Whan þis ȝong kyng was dede & laid in graue,
Fro Jerusalem com tiyng, þat help burd it haue.
WHAT tyme in Jerusalem [Pro, was.] wad dede a douhty kyng,
(Was blode non of his teme, bot a mayden ȝing)
Baldewyn þe meselle, his name so hight, [De Balde|wino lepro|so, & Wil|lelmo Ac|quitaniæ, pro auxilio in Angli|am veni|ente.]
Noble kyng & lele, & wele ȝemed his right.
Neuer in his lyue he lese a fote of lond,
The Sarazins gan him dryue, þei were him euer fleand.
For foule meselrie he comond with no man,
Sarazin with maistrie neuer nouht of him wan.
With him was a knyght, & vnder him chefetayn,
& name couth of myght, William of Aquitayn.
Whan Badwyn was dede, he weddid þe mayden ȝing,
þorgh þe Cristen rede William was chosen kyng.
For þis bold Baldewyn Cristen men gan morne,
Gode hap had þe Sarazin ageyn on vs to turne.
þe Sarazins on vs cam, our Cristen foue gan felle,
So þat kyng William no langere þer durst duelle.
Bode com to þis lond, for help & socour,
Kyng Henry he fond, & schewed him alle his stour,
How þe fals soudan destroied alle þe lond,
Slouh ilk Cristen man, or els in prison bond,
