The story of England

¶ Hic venerunt Nuncii coram Inperatore. [Lambeth folio 54b:1]

By-fore þe Emperour come alle þre, & seide þeir message as men auise, Line 12,604 Geryn & Beofs [beus.] boþe ful wys; And þe Emperour seide hem his auis, & spak ageyn þeym [& teld agayn.] boþe fast. But þenne spak Wawayn atte last: Line 12,608 " We ar come fro þe kyng Arthour " To þe, sire Lucius, Emperour; " We are his knyghte to lyue & deye; " His message y schal þe holy [I sall þe.] seye. Line 12,612 " Þys ys þe message [gretyng.] þat he þe sendes: " He comaundes þe, & defendes, " Þat þou of ffraunce nought entremet, " Ne no fot þideward ferrer [þou.] set; Line 12,616 " ffor Fraunce he holdes as his demeynes, [demeyng . . . . . romeyns.] " & euere schal, for alle Romeynes. [demeyng . . . . . romeyns.] " ȝyf þou of hym wilt ought chalenge, " Þorow bataille wil he hym venge. Line 12,620 " Þorow bataille first wonne ȝe ffraunce, " & les hit after þorow a chaunce; " A-geyn Arthur ȝe hit les " Þorow bataille, as þe party ches, Line 12,624 " & now ys holde as his conqueste, [P. leaves out this line.] " & schal while þe sonne ryseþ est. [P. leaves out this line.] " & ȝyf þou sette chalange þer-ynne, . " Þorow bataille byhoueþ þe hit wynne; [þorgh þe bihoues it wyn.] Line 12,628 " Þorow bataille schal hit be dereynt, " Þy chalangyng & al þy pleynt,

" & sone assigned [set.] [Petyt folio 74a:2] wyþoute delay, " Com to morn, & prof [proue.] þy day, Line 12,632 " & wyn hit ȝyf þou wynne schal! " Or al to lese, or wynne [haf.] hit al! " ȝyf þou wilt nought turne a-geyn, " Al þy dwellyng is in veyn, Line 12,636 " ffor þou hast lorn, & we haue wonnen, [P. leaves out this line.] " So ferre we haue þy lond ouer ronnen." [P. leaves out this line.]