C. 56.

Selcouthe, marvellous, strange.

2.

Scatheles, without injury.

Schaft, chops

125

C. 30.

Sithenne, then.
Sittus, grieves.

A. 39. 8. see Sethyn.

B. 21.3:34. 3,

GLOSSARY.

126
Sy 5 te,

site

C. 35. 4.

C. 70. 10.

place

gap or ravine between two

A. 23. 12.

hills.

Slac,

C. 3.

Slely, slily.

5.

A.

Slikes, slides.

Slynge,

Slo^e, slew.

C.

A.

A. 42.

10.

Squyppand, sweeping. A. 5. 3.
Squyre, neck. A. 40. 7.

A.

A.

A. 17.

12.

Stalle, stead, place.

Stanseld

B. 55.

8.

7.

C.

stade.

C. 25. 5.

C. 7. 11.
strengthening

draughts or viands. A. 37. 10.

A. 12. 4.

gold or silver thread

A. 31.

1.

6.

A. 20. 12.
A. 40.

Stedyt,

stood

still?

A.

5.

9.
?

4.

Stedis,

stopped

C.

43. 13.

A. 31.

2.

A. 42.

8.

B. 42. 9:16.

Q. from the Saxon

stith, stede, stiff, obstinate,

Spedde, profited by ? B. 42. 12.

Spense, expence. C. 48.2.

used sub-

stantively?

Stynte, stop.
:

14. 8.

Spillutte. 11. 8.

C. 28. 12. 16

Stirrun, stern.

substantively.

C. 13. 6.

B. 12. 5

Lat.

A. 46.

Starte, short space of time.

Startand, starting, spirited.

3.

C. 3. 9

2.

Perhaps the Vervilles.

Stid, Styd, Stydde, place.

So3t, sought.

Spille, perish, destroy.

worked with

Stapuls, staples, fastenings.

Sternes, stars.

Sowmus, sums.

Spild, broke, injured.

B. 39. 9.

embroidered

stands. 32. 4. studied

demayn,

Spanos, grasps? C. 13.

extencellatus. Fr. etinceU.

Weber, Ipomydon, 1555.

Spildurs, splinters.

B. 42. 9.

35. 11.

Somen, 27. 9.
" His moder and he
dwellyd in same,
With moche myrtbe joye and game."

of

C. 44. 3.

Stadde, placed.

Sometour, sumpter-man. B. 18.

Somoun, summons. B. 72. 5.

Sone, soon.

Sqwithur, soon.

7. 4.

5. 13.

together.

10.

Squoes, flows with noise, sweeps? A. 5.3.

Squonyng, swoon.

7. 4.

Snyterand, drifting.
C. 40. 2.
Socurt, succoured.

25.

7. 4.

So, saw.

Solas, sport.

10

C. 14.

soon.

Squetturly. 42. 7.

A.

A.

Snellus, pierces.

Soppus

Squyne, swine.

Sqwitherly, strongly, violently. A. 5.3.

7. 4.

Snaypely, nippingly

B.

p. p.

Squorne,

Sqwithely, swiftly. 21. 4.

A. 42. 10.

Snaue, snow.

Somun,

swear,

Squith,

C. 15. 12.

Smerte, quick, prompt.

Smyther

Squappes,

Squete, sweet.
5.

6. 13.

Smekis, smokes.

7.

23. 1.

48. 6.

B. 63. 5.

8.

7.

40. 11.

Squere,

Slyuyng, sly trick ? A. 48.

MSS. L. and D. blow.
Sloe, slay.

A. 42.

Sqwapputte, struck. A. 40.

snaps.

C. 17. 15.

Slidus, falls.

A. 20.

Spilling, failure.

Squappe, blow.

Skille, Skylle, reason.

Stythe,
:

36. 5.

38.9.

strong.

C. 12. 2.

A. 31.

33. 15.

Sterne, used
1.

A. 46.

6.

Stithest.

GLOSSARY.
Stondartis, tapers of a large size.

Terment, interment.

C. 13. 13: 28. 12.

Brockett, in

7. 14.

Stower.

v.

A. 43.

Stoure, battle, conflict.

On

12:31.

aside,

stray,

B. 69.

9.

A.

4. 7.

A. 25. 10. C. 56,

16.

A. 41. 13

A. 31.

42. 1.

Tho, those.

1.

Thoe, there.

C. 62. 16.

B. 19. 4: 56. 4.
C. 6. 10

Thore, there.

C. 7. 10. 13.
C. 10. 12. likewise.

Sum, where.

A.

For-thi, there-

8.

Thing, think, seem.

5.

Stuffut, stuffed, inclosed,

?

B. 39. 4.

B. 62.

52. 10.

Thinke, thing.

Stry3te, Stre3te, tight.

51. 16

B. 3. 3.

Thyk-fold, frequent.

A. 46. 3.

B. 69.

fore.

3.

Stuffe? C. 4. 14.

Suche, seek

C. 37. 16

53. 13.

Thi, with-thi, with this condition.

A. 41.

apart.

A. 46.

Strencult, scattered.

Stryue, strife.

C. 66. 15.

Thewis, manners.

course? 40. 4.

2.

Strauen, strewn.

Tharne, endure.

Thenne, than.

6.

C. 26. 13.

Stowunde, time, a while.

Stray,

B. 26. 11.

4. 1.

Thee, The, thrive.

Store, strong, brave. A. 55. 10. a stake

C.

A.

Than, those.

struck senseless.

confounded,

Stonet,

Also, stands for armour.

35. 9.

127

20.

Thome, thorn-bush.
the thriuand

3.

25. 10.

With

C. 23. 2.

thorne,

i.

e.,

against,

opposite, the spreading thorn.

Sum-qwile, once.

A. 12.

Sundurt, divided.

C. 16. 15.

Thriuandly, heartily.

4.

Throli, thoroughly, earnestly. A. 15. 10.

Sune, sun.

A. 26.

Sute, dress.

B. 56.

1.

C. 57. 6.

Thurt, need.

9.

A. 24.

Sussprisut, surprised.

C. 62. 11.

Thus-gate, in this way. B. 13. 3

7.

Tide, time.

A. 26.

3.

29. 5.

Tyde, soon. A.

36. 5.

Tablet, table-cloth

Tille, to.

A. 31. 11.

Ta3te, committed, entrusted to, gave. A.

3.

47. 7.

" Sethe tek to the lond such tene me

y

A. 28.

Song of the Husbandman.

to.

A. 40. 5

57. 9. anger.

tint.

9.

C.

Le Bon
Ti3te, fastened.

Tere, tedious.

C. 28. 13.

A. 10.

4.

Florence, 560.

A. 28. 4.
A.

10. 4.

To-draw, drag about. B. 16. 10.

" That wilde bestis to-drowe and
gnowe."

7. lost,

K. Alisaunder, 7108.

C. 28. 4.

Tenut, hurt.

my

C. 59. 16.

Tite, speedily.

Todus, toads.

47. 7.

B. 47.

of.

3. 9.

A. 22.

Tene, sorrow, mischief.

Tente, taken care

A.

alle

teene."

wes taht."

Teche, entrust, appoint

9.

Timburt, built up. A. 22. 9.

"And that hathe tymberde

Toe, two.

B.

7. 7.

To -gnaw, gnaw
22. 12.

in pieces.

B. 16. 11

GLOSSARY,

128

* *
sovereyn Saviour

"Our

Tone, the one.

C. 64. 15.

17. 11.

Topeus, topas.

A. 28.

was nayled unto the cross * * hanging thre owris of the day fro under

Tome,

C. 23.

tarn.

4.

1.

B. 48.

To-rofe, broke in pieces.

40. 3.

A.

B.

Traue, believe.

B.

Tre, wood.

8. 12.

A. 51.6.

A. 30.

9.

5.

6.

B. 52.

A. 51.

Vnnethe, hardly.
Vnri3te, rooted up.

8.

B. 18.

7.

2.

C. 4. 12.

A.

10:

16.

22.

9.

B. 67.

Vn-skill, wrong.

Vnsquarut, answered.

3. 9.

A. 28.

A. 28. 3

Trulufes, true-love-knots.

8.

C. 67. 13.

C. 26. 7.

Vois, voice.

Vouch hur

40.3.

1.

C. 19. 13.

Vnnewilles, displeasure, unwillingness.

A. 33.

40. 3.

Trumpe, blow trumpets.

B. 27. 12.

A. 35. 9.

Trowlt, ornamented with knots.

A. 15.

Vn-semand, dissembling, putting on

Troches, torches.

Troue, believe.

A. 35.

Vnlasutte, unlaced.

6. 5.

3. 8. 9.

Trowes.

7. 1.

Vn-hi3te,

Tristurs, appointed stations in hunting.

A.

A.

Vnfayn, unwillingly.

they had plenty of hay,

loosened, shaken down, in the racks ?

5. 11.

Traueling, travailing, toiling.

Bibl. Harl.

No. 2247.

Vnhindely, uncourteously.

Trase, track of game.

Trise, Tars

MS. Sermon,

unto none."

8.

To-schildurt, broke in pieces. C. 21.13.

Tranest, error for Tranes ? knots. A. 28.

safe,

vouchsafe her. B. 53.

B. 67.

Vppe-hent, raised.

8.

7.

C. 64. 13.

Vsshet, issued.

Ventalle, the moveable part of a helmet,

allowed for

A. 32.

breathing.

5.

Ventaylle. 45. 11.

Vernage, kind of white wine.

Verres, glasses. A. 36. 2.

A. 36.

2.

Vetaylet, victualed, supplied.

B. 48.

4.

Viserne, vizor.

A. 32.

Vmloke, look round, take

care.

9.

A. 36.

A. 10.

Vnclere, cloudy, dark.

A. 26.

10. 2.

7.

2.

4.

Vncowthe, unknown, strange.

C. 39.

5.

8. 6.

C. 54. 2.

Vndur, nine o'clock in the forenoon. A.

2. 7.

Waret, cursed.

33. 7.

A. 45.

Wathes, harms.

Wedde, pawn,

Warly, warily.

5.

Wary.

Wast, waist.
A.

5.

C. 14. 4.

B.

curse.

A. 11.

13.

1.

A. 38.

Ware, protect.

Ware,

14.

Vncurtas, uncourteous.

A. 34.

C. 14. 2.

C.

War, wary.
7.

8.

A. 27. 3.

Wale, choose.

C. 2.

2.

B. 21.

C. 2. 8.

active.

Wayt, bold,

Wan, came.

5.

A.

Vndijte, undressed.

A. 42.

strikes.

Wayth, hunting.

Vmbeclosut, encircled.

Vnclosut, dispersed.

Waynes,

Waisters, spendthrifts.

6.

C. 14.

pledge.

Wedde-fee, wager.

4.

B. 33. 10.

C. 53. 15.

GLOSSARY.
Wede, mad

Wide

A. 43. 12.

Wede, armour,

A. 27.

clothing.

9.

A. 1.9.

wedes.

Wee, knight, man. A. 29.

50. 2. Wees, pi. 54. 3

We, 32. 2

26. 9.

Weyndun, wend,

weys.

C.

A.

8, 9.

B.

A. 21. 4.

riches.

B. 44.

tell

A. 16.

me.

Welle, flow as a spring

A.

wail

A.

B.

37.

2.

2.

C. 36.

45. 2. Wernut,jo.

39. 8.

C.
t.

9. 7.

B.

13

13. 11.

Cokes Tale of Gamelyn.

5. 4.
C. 23. 15. wea-

Wete, wet. A. 7. 9. C. 39. 8.

A. 8. 11.
B.
Wete, know.
Wotte, p.

t.

B. 26.

5.

will,

B.

company

wil of herbery."

Wyntown.

CAMD. SOC.

A.

C.

1.

15

C. 14.

A. 21.

fair, beautiful,

A. 1.9.
fairest.

2.

4.

used substan-

cheeks.

A. 27. 9

hit save, vouchsafe

it,

7. 10.

54. 7.

give

it.

B.

32. 9.

B. 66. 3.

A. 42.

A. 29.

Wone,
Word,

2.

of weld.

1.

habitation.

world.

54. 8.

t.

A. 13.

3.

B.35.3: 62.3. A.

in wede,

15. 7.

in attire.

worthy
an expletive phrase, see

C.

Wur-

lych.

33. 12: 34. 10.

Than was he

C.

B. 64. 10.

dextrously.

Wote, know.

4.

wone, grew wild of

uncertain what course to pursue.
partit fra his

Woch

Worlyke
3.

6.

A. 19.

will of

Hym

A. 45. 3.

17. 7.

Wold, possessed, enjoyed, p.

A.

Weting, knowledge.

A.

Wy3tenes, courage.

Wode, mad.

17. 14.

See

4. 16.

Wlonkest,

" He
may nothir mete nor drink
Y-werne us for shame."
Werre, war.

6. 15.

Wijte, active, brave, strong.

tively.

Wernes, forbids, prevents.

:

5.

wise. C. 1. 13.

Witturly, truly, certainly.

6. 6, 15: 21. 11.

Wlonkes,
C. 48. 12.

Were, protect.

1.

Wete.

Wi 3 tely,

27. 3.

Wende, weened, thought.

A. 50.

13.

38. 6.

3. 2.

A. 25. 4.

8.

54. 4.

Wi3te, person, applied to a female.

to wille, riches at pleasure.

Wene, doubt.

6.

B. 35.

1.

A. 11.

Wyuut, married.

1.

Welle, grassy plain, sward.

"

Wysme,

Wytes, goes.

Welke, walked.

Wei this

B. 20.

1. 9.

6. 1.

Wele, wealth,

Wex

fate.

Wirde,

Wite, know, learn. Witte.

C. 13. 16.
go.

Weld, possess, enjoy. A. 33.

A. 45. 3.
40. 10. wield.

riness

A. 20. 5

will.

Wite, blame. B. 68.

Weylde, protect.

B. 60.

willingly, devotedly.

Wynde, go. B. 5. 10. C. 5. 8.

Wynnun, forcibly remove. C. 38.

9.

45. 3.

39. 10

quare, wide about.

Wilsumly,

Wyn, Wynne,

Wederinges, bad weather. A. 26.

Wedsette, mortgage. B. 3. 7.

1.

129

Wothe, harm,
pi.

C.

2. 2.

injury, mischief.

Wothelik, badly.
54.3.

A. 24.4.

Wrake, destruction, mischief.

8

Wothes,

C. 13. 16: 36. 4.

C. 21. 3.

Wothely.

A.

17.

130

GLOSSARY.

Wrathes, makes angry.

C. 57. 14.

A. 17.

Wrojte, wrought, driven.

Wud, Wudde, wood.

Wunnyng,

Wurche, work,
4.

3. 2.

4.

A.

5.

C. 3. 12: 59. 15.

36, yea.

Wurlych, Wurliche, worthy, honorable.

A. 28. 10 29. 1 32. 2 38. 6.
:

Wurlok
tion

in wone, honorable in estima-

A.

Wurs, worse.

13. 3.

C.

4.

A.

3elles, yells.

3inge, young.

7.

1. 5.

you.

5.

3unge.

C. 24. 14.

Yche, each.

^onge, tongue?

B. 14.
C. 17.

2.
7.

3orne, earnestly, promptly.

jamerly, lamentably.

A.

A. 48.
7. 8.

C. 42. 3.

B. 66. 9.

3ole, Christmas.

5.

C. 7.3.

1.

3istur-euyn, yester evening.

Yode. 54.

pi.

jaulut. 9. 3.

7. 8.

C. 38.

306, yea.

7.

$a.tis,

7. 8.

B. 40.

Yaure, your.

B. 19.

A.

A. 14. 10.

3ees, gives.

3ode, went.

Yede, went.

C. 14. 9.

8.

7. 10.

B. 62.

3isse, yes.

A. 48.

14. 10.

^auland, yelling.

3aw, you.

9. 3.

64. 8.

A.

gate.

7.

A. 44.

quickly.

ready, open.
3 ate,

B.

cause.

3are,

9.

A. 15.4: 25.

dwelling.

A.

3amurt, cried.

C. 12. 13.

Wrote, grub up the earth.

3.

C. 23. 3.

CORRIGENDA, & c

ACTUAL READINGS.

ERRATA.
The

The Anturs.

following are the actual readings of

the

MS.

read hyr.
on, read in.

2. 10. her,

4. 3.

Anturs.

4. 7. thyk-fold.
9. 2. evyl,

read euyl.

12. 6. vn-told, read un-told.

17. 1.
19. 1.

3. 11.

Vn-to a

14. 5.

an besy.
he ledus,

31. 6.

add a note of interrogation.

the, read the".

28. 4.

29. 3. belte, read belle.

read

some tour non.

36. 9. this,

is

repeated.

ful.

32. 1. then, read thenne.

42. 7

repeated.

Sir Amadace.

28. 5. up, read vp.

full,

is

41. 1. Hekeuet.

24. 4. I-wene, read I wene.

30. 5, 8.

tre an.

The Avowynge.

suappe, read swappe.

8. 12.

hen

tille.

45. 7. tother, read tothur.

8.

stounde, read stouunde.

46. 8. evyr, read euyr.

5.

add at the end of the

51. 6. as, read os.

61. 2. the, readthi.

written couad, afterwards

1. first

comande.
52. 9. vnto.

Sir Amadace.

20

24. 14. grauntus 366.

38.

line (").

The

following words are either joined

together or separated, differently in the

MS. and

printed copy.

The Avowynge.
Anturs.
4. 16. I-wisse, read I wisse.
7. 4. raste,

read

rafte.

1.6. in

to.

132

CORRIGENDA, ETC.

7. 2. faufellus.

36. 2. in verres, and.

12.

sumqwile.
32. 5. a uaylet.

41. 5. Sayd,

34. 9. rathemon.

44. 13. thai fy3te.

37. 2. woldnotte.

53. 13. thay kayre.

1.

"I.

43.2. thateuyr.

41. 6. in to.
43. 6. in toesomycull.

Amadace

Sir

and

3. 11.

Sir Amadace.

4. 7.

siluyr.

suche men.

nomon.

37. 2.

The Avowynge.

48. 10. e nujhe.

50. 10. toesomuch.
55. 11.

be

7. 9. to

for.

him.

10. 6. with (outen.)

20. 11. con

The Avowyngt

con hur

It has been originally

I.

selle.

27. 5. thayre gere.

13. 1. span os.

62. 9. horn grete.

16. 11. be gan.

24. 6. a gayn.

DOUBTFUL READINGS.
CONJECTURAL READINGS.
The Anturs.
2. 11.
3. 7.

ryche sawn,
he rydus.

9. 10.

16. 6. hit

i.

e.

seledyms, or seledynis.

3. 7.

Thefellus has been added secunda

manu, and should probably

be omitted.

padok pykette.
In the Notes, p. 95.

is.

The reference

20. 6. other thinge.

29. 1. wurlichest wi3te.

33. 2.

sewed.

Anturs.
2. 9.

The

to

Meyrick's Critical En-

quiry should be vol.

i.

p. 76.

Second

Edit.
grattust.

LONDON:

J.

B.

NICHOLS AND SON, PRINTERS,

25,

PARLIAMENT STREET.

DA
20
C17

Camden Society, London

c Publications D

no. 18

CIRCULATE AS MONOGRAPH
PLEASE

CARDS OR

DO NOT REMOVE

SLIPS

UNIVERSITY

FROM

THIS

OF TORONTO

POCKET

LIBRARY