The Ellesmere ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

APPENDIX TO GROUP A.

[THE SPURIOUS TALE OF GAMELYN.]

[Spurious Link.]

But here of I wil passe as now [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 56b] And of ȝong Gamelyne I wil telle ȝow Line 2

[Tale.]

THe tale of ȝong Gamelyn [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 57a] ithen and listenyth and herkenyth a right Line 1 And ȝe shul here of a doughti knyght Sire Iohn of Bondys was his name He coude of norture and of mochel game Line 4 Thre sones the knyght had and with his body hem wan The eldest was a moche schrew and sone he bi-gan His bretheren loued wel here fader and of him were a-gast The eldest disserued his fader curs and h had hit at last Line 8 The gode knyght his fader lyued so ȝore That deth was comyn him to and handlid him ful sore The good knyght cared sore sike þer he lay How his children shuld lyuen after his day Line 12 He had ben wide where but non husbonde he was Al the londe that he hadde hit was purchas ffayn he wold it were dressed among hem alle That eche of hem hadd his part as it myght falle Line 16 Tho sente he in to contre after wyse knyghtes To helpen delen his londes and dressen hem to rightes He sent hem word by lettres þai shuld hye blyue Ȝif thei wold speke with him while he was on lyue Line 20

Line 20 Tho þe knyghtes herden syke þat he lay Had þei no rest nother nyght no day Til þei come to him þer he lay stille On his deeþ bed to a-bide goddes wille Line 24 Then seide þe good knyght sike þer he lay Lordes I ȝow warne for soth with-oute nay I may no lenger lyuen here in this stonde ffor thorugh goddes wille deth drawes me to grounde Line 28 Ther nas none of hem alle þat herd hem a right That thei hadden reuthe of þat ilke knyght And seiden sire for goddes loue ne dismay ȝow nought God may done bote of bale þat is now I-wroght Line 32 Than spake þe gode knyght sike þer he lay Bot of bale god may send I wot it is no nay But I byseke ȝow knyghtes for the loue of me Goth and dresseth my londes among my sones thre Line 36 And for the loue of god de-lith not hem amys And forȝeteþ not Gamelyn my ȝong sone þat is Takiþ hide to that one as wel as to that other Seeld ȝe seen any heier helpen his brother Line 40 Tho leten þei the knyght lyen þat was not in hele [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 57b] And wenten in to conseil his londis for to dele ffor to delem hem alle to oon that was her þoght And for Gamelyn was ȝongest he shuld haue noght Line 44 Alle the lond þat ther was þei dalten it in two And leten Gamelyn þe ȝong with-outen lond go And eche of hem seide to oþer ful lowde His breþrin might ȝeue him lond when he good cowde Line 48 When thei hadde deled the lond at her wille Thei comen to þe knyght þer he lay stille And told him a-noon how thei had wroght And the knyght ther he lay likid it right noght Line 52 Than saide the knyght by seynt martyn ffor al þat ȝe haue don ȝet is þe lond myn ffor goddes loue Neighboures stondith alle stil And I wil delen my lond right after my wil Line 56

Line 56 Iohn my eldest sone shal haue plowes fyue That was my fadres heritage while he was on lyue And my myddlest sone fyue plowes of lond That I halpe for to gete wit my right hond Line 60 And alle myn oþer purchas of londes and ledes Þat I be-quethe Gamelyn and alle my gode stedes And I be-seke ȝow good men þat law con of lond ffor Gamelyns loue þat my quest stond Line 64 Thus dalt þe knyght his lond by his day Right on his deeth bed sike þer he lay And sone afterward he lei stoon stille And died whan tyme come as it was cristes wille Line 68 A-none as he was dede and vnder gras grave Sone þe elder brother giled the ȝong knave He toke in to his honde his lond and his lede And Gamelyn him selue to clothen and to fede Line 72 He clothed him and fedde hym yuel and eke wrothe And lete his londes for-fare and his houses bothe His parkes and his wodes and dide no thing welle And sithen he it a-bowght on his owne felle Line 76 So long was Gamelyn in his brothres halle ffor þe strengest of good wille þei douteden him alle Ther was none ther-in noþer ȝong ne old That wold wrath Gamelyn were he neuer so bold Line 80 Gamelyn stood on a day in his brotheris ȝerd And bi-gan with his hand to hondel his berd He þought on his landes þat lay vnsawe [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 58a] And his faire okes þat doune were I-drawe Line 84 His parkes were broken and his dere reved Of alle his good stedes noon was him by-leued His howses were vnhiled and ful yuel dight Thoo þouȝt Gamelyn it went not a-right Line 88 Afterward came his brother walking there And seide to gamelyn is oure mete ȝare Tho wrathed him Gamelyn and swore by goddes booke Thow shalt go bake thi self I wil not be thi cooke Line 92

Line 92 Now broþer Gamelyn how answerist þow now Thou spakest neuer suche a word as þow dost now By my feith seide Gamelyn now me thinkith nede Of alle þe harmes þat I haue I toke neuer ȝet hede Line 96 My parkes ben broken and my dere by-reved Of myn armes and my stedes noght is me byleued Al þat my fader me bi-quaþ al goth to shame And þer-fore haue þou goddes curs brother by thyn name Line 100 Than spake his brother þat rape was of rees Stand stille gadling and hold þi pees Þou shalt be fayn to haue þi mete and þi wede What spekest þou gadling of lond or of lede Line 104 Þan seide Gamelyn þe child þat ȝyng Cristes curs mote he haue þat clepith me gadling I am no worse gadlyng ne no worse wight But borne of a lady and geten of a knyght Line 108 Ne dorst he note to Gamelin neuer a fote go But clepid to him his men and seide to hem tho Goth and betith this boy and reueth him his witte And lete him lerne an other to answere me bette Line 112 Then saide þe child ȝong Gamelyn Cristes curs mote þou haue brother art þou myn And ȝif I shal algate be beten a-noon Cristes curs mote þou haue but þou be that oon Line 116 And anon his brother in þat grete hete Made his men to fette staffes Gamelyn to bete When euery of hem hadd a staff I-nomen Gamelyn was war þoo he seigh hem comen Line 120 Tho Gamelyn sighe hem comen he loked ouer all And was warre of a pestel stood vnder þe walle Gamelyn was light and þider con he lepe And droff alle his brothers men right sone on hepe [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 58b] And lokid as a wild lyon. and laide on gode wone Tho his brother sei þat he by-gan to gone He fley vp in to a loft and shete þe dore faste This Gamelyn with his pestel mad hem al a-gast Line 128

Line 128 Some for gamelyns loue and some for eye Alle thei drowhen hem to halues þoo he gan to pleye What now seide Gamelyn euel mote ȝe thee Wil ȝe bi-gynne contik and so sone flee Line 132 Gamelyn soght his broþer whider he was flow And sauhe where he lokid oute at a wyndowe Brother said Gamelyn come a litel nere And I wil teche the a play at the bokelere Line 136 His brother hym answerid and seid by seint Richere While þat pestel is in thi hond I wil come no nere Brother I wil make thi pees I swere by cristes ore Cast a-way þe pestel and wrathe the nomore Line 140 I moste nede saide Gamelyn wrath me at ones ffor þou wold make þi men to breke my bones Ne hadde I hadde mayn and might in myn armes To haue hem fro me thei wold haue do me harmes Line 144 Gamelyn saide his brother be þou not wrothe ffor to seen the haue harme me were right lothe I ne did it noght broþer but for a fondyng ffor to loken or þou art strong and art so ȝyng Line 148 Come a-doune then to me and graunt me my bone Of a thing I wil the axe and we shul saught sone Down þan come his broþer that fykel was and felle And was swith sore a-ferd of þe pestell Line 152 He saide brother Gamelyn axe me þi bone And loke þou me blame but I it graunt sone Than saide Gamelyn brother I was And we shul be at one þou most graunt me this Line 156 Alle þat my fadir me by-quaþ while þat he was on lyue Thou most do me it haue ȝif we shul not stryve Þat shat þou haue Gamelyn I swere by cristes ore All þat þi fader þe bi-quath þough þou woldest haue more Thi lond that lith leie wel it shal be sowe And thyn houses reised vp þat ben leide ful lowe Thus saide the knyght to Gamelyn with mouth And þought on falsenes as he wel couthe Line 164

Line 164 The knyght þought on treson and Gamelyn on none [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 59a] And went and kissed his brother and when þei were at one Alas ȝong Gamelyn no thing he ne wiste With suche false treson his brother him kyste Line 168 Lynthenyth and lysteneth and holdith ȝoure tong And ȝe shul here talkyng of Gamelyn the ȝong Ther was ther be siden cried a wrastelynge And ther fore ther was sett a Ram and a Rynge Line 172 And Gamelyn was in wille to wende þerto ffor to preuen his might what he coude do Brother seide Gamelyn be seint Richere Thou most lene me to nyght a litel cursere Line 176 That is fressh to þe spores on for to ride I most on an Erand a litel here be side Be god saide his brother of stedes in my stalle Go and chese the þe best spare non of hem alle Line 180 Of stedes and of cursers that stoden hem be side And telle me good brother whider þou wilt ride Here be side brother is cried a wrastlynge And þer fore shal be sette a ram and a rynge Line 184 Moche worship it were brother to vs alle Might I þe ram and þe rynge bryngen home to þis halle A stede þer was sadeled smertly and skete Gamelyn dide a paire of spores faste on his fete Line 188 He sette his fote in þe stirop the stede he by-strod And toward þe wrastlynge the yong child rood Tho Gamelyn þe yonge was riden oute at gate The fals knyght his brother loked yit after þate Line 192 And bi-sought ihesu crist that is heuen kynge He mighte breke his nekke in that wrastlinge As sone as Gamelyn come ther the place was He light doun of his stede and stode on the gras Line 196 And ther he herde a frankelen weylaway synge And bi-gan bitterly his handes for to wrynge Gode man seide Gamelyn whi makest þou þis fare Is ther no man that may ȝow helpen out of care Line 200

Line 200 Allas seide þis frankeleyn that euer was I bore ffor twei stalworth sones I wene that I haue lore A Champion is in þe place þat hath wroght me sorowe ffor he hath slayn my two sones but ȝif god hem borwe I wol ȝeue ten pound by ihesu crist and more Line 205 With þe nones þat I fond a man to handle hym sore [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 59b] Gode man seide Gamelyn wilt þou wel done Hold myn hors while my man drawith of my shone Line 208 And helpe my man to kepe my clothes and my stede And I wil in to þe place gone to loke ȝif I may spede By god seide þe frankeleyn it shal be done I wil my self be thi man to draw of thi shone Line 212 And wende þou in to place ihesu criste the spede And drede not of thi clothes ne of þi gode stede Barfoot and vngirt Gamely In came Alle þat were in þe place hede of him þei name Line 216 How he durste auntre him to done his myght Þat was so doughti a champion in wrastling and in fight Vp sterte þe Champion rapely a-none Toward ȝong Gamelyn he by-gan to gone Line 220 And seide who is þi fader and who is þi sire ffor sothe þou art a grete fool þat þou come here Gamelyn answerid þe Champion tho Thou knew wel my fader while he couthe go Line 224 Whiles he was on lyue by seint Martyn Sire Iehan of Boundis was his name and I gamelyn ffelaw seide þe Champion so mote I thyue I knew wel þi fader whiles he was on lyue Line 228 And thi self gemelyn I wil þat þou it here While þou were a ȝong boy a moche schrew þou were Than seide Gamelyn and swore by cristes ore Now I am older wax þou shalt fynde me a more Line 232 By god seide þe Champion wel come mote þou be Come þou ones in my hond þou shalt neuer the It was wel with-Inne the nyght and the mone shone When Gamelyn and the Champion to-gedre gon gone Line 236

Line 236 The Champion cast tornes to gamelyn þat was prest And gamelyn stode and bade him done his best Than seide Gamelyn to þe Champion Thou art fast aboute to bryng me a-doun Line 240 Now I haue proued mony tornes of thyne Thou most he seide proue on or two of myne Gamelyn to þe Champion ȝede smertely a-none Of alle the tornes þat he couthe he shewid him but one And kest him on the lift side þat þe ribbes he brake Line 245 And þerto his one arme þat ȝaf a grete crak Than seide gamelyn smertly a-none [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 60a] Shal it be hold for a cast or elles for none Line 248 By god seide þe Champion wheþer it be He þat cometh ones in thi honde shal he neuer the Þan seide þe frankeleyn þat hadd his sones there Blessed be þou Gamelyn þat euer þou bore were Line 252 The frankeleyn seide to þe Champion on hym stood hym no eye This is ȝong Gamelyn þat taght þe this pleie A-ȝen vnswared þ^e Champion þat liked no þing wel He is altther maister and his pleie is right felle Line 256 Sithen I wrastelet first it is gone ȝore But I was neuer in my lif handeled so sore Gamelyn stode in þe place anon with-out serke And seid ȝif þer ben mo lete hem come to werke Line 260 The Champion þat payned hym to wirke sore Hit semyth bi his continance þat he wil no more Gamelyn in þe place stood stille as stoon ffor to a-byde wrastlinge but þer come none Line 264 Ther was noon with gamelyn þat wold wrastle more ffor he handlid þe Champion so wonderly sore Two gentil men ȝemed þe place Come to Gamelyn god ȝyue him gode grace Line 268 And seide to him do on thi hosen and þi shone ffor sothe at þis tyme þis faire is done And þan seide Gamelyn so mote I wel fare I haue not ȝet haluendel sold my ware Line 272

Line 272 Tho seide the Champion so brok I my swere He is a fool þat ther-of bieth þou sellest it so dere Thoo seide the ffrankeleyn þat was in moche care ffelaw he seid whi lakkest þou þis ware Line 276 By seynt Iame in Galys þat mony man hath soght Ȝit is it to good chepe that þou hast bought Tho þat wardeyns were of þat wrastlinge Come and brought Gamelyn þe Ramme and þe rynge Line 280 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And went with moche ioye home in þe mornynge Line 284 His brother seie wher he came with þe grete route And bade shit þe gate and hold hym with-oute The porter of his lord was sore a-gaste And sterte anon to þe gate and lokkid it faste Line 288 Now litheþ and listenythe boþe ȝong and old And ȝe shul here gamyn of Gamelyn þe bold Gamelyn come ther-to for to haue comyn In [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 60b] Than was it shet fast with a pyn Line 292 Than seide Gamelyn Porter vndo þe ȝate ffor gode mannys sore stonde þer ate Than answerid þe porter and sware by goddes berd Thou ne shalt Gamelyn come in to þis ȝerde Line 296 Thou lixt seid Gamelyn so broke I my chyne He smote the wiket with his foote and brake away the pyne The porter sey tho it might ne better be He sette foote on erthe and by-gan to flee Line 300 By my fai seide gamelyn þat trauaile is lore ffor I am on foote as light as þou haddest it swore Gamelyn ouer toke þe porter and his tene wrake And girt him in the nekke þat þe boon to-brake Line 304 And toke him by þat on arme and threw him in a welle Vij^C. fadame it was depe as I haue herd telle Whan Gamelyn þe ȝong þus had plaied his plaie Alle þat in þe ȝerde were drowen hem a-waye Line 308

Line 308 Þei dreden him ful sore for werke þat he wroghte And for þe faire companye þat he þider broghte Gamelyn ȝede to þe ȝate and lete it vp wide He lete In alle þat gon wold or ride Line 312 And seide ȝe be welcome with-out any greue ffor we wil be maisters here and axe no man leue Ȝesterday I left seide ȝong Gamelyn In my brother seler fyue tonn wyne Line 316 I wil not þis companye parten on twyne And ȝe wil don after me while sope is þer-Ine And ȝif my brother grucche or make foule chere Other for spence of mete and drynk þat we spend here I am oure Catour and bere oure Alther purse Line 321 He shal haue for his grucching seint marie curse My broþer is a nygon I swere by cristes ore And we wil spende largely þat he hath spared ȝore Line 324 And who þat make grucching þat we here dwelle He shal to þe porter in to þe draw welle Vij. dayes and vij nyght Gamelyn held his fest With moche solace was there and none chest Line 328 In a litel torret his brother ley steke And sey hem wast his gode and dorst not speke Erly in a mornyng on the viij. day The gestes come to Gamelyn and wold gon her way Line 332 Lordes seide Gamelyn wil ȝe so hye [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 61a] All þe wyn is not ȝet dronke so browke I myn eie Gamelyn in his hert was ful woo When his gestes toke her leue fro him forto go Line 336 He wold þe had dwelled lenger and þei saide nay But by-taught gamelyn god and goode day Thus made Gamelyn his fest and broght it wel to end And after his gestes toke leue to wende Line 340 Litheþ and listenyth and holdith ȝoure tong And ȝe shul here Gamen of Gamelyn þe ȝong Herkenyth lordinges and listeneþ a right When alle gestes were gon how Gamelyn was dight Line 344

Line 344 Alle the while þat Gamelyn held his mangerie His brother þought on him be wreke with his trecherie Tho Gamelyns gestes were riden and goone Gamelyn stode anone allone frend hadde he none Line 348 Tho after felle sone with-In a litul stonde Gamelyn was taken and ful hard I.-bonde fforth come the false knyght out of þe solere To gamelyn his brother he ȝede ful nere Line 352 And saide to gamelyn who made the so bolde ffor to stroien my store of my housholde Brother seide Gamelyn wrath the right noght ffor it is mony day gone sith it was boght Line 356 ffor brother þou hast hade by seint Richere Of xv. plowes of lond þis sixtene ȝere And of alle þe bestes þou hast forþ bredde Þat my fader me by-quaþ on his deþ bedde Line 360 Of alle þis sixtene ȝere I ȝeue the þe prowe ffor the mete and the drinke þat we haue spended now Than saide þe false knyght euyl mote he the Herken brother Gamelyn what I wil ȝeue the Line 364 ffor of my body brother heire geten haue I none I wil make þe myn eyer I swere by seint Iohan Parfay seide gamelyn and it so be And þou þinkest as þu seist god ȝeld it the Line 368 No thing wist Gamelyn of his brother gile Ther fore he him by-giled in a litul while Gamelyn seid he oo þing I the telle Tho þou threw my porter in the draw welle Line 372 I swore in þat wrath and in þat grete moote That þou shuldest be bonde both hond and foote [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 61b] . . . . . . . . . . Line 376 . . . . . ffor to holden myn a-vow as I the by-hoote Brother seide Gamelyn as mote I the Þou shalt not be for-swore for þe loue of me Line 380

Line 380 Tho maden thei Gamelyn to sitte myght not stonde Til þei hadd him bond boþe foote and honde The fals knyght his brother of Gamelyn was a-gast And sent after feteres to feteren him fast Line 384 His brother made lesinges on him þere he stode And told hem þat comen In þat Gamelyn was wood Gamelyn stood to a post bonden in þe halle Tho þat comen In loked on him alle Line 388 Euere stode gamelyn euen vp right But mete ne drinke had he none noþer day ne nyght Than saide gamelyn brother by myn hals Now I haue aspied þou art a parti fals Line 392 Hadde I wiste þe treson þat þou hast I-fond I wolde haue ȝeue strokes or I had be bond Gamelyn stode bond stille as any stone Two daies and two nyghtes mete hadde he none Line 396 Than saide gamelyn þat stod I.-bond strong Adam spenser me þinkeþ I fast to long Adam spencer now I beseche the ffor the moche loue my fader loued the Line 400 Ȝif þou may come to the keys lose me out of bond And I wil parte with the of my fre lond Þen saide adam þat was þe spencer I haue serued thi brother þis xvj. ȝere Line 404 Ȝif I lete the gon out of his beure He wold say after-ward I were a traitour Adam seide Gamelyn so browke I myn hals Thou shal fynd my brother atte þe last fals Line 408 Ther-fore brother Adam lose me out of bondes And I. wil parte with þe of my fre landes Vp suche forward seid Adam I-wis I wil do þerto alle þat in me is Line 412 Adam seide Gamelyn as mote I the I wil holde þe couenaunt and þou wil me A-none as Adame lord to bed was gone Adam toke þe keys and lete gamelyn out a-none Line 416

Line 416 He vnlokked gamelyn both hondes and feete In hope of auauncement þat he him by-hete [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 62a] Than saide Gamelyn þanked be goddes sonde Now I am lose bothe fote and honde Line 420 Hadde I now eten and dronken aright Ther is none in this hous shuld bynde me þis nyght Adam toke Gamelyn as stille as any stone And lad him into spence raply a-none Line 424 And sette him to soper right in a priue stede He bade him do gladly and Adam so dede Anon as Gamelyn hadde eten wel and fyne And þerto I-dronken wel of þe red wyne Line 428 Adam seid Gamelyn what is now þi rede Or I go to my brother and gird of his hede Gamelyn seide Adam it shal not be so I con teche þe a rede þat is worth þe two Line 432 I wote wel for sothe þat is no nay We shul haue a mangerie right on sonday Abbotes and prioures mony here shal be And oþer men of holy chirche as I telle [þe] Line 436 Þou shalt stond vp by the post as þou were hond fast And I schal leue hem vn-loke þat away þou may hem cast Whan þat þei haue eten and wasshen her hondes Þow shalt beseke hem alle to bring þe out of bondes Line 440 And ȝif þei wil borow the þat were gode game Þan were þu out of prison and I oute of blame And yf eche of hem say to vs nay I shal do an other I swere bi þis day Line 444 Thow shalt haue a gode staf and I wil haue anoþer And cristes curs haue þat oon þat faileþ þat oþer Ȝe for god seide Gamelyn I sei it for me If I faile on my syde yuel mote I the Line 448 Ȝif we shul algate assoile hem of her synne Warne me brother Adam whan we schul by-gynn Gamelyn said Adam by seint charite I wil warne the by-forne whan it shal be Line 452

Line 452 Whan I wynke on the loke for to gone And cast away þi ffetres and come to me anone Adam saide Gamelyn blessid be thi bones Þat is a good conseil ȝeuen for þe nones Line 456 Ȝif þei werne me to bring out of bondes I wil sette good strokes right on her lendes Tho þe sonday was comen and folke to þe feste [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 62b] ffaire þei were wel-comed both lest and meste Line 460 And euere as þei at halle dore come Inne Thei cast here eyȝe on ȝong Gamelyne The fals knyght his broþer ful of trechery Alle þe gestes þat þere were at þe mangery Line 464 Of Gamelyn his brother he told hem with mouthe Alle þe harme and þe shame þat he telle couthe Tho þei were I-serued of messes two or thre Than seide Gamelyn how serue ȝe me Line 468 It is noght wel serued by god þat all made Þat I sitte fasting and oþer men make glade The fals knyght his brother þer as he stode Tolde alle gestes þat Gamelyn was woode Line 472 And Gamelyn stode stille and answarid noght But Adams wordes he held in his thoght Tho Gamelyn gan speke deolfulli with alle To þe grete lordes þat saten in þe halle Line 476 Lordes he seide for cristes passion Helpe to bring Gamelyn out of prison Than saide an Abbot sorow on his cheke He shal haue cristes curs and seint maries eke Line 480 Þat þe out of pryson beggeþ or borwe But euer worth him wel þat doth the moche sorwe After þat Abbot þan spake anoþer I wold þyn heed were of þoghe þou were my broþer Line 484 Alle þat þe borwe foul mote hem falle Thus þei saide alle þat were in the halle Than saide a Priour euel mote he preue It is grete sorw and care boy þou art on lyue Line 488

Line 488 Ow seid Gamelyn so browke I my bone Now I haue spied þat frendes haue I none Cursed mote he worth both flesshe and blood Þat euer doþ priour or Abbot any good Line 492 Adam þe spencer toke vp þe clothe And loked on Gamelyn and say þat he was wrothe Adam on the pantrie litul he þoght But two gode staues to halle dore he broght Line 496 Adam loked on Gamelyn and he was war anone And cast away the fetres and bi-gan to gone Tho he cam to Adam he toke þe on staf And by-gan to worche and good strokes ȝaf [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 63a] Line 500 Gamelyn come in to þe halle and the spencer bothe And lokid hem a-boute as þei hadde ben wrothe Gamelyn spreynyþ holi water with an Oken spire That some that stod vp right fel in þe fire Line 504 Þer was no lewed man þat in þe halle stoode That wold do Gamelyn any thing but goode But stoden by siden and lete hem bothe wirche ffor þei hadde ne reweth of men of holy chirche Line 508 Abbot or priour Monk or chanoun That Gamelyn ouertoke anone þei ȝeden doun Ther was none of alle þat with his staf mette Þat he made hem ouer throw and quite hem his dette Line 512 Gamelyn said Adam for seint charite Pay gode lyueray for þe loue of me And I wil kepe þe dore so euer here I masse Er þai ben assoiled þer shal none passe Line 516 Doute the noght seide Gamelyn while we ben in fere Kepe wel þe dore and I wil wirche here Bi-stere þe gode Adam and let þer non fle And we shul telle largeli how mony þat þer be Line 520 Gamelyn saide Adam do hem but goode Thei ben men of holi chirche draw of hem no blood Saue wel þe crowne and do hem no harmes But breke bothe her legges and sithen her armes Line 524

Line 524 Thus Gamelyn and Adam wroght right fast And plaide with the monkes and made hem agast Thider þei come riding Ioly with swaynes And home a-ȝeyn þei were lad in cartes and waynes Line 528 Tho þei hadden alle I-doo þen seide a gray frere Alas sire Abbot what did we now here Tho þat we comen hider it was a cold reede Vs hadde ben better at home with water and with brede Line 532 While Gamelyn made ordres of monkes and frere Euer stode his brother and made foul chere Gamelyn vp with his staff þat he wel knew And girt him in þe nek þat he ouer threw Line 536 A litil a-boue þe gyrdel þe rigge bon to-brast And sette him in þe fetres þer he sat arst Sitte þer brother seide Gamelyn ffor to colen þi body as I did myn. Line 540 As sucche as þei hadden wroken hem on her foon [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 63b] Thei askid water and wasshen a-none What some for here loue and somme for her awe Alle þe seruauntes seruet hem of the beste lawe Line 544 The sherreue was þenne but fyue myle And alle was told him in a litil while How gamelyn and Adam haden don a sory res Bounden and wounden men a-ȝens the kynges pees Line 548 Tho by-gan sone strif for to wake And the sherrif aboute Gamelyn forto take Now litheþ and listeneþ so god ȝeue ȝow good fyne And ȝe shul here gode game of ȝong Gamelyn Line 552 ffoure and twenti ȝong men þat helden hem ful bold Come to þe shirreue and seide þat þei wolde Gamelyn and Adam fette by here fay The shirreue ȝeue hem leue soth for to say Line 556 Thei hyeden fast wold þei not lynne Til þei come to þe gate þer Gamelyn was Inne Thei knokkeden on þe gate þe porter was nyghe And loked out at an hole as man that was slighe Line 560

Line 560 The porter hadde be-hold hem a litil while He loued wel Gamelyn and was drad of gile And let þe wyket stond ful stille And asked hem with oute what was here wille Line 564 ffor alle þe grete companye þan spake but one Vndo þe gate porter and lete vs in gone Than saide þe porter so brouke I my chyn Ȝe shul saye ȝoure erant er ȝe come Ine Line 568 Say to Gamelyn and Adam ȝif þeire wil be We wil speke with hem two wordes or thre ffelaw saide þe porter stande þer stille And I wend to Gamelyn to wyte his wille Line 572 In went þe porter to gamelyn a-none And saide sire I warne ȝow here be comen ȝoure foon The shirreues men ben atte þe gate ffor to take ȝow both shul ȝe not scape Line 576 Porter seid Gamelyn so mote I wel the I wil allowe þe þi wordes when I my tyme see Go a-geyn to þe gate and dwelle with hem a while And þou shalt se right sone porter a gile Line 580 Adam seide Gamelyn loke þe to gone We haue foo men atte gate and frendes neuer one [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 64a] Hit ben þe Shirreues men þat hider ben comen Thei be swore to-geder þat we shal be nome Line 584 Gamelyn said Adam hye the right blyue And if I faile the þis day euel mote I thryue And we shul so wel-come þe Shirreues men That some of hem shal make her beddes in þe fen Line 588 At a posterne gate Gamelyn out went And a good Cartstaf in his hond hent Adam hente sone an other grete staf ffor to helpen Gamelyn and good strokes ȝaf Line 592 Adam fel tweyne and Gamelyn fel thre The other sette feete on erth and by-gan to flee What saide Adam so euer here I masse I haue right good wyn drynke or ȝe passe Line 596

Line 596 Nay by god seide þei þi drinke is not goode It wold make mannes brayn to lien in his hoode Gamelyn stood stille and lokid him a-boute And saide þe shirreue cometh with a grete route Line 600 Adam seide Gamelyn what ben now þi redes Here cometh þe sherreue and wil haue oure hedes Adam seide to Gamelyn myn rede is now þis A-bide we no lenger lest we fare amys Line 604 I rede þat we to wood gone or þat we be fonde Better is þer louse þan in towne be bounde Adam toke bi the hond ȝong gamelyn And euery of hem drank a draght of wyn Line 608 And after token her cours and wenten her way Tho fond þe sherreue nyst but none eye The sherreue light doune and wente in to halle And fond þe lord fetred fast with alle Line 612 The shirreue vnfetered him right sone anone And sent after a leche to hele his rigge bone Late we now þe fals knyght lie in his care And take we of Gamelyn and loke how he fare Line 616 Gamelyn in to þe wood stalkid stille And Adam spencer liked right ille Adam swore to Gamelyn by seint Richere Now I see it is mery to be a spencer Line 620 That leuer me were keys to bere Than walken in þis wild woode my clothes to tere Adam seide Gamelyn dismay þe right noght [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 64b] Mony good mannys child in care is broght Line 624 As thei stod talkyng bothen in ffere Adam herd talking of men and nyghe him þought þei were Tho Gamelyn vnder wood lokid a-right Seuen score of ȝong men he se wel I-dight Line 628 Alle sate at þe mete compas aboute Adam seide Gamelyn now haue I no doute After bale cometh bote þorgh goddes might Me thinke of mete and drinke y haue a sight Line 632

Line 632 Adam loke tho vnder wode bough And tho he say mete and he was glad I-nough ffor he hoped to god to haue his dele And he was sore alonged after a gode mele Line 636 As he saide þat word þe maister outlawe Sawgh Adam and Gamelyn vnder wode shawe Ȝonge men saide þe maister bi þe gode rode I am war of gestes god send vs gode Line 640 Yonde ben two yonge men wel I-dight And parauenture ther ben more who so loked aright Ariseth vp yong men and fette hem to me It is good þat we witten what men thei be Line 644 Vp þer sterten seuene fro þe dyner And metten wiþ gamelyn and Adam spencer Whan thei were nighe hem þan seide þat one Yeldeth vp ȝonge men ȝoure bowes and ȝoure flone Line 648 Than saide Gamelyn that ȝonge was of elde Moche sorowe mote þei haue at to ȝow hem ȝelde I course none other but right my selue Thei ȝe fette to ȝow fyue þan be ȝe twelue Line 652 Þo þei herde by his word that might was in his arme Ther was none of hem þat wolde don hem harme But seide to Gamelyn myldely and stille Come a-fore oure maistre and sai to him þi wille Line 656 Ȝonge men saide Gamelyn bi ȝoure lewte What man is ȝour maister that ȝe with be Alle þe answerde with-oute lesinge Oure maister is crowned of outlawes kynge Line 660 Adam seide Gamelyn go we in cristes name He may neither mete ne drinke werne vs for shame Ȝif þat he be hende and come of gentil blood He wil ȝeue vs mete and drinke and do vs some good [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 65a] Be seint Iame saide Adam what harme þat I gete Line 665 I wil auenture me þat I hadde mete Gamelyn and Adam went forth in fere And þei grette þe maister that þei fonde þere Line 668

Line 668 Than saide þe maister kynge of owtlawes What seke ȝe ȝonge men vnder wode shawes Gamelyn answerde þe kynge with his crowne He moste nedes walke in felde þat may not walke in towne Sire we walke not here none harne to do Line 673 But ȝif we mete a dere to shete þerto As men that ben hungry and mow no mete fynde And ben hard be-stad vnder wode lynde Line 676 Of Gamelyn wordes þe maister hadde rewthe And seide ȝe shal haue y-nowe haue god my treuthe He bad hem sitte down for to take reste And bad hem ete and drinke and þat of þe beste Line 680 As þei eten and dronken wel and fyne Than saide on to an other this is gamelyn Tho was þe maister outlawe in to conseil nome And tolde how it was gamelyn that thider was come Line 684 Anone as he herde how it was be-falle He made him maister vndir him ouer hem alle With-in þe thridde wike him come tydynge To þe maister outlawe that was here kynge Line 688 That he shulde come home his pees was made And of þat gode tydinge he was ful gladde Tho saide he to his ȝonge men soth forto telle Me ben comen tydinges I may no lenger dwelle Line 692 Tho was Gamelyn anone with-oute tarienge Made maister outlawe and crowned her kynge Tho was Gamelyn crowned kynge of outlawes And walkid a while vnder wode shawes Line 696 The fals knyght his broþer was shereue and sire And lete his brother endite for hate and for hire Tho were his bonde men sory and no thinge glad When Gamelyn her lorde wolfes hede was cried and made And sent oute of his men where þei might him fynde Line 701 ffor to go seke Gamelyn vnder wode lynde To telle him tydinge the wynde was went And alle his good reued and alle his men shent Line 704

Line 704 Whan þei had den him founden on knees þei hem setten [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 65b] And a-doun with her hode and here lorde gretten Sire wrathe ȝowe noght for þe gode rode ffor we han brought ȝow tydynge but þei be not goode Line 708 Now is þi brother sherreue and haþ þe baillie And hath endited þe and wolfes hede doth þe crie Allas seide Gamelyn þat euer I was so slak That I ne hadde broke his nekke þo I his rigge brak Line 712 Goth greteth wel myn housbondes and wife I wil be at the next shire haue god my lyfe Gamelyn came redy to þe next shire And ther was his brother both lorde and sire Line 716 Gamelyn boldeliche came in to þe mote halle And putte adoun his hood amonge þe lordes alle God saue ȝow lordinges þat here be But broke bak sherreue euel mote thu the Line 720 Whi hast thou do me þat shame and velonye ffor to lete endite me and wolfeshede do me crie Tho thought the fals knyght for to ben a-wreke And lete Gamelyn most he no thinge speke Line 724 Might þer be no grace but Gamelyn at þe laste Was caste in prison and fetered faste Gamelyn hath a brother that hight sire Ote As gode a knyght and hende as might gon on foote Line 728 Anone ȝede a messagere to that gode knyght And tolde him al to-gidre how Gamelyn was dight . . . . . He was right sory was he no þing light Line 732 And lete sadle a stede and þe way he name And to his twei breþerne right sone he came Sire saide sir Ote to the sherreue tho We ben but thre bretheren shul we neuer be mo Line 736 And þou hast prisoned þe beste of vs alle Suche a nother brother euel mote him be-falle Sire ote saide þe fals knyght lat be þi cours By god for thi wordes he shal fare the wors Line 740

Line 740 To þe kynges prisone he is I-nome And ther he shal a-bide til þe Iustice come Parde saide sir Ote better it shal be I bid hym to mainprys þat þou graunte me Line 744 Til þe next sitting of deliueraunce And late þan Gamelyn stond to his chaunce Brother in suche a forward I take him to the [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 66a] And by þi fadres soule þat þe bygat and me Line 748 But he be redy whan þe Iustice sitte Thou shalt bere þe Iugement for al þi grete witte I graunt wel saide sir Ote þat it so be Late delyuer hym anone and take him to me Line 752 Tho was Gamelin delyuered to sir Ote his brother And þat nyght dwelled þe oon with þe tother On the morwen saide Gamelyn to sir Ote þe hynde Brother he saide I mote for soth fro ȝow wynde Line 756 To loke how my ȝonge men leden her lif Whether þei lyuen in Ioy or elles in strif By god seide sir Ote þat is a cold rede Now I see þat alle þe Carke schal falle on my hede Line 760 ffor whan þe Iustice sitte and þou be not I-fonde I shal anone be take and in þi stede I-bonde Brother saide Gamelyn dismaie þe nyght ffor by seint Iame in Galys þat mony man hath sought Line 764 Ȝif þat god almyghti hold me my lif and my witte I wil be redy whan þe Iustice sitte Than saide sir Ote to Gamelyn god shild þe fro shame Come when þou seest tyme and bryng vs out of blame Line 768 Litheþ and listeneþ and hold ȝow stille And ȝe schul here how Gamelyn hadde his wille Gamelyn went vnder wood Rys And fond ther playng ȝong men of prys Line 772 Tho was ȝong Gamelyn right glad I-noghe When he fonde his men vnder woode boghe Gamelyn and his men talkeden in fere And þei had gode game her maister to here Line 776

Line 776 His men told him of auentures þat þei had fonde And Gamelyn hem told hem a-ȝen how he was fast bonde While Gamelyn was outlaw hade he no cors Þer was no man þat for him ferd þe wors Line 780 But Abbotes and Priours monk and Chanon On hem left he noght when he might hem nome While Gamelyn and his men made myrthes Ryve The fals knyght his brother euel mote he priue Line 784 ffor he was fast aboute bothe day and other ffor to hire þe queste to hangen his brother Gamelyn stood on a day and be-beld The wodes and þe shawes and þe wild feld [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 66b] Line 788 He þoght on his brother how he him by-hette That he wolde be redy whan þe Iustice sette He þoght welle he wold with-oute delay Come a-fore þe Iustice to kepen his day Line 792 And seide to his ȝong men dighteþ ȝow ȝare ffor whan þe Iustice sitte we most be þere ffor I am vnder borow til þat I come And my brother for me to pryson shal be nome Line 796 Be seint Iame said his ȝong men and þou rede þerto Ordeigne how it shal be and it shal be do While Gamelyn was comyng þer þe Iustice satte The fals knyght his broþer for-ȝate he not þate Line 800 To hire þe men on his quest to hangen his brother Thoghe þei hadde not þe oon þei wolde haue þe tother Tho come Gamelyn fro vnder þe wode Rys And broght with him ȝong men of prys Line 804 I see wel seide Gamelyn þe Iustice is sette Goo a-forn Adam and loke how it spette Adam went in to þe halle and loked all a-boute He say þer stonde lordes grete and stoute Line 808 And sir Ote his brother fetered ful faste Tho wente Adam oute of halle as he were a-gast Adam seide to Gamelyn and to his felawes alle Sire Ote stant fetered in þe mote halle Line 812

Line 812 . . . . . . . . . . Ȝif god ȝif vs grace wel for to doo He schal it a-bigge þat it broght þertoo Line 816 Than saide Adam þat lokkes hade hore Cristes curs mote he haue þat him bond so sore And þou wilt Gamelyn do after my rede Ther is none in þe halle schal bere away his hede Line 820 Adam seide Gamelyn we wil not do soo We wil sle þe giltif and late þe tother goo I wil in to þe halle and with þe Iustice speke On hem þat ben giltif I wil ben a-wreke Line 824 Lete none scape at þe dore take ȝong men ȝeme ffor I wil be Iustice þis day domes to deme God spede me þis day at my new werke Adam come with me for þou shalt be my clerk Line 828 His men answerden him and bade him don his best And ȝif þou to vs haue nede þou shalt fynde vs prest We wille stond with þe while þat we may dure [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 67a] And bute we wirken manly pay vs none hure Line 832 Ȝong men saide Gamelyn so mote I wel the As trusti a mayster ȝe shal fynde me Right þere þe Iustice satte in þe halle In went Gamelyn amonges hem alle Line 836 Gamelyn lete vnfetere his brother out of bond Then seide sir Ote his brother þat was hende Thou haddest Almost Gamelyn dwellet to long ffor þe quest is oute on me þat I shuld hong Line 840 Brother seide Gamelyn so god ȝeue me good rest Þis day þe shul ben honged þat ben on þe quest And the Iustice bothe þat is þe Iuge man And the Shirreue bothe þorgh him it by-gan Line 844 Than saide Gamelyn to þe Iustice Now is þi power done þou moste nedes rise Thou hast ȝeuen domes þat ben yuel dight I wille sitten in thi sete and dressen hem aright Line 848

Line 848 The Iustice sate stille and rose not a-none And Gamelyn cleued his chike bone Gamelyn toke him in his armes and nomore spake But thrw him ouer þe barre and his arme brake Line 852 Dorst none to Gamelyn say but goode ffor ferd of þe company þat with-oute stoode Gamely sette him down in þe Iustice sete And sir Ote his brother by him and Adam at his fete Line 856 Whan Gamelyn was sette in þe Iustice sete Herken of a bourd þat Gamelyn dide He lete feter þe Iustice and his fals brother And lete hem come to þe barre þat on with þat other Line 860 Tho Gamelyn hadde þus y-done hade no rest Til he hadde enquered who was on þe quest ffor to demen his brother sir Ote for to hong Er he wiste whiche þei were him þoght ful long Line 864 But as sone as Gamelyn wiste where þai were He dide hem euerychon feter in fere And bringen hem to þe barre and setten hem in rew Bi my feith said þe Iustice þe shirreue is a shrew Line 868 Than seide Gamelyn to þe Iustice Thow hast ȝeue domes of the worst assise And the xij. sisoures þat weren on þe quest Thei shul ben honged þis day so haue I gode rest [Royal MS 18 C ii folio 67b] Than saide þe shirreue to ȝong Gamelyn Line 873 Lord .I. cry the mercy brother art þou myn Ther-fore saide Gamelyn haue þou cristes curs ffor and þou were maister ȝit shuld I haue wors Line 876 ffor to make short tale and noght to long He ordeyned hym a quest of his men so strong The Iustice and þe shirreue both honged hye To weyuen with þe ropes and þe wynd drye Line 880 And the xij sisours sorow haue þat rewe Alle þei were hanged fast by þe nekke Thus endid þe fals knyght with his trecherie Þat euer had lad his lif in falsenes and folie Line 884

Line 884 He was honged by þe nekke and not by þe purs Þat was þe mede þat he hadde for his faders curse Sire Otes was eldest and Gamelyn was ȝong Wenten to her frendes and passeden to þe kyng Line 888 Thei maden pees with the kyng of þe best sise The kyng loued wel sir Ote and made him Iustice And after þe kyng made Gamelyn in Est and in Weste Chief Iustice of his fre foreste Line 892 Alle his wight ȝong men þe kyng for-ȝaf her gilt And sithen in gode Office þe kyng hath alle them pilt Thus wanne Gamelyn his lond and his lede And wreke him on his enemys and quite hem her mede Line 896 And sire Ote his brother made him his heier And sithen wedden Gamelyn a wif gode and faier Thei lyueden to-gedre while þat crist wolde And sithen was Gamelyn grauen vnder molde Line 900 And so shal we alle may þer no man fle God bring vs to þe Ioye þat euer shal be

[6-text p 167]

2 THE MAN-OF-LAW—SHIPMAN LINK. Here endith the man of lawe his tale. And // next folwith the Shipman his prolog.

OVre Ost vppon his stiropes / stood anoon and seide good men herkeneth euerychoon this was a thrifty tale / for the nonys Sir parisshe preste quod he / for godis bonys Line 1166 telle vs a tale / as was thi forward yore I se wel / that ye lernede men in lore can meche good / bi godis dignite the parson him answerde / benedicite Line 1170 What eyleth the man / so synfully to swere oure Ost answerde / O Iankyn be ye there I smelle a lollere in the wynde quod he Howe goodmen quod oure Ost / herkeneth me Line 1174 a-bide for godis digne passion for we shul han / a predicacion this lollere here / wol prechen vs somwhat nay bi godis soule / that shal he nat Line 1178 Seide the Shipman / here shal he not preche he shal no gospel glosen here / ne teche We leuen alle / in the grete god quod he He wolde sowen / som difficulte Line 1182 or sprengen Cokkel / in oure clene corn and therfore Ost / I warne the biforn my ioly body / shal a tale telle and I shal clynkyn yow / so mery a belle Line 1186 that I shal wakyn / al this companye but it shal not ben / of Philosophie ne phislyas / ne termes queynte of lawe ther is but litil latyn / in my mawe. Line 1190

Here endith the Shipman his prolog. And next fol|wyng he bigynneth his tale &c.

[6-text p 301]

3. THE NUN'S PRIEST'S END-LINK.

[Camb. Univ. MS Dd. 4. 24, on leaf 195.]

[Sire Nonnes Preest / oure hoost seide a-noon I-blissed be thy breche / & euery ston This was a murie tale / of Chauntecleer But by my trouthe / if þou were seculer Line 4640 Thow woldest ben a tredfoul / a right ffor if þou haue corage / as þou hast myght The were nede of hennes / as I wene Ȝa / moo than seuene tymes / seuentene Line 4644 Se which braunes / hath this gentil Preest [Camb. Univ. MS Dd. 4. 24 folio 195b] So gret a nekke / & swich a large breest He loketh as a sparhauke / with hise eyen Him nedeth nat / his colour for to dyghen Line 4648 With brasile / ne with greyn of Portyngale Now sire / faire falle ȝow / for ȝoure tale And after that / he with ful merie chere Line 4651 Seide vn-to a nother / as ȝe shuln heere]

Notes

• foot
• no gap in the MS.
• no gap in the MS.
• And if eche
• no gap in the MS.
• no gap in the MS.
• [Camb. Dd. 4. 24 ex|tract stops]
• [Group G (Second Nun and Canon's Yeoman) imperfect, follows in the MS.]