& seyd among hem euerichon
Bi god þat al may weld,
Ȝif his man þer slayn be,
Or ouer-comen, þat men may se,
Line 5
Recreaunt in þe feld,
His man he wil bicom an hond,
& alle þe reme of Inglond
Of him for to helde,
& hold him for lord & king,
Line 10
Wiþ gold, & siluer, & oþer þing
Gret trowage him for to ȝelde.
¶ When þai had sworn & ostage founde,
Colbrond stirt vp in þat stounde:
To fiȝt he was ful felle.
He was so michel & so vnrede,
Þat non hors miȝt him lede,
Line 5
In gest as y ȝou telle.
So mani he hadde of armes gere,
Vnneþe a cart miȝt hem bere,
Þe Inglisse for to quelle.
Swiche armour as he hadde opon,
Line 10
Y-wis, no herd ȝe neuer non, [folio 164a:b]
Bot as it ware a fende of helle.
¶ Of mailes was nouȝt his hauberk:
It was al of anoþer werk,
Þat meruail is to here.
Alle it were þicke splentes of stiel,
Þicke y-ioined strong & wel,
Line 5
To kepe þat fendes fere.
Hossen he hadde also wele y-wrouȝt:
Oþer þan sp[l]entes was it nouȝt
Fram his fot to his swere.
He was so michel & so strong,
Line 10
& þer-to so wonderliche long:
In þe world was non his pere.
¶ An helme he hadde on his heued sett,
