The story of England

¶ De Insulto Walwyny ad Inperatorem.

Lucius knew wel sire Wawayn, & he hym ful wel ageyn; Line 13,820 Ilk on oþer auisement sett, But þemþerour ful wel he [MS. he. P. & þe Emperour wele he.] let; He hoped wyþ Wawayn for to fight, ffor he was man preised of myght, Line 13,824 & ȝif he myghte ascape of chaunce, Þer-of at Rome wold he [wild him.] auaunce. Right anon no [after þe sight ne.] þrowe abyden, But swyþe smertly to-gydere riden; Line 13,828 Þeir schaftes schiuered, & fleye in feld, But þey fel nought, ne donward held; Gode were þer brunyes, & stronge of maille, [P. leaves out this and the following line.] [Petyt folio 80a:1] . Þer-fore þer dyntes myghte nought vaille; Line 13,832

Line 13,832 Wiþ swerd to smite þen þey hem hasted, On many manere ilk oþer tasted Ilk oþer to slo, ilk oþer to wounde, [P. puts this line after l. 13,837.] How eyþer myght oþer [on what he mot.] brynge to grounde: Þei proued byneþen and a-bouen, Line 13,837 Wyþ swerdes poyntes sadly þei [suerd poyntes sidelynges.] schouen; fful wel þei couþe ilk oþer assaye, [P. leaves out this line.] . & þer as was peril ilk oþer affraye; [P. leaves out this line.] Line 13,840 fful sone schuld eyþer to deþ haue gon, [P. leaves out this line.] ȝyf þey nadde be let of non. [P. leaves out this line.] Þe Romayns perceyued þer bataille hard, & relyed þem to þe [þei alied þam at þer.] standard, Line 13,844 & come to socoure þemperour Þat was in a perilous stour; fful litel failled he [MS. þey.] nadde ben [he ne had bien.] lorn. Þen were þe Bretons bakward born, Line 13,848 Bretons wyþ-drowe, & Romayns wonne, [fer þei fled on þam was wonnen.] & many on ouer riden & ronne. Þer was Wawayn in gret doute, . Þe pris of Rome was hym aboute; Line 13,852 Ohel & he a-scaped þorow, [þam þorgh.] [Petyt folio 80a:2] & wente & teld hit til Arthorow [com & teld till Arthorgh.] Þat þey had ben at þat standard, . & ner al slayn, & dryue bakward. Line 13,856