Listen & I salle rede, why þe misauentoure
On Harald side gan sprede, þorgh William conqueroure.
THE duke of Normundie, William is his name,
Wolnoth, Haralde's broþer, he had in prison at Kame,
& his neuow Hakon in prison was him with,
I ne wote for what roson so fer out of þer kith.
Harald whan he was ȝonge, he went vnto France,
þe cuntre forto se, & for to here of chance.
Alle his mishappyng felle, he com in to Pountif,
To Richere þat was erle, men told it fulle rif.
þis lord of Pountif Richer le fitz Izoun
He tok þis ilk Harald, & did him in presoun.
þe bode of him sone kam to þe duke of Normundie,
þi duke went to Pountif, & toke him with maistrie,
& brouht Harald home, & said, þorgh curteisie,
"Harald haf now þin eyse, in alle my seignorie.
Now has Harald his eyse at reson in alle þing,
þe meyne in alle þing plesed him next þe kyng.
¶William & Harald went þam forto [Pro, play.] paly, [Nota de Conque|store, & de causa con|questus.]
Tales togider þei tald, ilk on a gode palfray.
Whan þei had wele riden, þat þam þought right lang,
þei lighted & abiden biside a water stank.
"Harald, "said William, "listen to my resoun,
"What right þat I haue of Inglond þe coroun
"After Edwarde's dede, if it so betide,
"That God haf ordeynd so I after him abide.
"Whan þat we were Edward þe king & I,
"He was in my fader courte exiled, I ne wote whi,
