¶ Hit nas nouȝt longe after þan,
Þat in Londen held king Aþelstan
A riel parlement.
Sire Heraud þeder gan gon:
Þe king a [Read him?] werschipede & mani on,
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Whan he was þeder y-went.
Oþer hadde þer-of envie,
And þouȝte hii wolde on him lye,
Þat a wer y-schent,
& segge he hadde Reinbroun sold
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For is wiȝte of rede gold
To þe marchauns, verayment.
¶ 'Lordinges,' seide þe king y-core,
'Al ȝe ben to me y-swore
For helpe me at nede.
Ȝour consaile wite y welle.
Wel ȝe witen ȝe han herd telle
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Ase ȝour eldren sede, [fede MS.?]
Þat þe king of Denemark
Þourȝ a geaunt stor & stark
Kalaungeþ al oure þede.
A gret ost he haþ y-nome
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& ȝif he may vs ouercome
He makeþ our sides blede.'
¶ 'Sire,' queþ Heraud, 'þarf þe no drede:
Þourȝ godes help we scholle wel spede
Þei he vs wile asaile.
Gode kniȝtes ȝe han & cite stro[n]g:
Ȝif ȝe him douteþ it is wrong
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For al is grete taile.
Myn eldren seide, ich vnder-stonde,
Þe Dennisch men hadde riȝt in þis londe,
Wiþ-outen eni faile, [folio 168b:a]
Whilom, & nouȝt ful ȝore it is,
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& siþþe þai han it lore, y-wis,
And here folk in bataile.
