Too goo and come saff, as I vnderstonde,
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lyke as the custom was in euery lande;
So fourth they went withoute more [MS. wordes more.] delay,
To the Sowdon ther errand for to say. [folio 17a]
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And whanne that thei were come to his presence,
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Of ther massage they kept noo thyng in store,
Butt in all the hast they told hym the sentence,
like as it is rehersid here before,
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In euery maner thing and summe [MS. sunne.] what more,
So as the kyng gave them in commaundment,
Accordeng sum what onto his entent;
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The whiche was this, to say yow in substaunce,
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That he shuld send his doughter to the kyng,
And by that meane the striff and variaunce
Be twix them bothe myght the souner haue endyng. [MS. an end.]
ffor an answere in ther ayeyn goyng,
Of ther massag they praed them to say
In all this mater playnly ye or nay.
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Whanne ther massag was all to geder sayde,
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Ther was noo lord nee knyght that gave answer,
Wher with trewly the Sowdon was dismayde;
Generides sawe that, and drew hym nere:
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'Ser, if it like your goodnes for to here,
I shall for yow,' quod he, 'be in this place,
Be your licence geve answer in this case.'
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And thus he sayde be fore them eu[er]ychon:
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'Thez massangers they shall wele vnderstonde,
Among your knyghtez all that ther is on
Shall vnder take to Answer for this lande;
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ffor I my self will take it att ther hand,
And here is my glove, this mater to defende,
Withynne iiij dayes therof to make an ende.
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