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¶ De potestate Cheldryk contra Arthurum.
Til Arthur cam bode als quyk, [com tiþinges all quike.]
Þat þider schold come þe child [com kyng.] Cheldrik
Wyþ mykel people [folk mykill.] on ilka syde,
Þat Arthur schold nought dur abyde.
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Þe beste frendes þat were hym couþ,
Conseilled hym turne toward þe South,
& gyue no bataille at þat tyme,
Bot let his folk sprede & ryme:
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" Hys folk ys fresche [fell.] & ful auster
" & twyes so fele [fell.] as we haue her;
" & ȝyf þey folewe vs ouer Humber,
" Þe sonner schul we þem a-comber;
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" Þen schal vs come folk ay fresche,
" & þey schul euere wexe þe lesse."
To þat conseil he gaf god tent,
& to Londone right fro þenne [fro þiþen to london.] [Petyt folio 59a:1] he went.
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¶ Þe folk hadde sorewe & wo,
Þe drede [þei dred.] þat al to deþe schold go;
Þat hadde castele, þider þey drow;
Þat non ne hadde, þey hem slow;
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To holes & hilles men crep [crept.] for nede;
Þat sykerest was, had ful gret drede. [had grete nede.]