Aboute with Sir Symoun þe kyng went þat ȝere,
Cite, castelle & toun alle was in þe erle's dangere.
It was on a day Edward þouht a wile,
He said he wild asay þer hors alle in a mile.
He asayed þam bi & bi, & retreied þam ilkone, [Edwardus evasit de carcere Herfordiæ; Et de eva|sione ejus.]
& stoned þam alle wery, standand stille as stone.
A suyft stede þer was a lady þider sent,
Edward knowe his pas, þe last of alle him hent,
Asaied him vp & doun, suyftest he was of alle.
þat kept him in prisoun, Edward did him calle,
"Maister haf gode day, soiorne wille no more,
"I salle ȝit, if I may my soiorne, trauaile sore.
þe stede he had asaied, & knew þat he was gode,
In to þe watere he straied, & passed wele þat flode.
¶ Whan Edward was ouere graciously & wele,
He hoped haf recouere at Wigemore castele.
Edward is wisely of prison scaped oute,
Felaus he fond redy, & mad his partie stoute.
þe erle's sonnes wer hauteyn, did many folie dede,
þat teld a knyght certeyn to þe erle als þei boþe ȝede.
THE erle ȝede on a day, to play him with a knyght, [Ecce dic|tum milit's ad comitein de filiis.]
& asked him on his play, "what haf I be sight?
þe knyght ansuerd & said, "in ȝow a faute men fynde,
"& is an ille vpbraid, þat ȝe ere nere blynde.
þe erle said, "nay perde, I may se right wele.
þe knyght said, "Sir nay, ȝe vnneþ is any dele.
"For þou has ille sonnes, foles & vnwise,
"þer dedes þou not mones, ne nouht wille þam chastise.
