The story of England

¶ De nunciis Regis Arthury ad Inperatorem.

Þe messegers þat wente þo nedes, Horsed þem on gode stedes: Line 12,564 & armed þem at alle rightes, As fel vnto noble knyghtes. Oþer Bretons herd her-of seye, & wente to mete hem bifore [& led þam alle þre.] on weye, Line 12,568 And preied hem [à Gauvain, Wace, ii, 162, l. 12,080.] hertely for to do Som þyng, or seye þe Romayns to, Þat þe werre myghte algate go Er þey comen þe court fro: Line 12,572

Line 12,572 " Hit haþ be longe [it has bien long.] manaced & þret, " But so ney to-gydere were we nere [& now so nere togider ere.] set; " Schame hit were þat eyþer ȝede " Wiþouten bataille or vaillaunte [manly.] dede. Line 12,576 " ȝyf so bitide ȝe [þat.] hit bygynne, " ȝyt schul Bretons prowesse wynne; " Þer-to algate dos ȝour trauail, [P. leaves out this line.] . " & þat we may, we wil ȝow vaille." [P. leaves out this line.] Line 12,580 Þen seide Wawayn, "in alle manere " Of vs schul ȝe som tyding here; " & ȝyf ȝe se þat we ought dwelle, . " Tydyng þer-of men schal telle." Line 12,584 ¶ Þe messegers passed a mountayne, & þenne a wode, & syþen a playne; ffro [of.] [Petyt folio 74a:1] þat playne a partye helded, & þer-on were þe Romayns telded; Line 12,588 fful semly wyþouten bost Þey come rydyng al [ridand.] þorow þe host. þe Romains on ilka side aboute, Of þer tentes comen [þei com.] oute Line 12,592 Þo messegers to byholde, Þat semed noble bodies [men.] & bolde. Þey asked what tydynges þey brought, Or þider for þe pes þey sought: Line 12,596 Wyþ non þey stode, ne tales helde, Tyl þey come to þe Emperours telde. When þey were at his pauyloun, Þere-byfore þey lyghte alle doun, Line 12,600 & bitok þeir hors [Bitauht þer hors.] þeir pages, To stande right stille at certeyn stages.