The romance of Sir Beues of Hamtoun. Ed. from six manuscripts and the old printed copy, with introduction, notes, and glossary, by Eugen Kölbing ...

[M folio 122a]

Here begynnyth a good tale of Bevys of Hamtoun, a good werriour.

Lystonythe, lordinges, yf ye will dwell: [Lordinges, lysten and holde you styl, O.] Line 1 Of a doughty man I wyll you tell, [Of doughty men tel I wyl O.] That hathe bene in many a stoure [haue O.] And holdyn in Englond his honoure, [in E.] vp E. in O.] Line 4 That be-fore this tyme hathe bene; By a knyght is that I meane, Line 6 Sir Beves of Hampton, for soþe, he hight, [for s. h.] that knyght O.] That nevure was kyd coward in fight, [kyd] preued O.] And by his faders days, that hight sir Gye, [fad. d.] fader O.] Line 9 A stalworthe knyght and an hardye, [stalw.] noble O. an] a ful O.] [Here—werriour] om. O.]

And howe sir Gye be-trayed was Thorough his wiffe, alas, alas! Line 12 Some tyme was Gye of gret renowne, [Some] That O.] Erle he was of Southe Hampton; In crystondome far and nere [cryst] both add. O.] Of doughtynes was none his pere Line 16 Ne so hardy ne so stronge, [Ne] none add. O. ne] nor O.] He lovid the ryght and not the wronge. Whill Sir Gye was yonge and light, He was kyd a doughty knyght [Knowen he was O.] Line 20 In yche lond, that he riduth and goos, [that—goos] he rode and yede O.] For to wynne price and loos, [wynne] hym add. O. loos] mede O.] In Fraunce, in Flaunders and in All|mayn, [in Fl.] Fl. O.] In Braban, in Cesile and in Bretayn, [in C.] C. O.] In Denmarke, in Walis and in Gascon, [in Walis] om. O.] In Hungry, in Calabre and in Burgayn, [in Calabre] Calabre O; in Silabre M.

In Pole, in Normandye and in Mayne,In Turkye, Nabrant and in Spayne

add. O.] [M folio 122b] In Englond, in Norway and in Pecardye, [Engl.] Estelonde O. in] om. O.] In Scotlond, in Walis and in Lum|bardye, [

In crystendome & in hethenesseWel was knowen syr Guyes worthynesse.

add. O.] Line 28 In all the landus of Crystiante [londe O.] Was none i-ffound so good as he. Whill sir Gye was yonge and joliffe, [sir G.] he LO.] Wold he nevure wed no wiffe, [he n.] syr Guy LO.] Line 32 But whan sir Gye be-gan to old, [whan] that add. O. sir G.] he LO. beg. to] waxed O.] He was ffebull and on-bold, [He w.] Wexed L. vn-welde L. And his blode began to wexe colde O.] He toke his leve of chevalrye [He] And L.] And dwelt in Englond, certenly. [And] to add. M.] Line 36 Whan tyme come, Edgare, oure kyng, [In that tyme kynge Edgar anone LO.] Send after sir Gye, with oute lesyng. [sir] om. O. with o. l.] full sone LO.] And for Sir Gye was trewe and wyse [for] so O; om. M.] And knowen ffor a knyght of price, Line 40 He made him styward of his lond; [hym] hyghe add. LO. lond] lond ^g M.] What sir Gye did, trewly shold stond. [What—trewly] And what so (om. O.) euer he sayd, it LO.] He kepte well Englond in his days, He sett peas and stabelud the laws, [He] And LO. stab. the] stable O.] Line 44 That no man was so hardye, To do another velonye. On a day he be-thought hym, sir Gye, [Vpon LO. he be-th. h.] thought LO.] That he wold wed som feire ladye Line 48 And haue be-twene hem children ffeire, [And] To O. them LO; some add. LO.] That of his lond myght be his heyre. [his] theyr LO. londes O. his] theyr LO.]

The kyng of Scotland in that tyde Had a doughter of muche pride; [muche] grete LO.] Line 52 The Emperourys broþure of Almayn Wold haue wed that lady ffayn; [Wold h. w.] Loued L; Wedded (!) O. fayn] as men sayne LO.] So wold Sir Gye, so god me saue, [So—so] But Guy wedded her L; Ryght so dyd Guy O. me] hym LO.] And at her fader he gan her crave. [gan] dyd LO.] Line 56 [M folio 123a] The kyng of Scotlond not for this [this] thy LO.] Gaue his doughter to sir Gye, I-wys, [to] vnto LO. I-wys] om. LO.] Ageyne the wyll of his doughter bryght: [Ayenst LO.] She had lever haue had that other knyght, [that] the LO.] Line 60 For he was yonge and also bold, [also] om. LO.] And Sir Gye was waxen old. [Gye] also add. M.] Alas, that Gye euer hir chase! [Gye] om. LO. euer] om. O. hir] he her to hym LO; his (!) M.] His owen liffe ffor her he lease. [he l.] to lose LO.] Line 64 Sir Gye wedyd that lady ffree And brought her home to his contre.

So longe to bed he her led, A man child to geder they hed; [That a LO.] Line 68 A ffeyrer child was nevure none bore, Sithe god spronge of Jesses more, Ne doughtyer in no ffyghtyng, Line 71 And that ye shall here, with oute lesynge! [69—72 om. LO.] Beues men callid that child so bolde; [men] they LO. so] om. LO.] He was no more but vii yere old, Whan that his fader was slayn [that] om. L.] Of sir Mordoure of Allmayn. [Of] Wyth LO.] Line 76 The lady be-thought her on a day [That LO. on] vpon LO.] And to her selfe can she say: [And] om. O. vnto LO.] 'My lord is old and may not worche, All day he courith in the churche: [courith in] goth vnto L; bydeth in O.] Line 80 What for bresyng and for age, [breysynge L; brosynge O. and] what add. LO.] He lovith not with me to rage; [me] for add. L.] But had I take a yonge knyght, That had not bene bryssud in fight, Line 84 He wold me love both nyȝt and day [daye and nyght LO.] And make me all the myrth, he may: [he may] that he myght LO.]

Certes it shall be this no while, [M folio 123b] [Certes] Truly LO.] I shall sle hym with som gyle!' [shall] let add. LO.] Line 88 Also sone that lady there To her callid a messingere, That be-fore was her ffrend, And said: 'Thou shalte a message wend; [89—92:

After a messenger the lady sende,That before (had ben (he was L) her frende,And (She O) sayd: Thou shalt on my mess|age,Thy selfe alone without ony page:

LO.] With that thou hold it counsayll, [With] So O. hold it] kepe my O.] I shall quyte well thy trauayll; [shall] the add. LO. well] for L.] As I am lady gent and bryght, I shall with that dub the knyght!' [95 f. om. LO.] Line 96 'Madame,' he said, 'hold you styll, For I wyll go at your wyll!' [go] do LO; all add. L. at] after O.] The lady was than glad and ffayn: [The—and] Than was the lady very O.] 'Go,' she said, 'in to Almayn [in to] vnto O.] Line 100 And grete well sir Mordoure— [well] fro me add. O.] Broþure he is to the Emperoure— [vnto O.]

And byd hym, in the furste day, [in] on O.] That comythe in the month of May, [That c. in] Of O.] Line 104 That he in oure foreste be, Well armed with his meyne; Bid hym, that it be not belevid, [leued O.] That he smyte of my lordus hede [But that my lorde be there beheded O.] Line 108 And send it me in present: [me in] to me to O.] My lord shall nakyd be to hym sent! [to hym be O.] Yf he me love, there shall I se; [there] that O. I] So O; he M.] Go forthe and grete hym well by me!' [well] thus O.] Line 112 The messingere to water yode: [to] the add. O. yede O.] Alas, the wynde was to good! [to good] al for spede O.]

In to Allmayn is he brought, [is he] he was O.] Line 115 To courte he goos, forgetith he nought; [Than to themperours court he sought O.] He speryd so at one and oþure, [M folio 124a] Till he come to the Emperours broþure, He toke hym the letter in hond; [He] And O. in] his add. O.] Line 119 Sir Mordoure red that he þere ffond [Sir M.] The lorde it O. that] as O.] And said: 'Certes, nowe I may see [And—may] Nowe truly may I wel O.] Thinge, that I love, nowe lovis me! [Howe that lady loueth me O.] Gladder I am, thus may thou say, [thus may thou] if that I O.] Than eny tonge tell may: Line 124 All her wyll wull I do; [wull I] shal be O.] Grete her well and say her soo!

Haue here a stede for thy trauayll, With tresoure chargid, saun fayll, [sam (!) M; wythout O.] Line 128 And yf I stonde with mayn and myȝt, [with] in O.] I my selfe shall dub the knyght!' [dub] make O.] The messingere thankyd hym thoo, Ageyn to Englond gan he goo [Ageyn to] And vnto O. gan] is O.] Line 132 And to Hampton can he fare; [And] om. O. Hamp.] sone add. O.] To that lady he went thare [Vnto the O.] And said: 'Madam, god the saue and see! [And] He O. saue and] om. O.] Well gretith sir Mordoure the: [syr Murdure greteth O.] Line 136 Glad he is of thy message And well he hathe quyt my wage, [And] Ful O. quyt] me add. O. viage O.] And sertenly he wyll be preste [And sert.] He sayth, truly O.] With mekyll route in that foreste, [mek. r.] a great oste O. that] iour O.] Line 140 Thy lorde to slay with mayn and myght, [slay] assayle O.] To wynne thy love, lady bryght!' [Thy loue to wynne O.] Whan the messingere had I-said, [had] thus add. O.] The lady holdith her well payd. [helde O. apaide O.] Line 144

Line 144 In the ffurste weke of May [So after on O. weke] day O.] The lady ffeyned her seke and laye; She made her lord to her callyn [her—her] a man hyr lorde to O.] Line 147 [M folio 124b] And said, an evill was on her ffallyn. [on hyr was O.] The Erle for her had gret thought [gret] sorowe & O.] And axid, yf she wold ought. [axid] hyr add. O.] 'Sir,' she said, 'yf I myght gete, [yf I m.] myght I it O.] Of a borys hede I wold ete!' [borys—wold] wylde bore wolde I fayne O.] Line 152 'Dame,' he said, 'ffor love myn, [ffor] and O.] Where may I ffynde that wild swyne, [myght O.] That I myght onys glad be?' [I] om. O. be] the O.] 'Sir, in oure forest bredith he!' [your O.] Line 156 'Dame,' he said, 'make solace, [make] gode add. O.] For in that forest will I chase!' [I] go add. O.] And she with treson answerid than: [She answered wyth treason then O.] 'Sir, blessud be ye for all men!' [Sir] om. O. for] of O.] Line 160

Line 160 The Erle a courser can be-stride, [a] wyght add. O. stryde O.] His sworde he henge be his side; [His—henge] And henge his gode swerde O.] Ne myght no man with hym goone, [Ne] Ther O. goone] corr. out of come M; renne O.] Hym selfe was forth sent alone. [He was the formest man ther in O.] Line 164 Alas, that he ne had be warre [Wolde god, he had ben aware O] Of the Enemys, that be thare! [the] his O. be] were O.] Whan he come to that foreste, [to that] into the O.] He began to chase after the beeste, [beg. to] gan O.] Line 168 That it harde sir Mordoure [it] om. O.] And ascryed sir Gye as a traytoure; [ascr. s. G.] lept forth O. a]fals add. O.] He prekyd forth be-fore his hoste [his] the O.] For pride and to make booste, [For] pompynge add. O. and] om. O. make] great add. O.] Line 172 And to sir Gye gan he say: 'Yeld the, traytour, for thou shalt dye [thou s. d.] by my fay O.] Thou & thy son both dede shal be, For the loue of thy lady fre, [175 f. so O.

For the love of thy ffeyre lady,For l her lovid, or thou her sye.

M.] Line 176 [O folio 3b] For I hyr loued, or thou hyr knewe, If thou hyr haue, thou shalt it rewe!'

Syr Guy answered hym with reason And sayd: 'Alas, for here is treason! Yet wyl I, so god me mende, Line 181 Here in my ryght my selfe defende!' Eyther than other gan defye; [O folio 4a] Than pryked his stede gode syr Guy Line 184 And smote syr Murdour with a spere, [spe O.] That out of his sadel he gan hym bere. 'Traytour,' he sayde, '& cowarde vn|bolde, Wenest þou, thoughe I be olde, Line 188 That I shulde be of the abasshed?' Wyth that syr Guy his swerde out wrasted [O folio 4b] And shulde haue slayne that fals knyght, Had nat socour come ful ryght. Line 192 Syr Murdurs men hyed them so, Agaynst syr Guy they were ful thro. Syr Guy dyd stoutly against them stande, An hundred he slewe with his hande; Had he be wel armed, i-wys, Line 197 Al the maystry had ben his.

By that syr Murdure was horsed agayne, Syr Guyes horse had they slayne. Line 200 Alas, his horse was slayne that stounde! Syr Guy was felled than to the grounde; For, had his horse lyued that tyde, He had abayted al theyr pryde. Line 204 Whan Guy was on fote, without lese, Al they gan about hym prese. Ye herde neuer tel of an olde man ere, That faught so wel, as he dyd there. Than kneled Guy to syr Murdour Line 209 And saide: 'Mercy and socour! Syr Murdure, for thy genterye Thus cowardly let me nat dye, Line 212 But lene me horse, armour and shelde, And lete me dye manly in the felde! So that thou wylt do so, I the forgyue, if thou me slo!' Line 216 Than cryed they al in this wyse: 'Sle hym, that he neuer ryse!' Wyth that syr Murdure to hym yede And smote there of his hede; [O folio 5a]

To a knyght he toke this hede in honde: 'Go,' he seide, 'and bere this sonde To that countesse, that is so bryght, And say, I come to hyr bour this nyght!' The knyght went to that lady gent Line 225 & saide: 'Madame, haue this present: [177—226. So O; there is a leaf lost in M.] [M folio 125a] My lorde the it sente, syr Mordoure; To nyght he commyth to thy boure! [To] This O.] 'This yefte,' she sayde, 'is lefe to me, And thanke syr Mordure of his gentre [And] I O.] And saye, I am all at his wyll, [And s.] Say to hym, that O. all] om. O.] Erly and late, loude and styll!' Line 232 The messenger away thenne wente [away] his way O.] And tolde his lorde, as she had sent. Nowe wyll we of yonge Beuys telle, Howe wod he was & howe hym befelle. [wod] wo O.] 'Alas!' he sayd all for tene, Line 237 'That I with my ffader had bene, [I] had not add. LO. had] om. LO.] [M folio 125a] To haue holpyn hym in that stoure [hym] my fader L.] Line 239 Ageyne the fals theeff, sir Mordoure!' [Ayenst that LO.]

To his moder he ran and said: 'Dame, why haste thou my fader be-trayde [Dame] om. LO.] Line 242 And wyll be wedyd to his foman? [I wyll be wrokyn of his bane LO.] Alas, that euer thou waste woman! [waste] were LO.] I-wys, moder, thou semyste full well To be an hore, an old Brothell! [245 f. om. LO.] Line 246 All fals horys, ffor thy sake [And all LO.] The devill in hell I hem be-take! [To the LO. in] of LO. them LO.] But one thynge, moder, I the swere, [thinge] othe LO.] Yf euer I may armes bere, [I may euer LO.] Line 250 I shall be vengid with myght and mayn Of hym, that hath my fader slayn!' [On them L; On al them O. haue O.] His moder thes wordes vnder-stode [Whan his O. thes] his L. thes w.] hym O.] And gaue hym a boffet good; [And] She O. good] vpon (on O) the hode LO.] Line 254 To ground he fell, and that was harme; [To] the add. LO.] His maister hent hym by the arme. [hent h.] toke hym vp LO.]

Men callid his maister sir Sabere, The child to his vnkyll was dere, [That LO. to—was] was to hym lefe and LO.] Line 258 For Sabere was sir Gyes broþure; In Englond was not suche anoþure. Home with the child sir Sabere went; [sir] om. O. sir S.] he L.] The lady after Sabere sent, [lady] than add. O. Sab.] hym O.] Line 262 Sche said: 'Sabere, for well or woo, [Sabyre, she sayd LO. or] for add. L.] Beues, my son, loke that thou sloo, [My sone Beuys LO.] For shall I nevure glad be, [I shal O.] Whilis that I on lyve hym see!' [Whilis—lyve] That daye that l LO.] Line 266 Sir Sabere was no thinge well payd, [no th.] not LO. apayde LO.] Graunted the lady that she said, [But graunted as LO. that she] om. LO.] [M folio 125b] Home he went ffor soroughe, I-wys, [ffor—l-wys] full sory in this wyse L; wyth wordes fewe O.] He toke fforth and slouȝe a gryse; [forth] for wyles L. And for a wyle a pygge he slewe O.] Line 270

Line 270 The riche clothis ffeyre and good [The r.] Beuys O; chyldes add. L. feyre and] that were so O.] He hath be-sprynged with the blood; [hath besp.] them bespronge L; sprenkled them O. the] pygges add. O.] Than Sir Sabere ffor drede [Than] om. L. Sab.] all add. LO.] Line 273 Clothed the child in a pore wede, [a] om. LO.] And he said: 'Beues, thou mvst kepe [he] om. LO. thou m.] it behoueth the to L.] Vppon the ffeld all my shepe, Line 276 Till the spousage be brought to end; [to] an add. L.] Than we wyll to Wales wend: [And then wyll we LO. vnto L.] There is an Erle sibbe to the; [to] vnto L.] Thou shalt there dwell and with hym be. Whan thou arte waxen and armes will bere [waxen and] bygge O. may bere L; to bere O.] Line 281 And haste strengith ffor to were, [haue L. ffor] harneys LO.] Thou shalte chalange thyn heritage [Than LO. mayste thou O. chal.] clayme LO.] And venge thy fader, be thou of age,

And I shall helpe the than to ffight [Than shal I O. than] for O.] Line 285 With dyntte of sword, to wynne thy right. There fore thou mvste my shepe forth dryve, [thou—forth] my shepe (forth thou (se thou forth O) LO.] Line 287 That no man witt, thou be on lyve!' [witt] knowe LO. be] art O.] Beues hym thankyd and sore can wepe, And forthe he went with Sabers shepe. [289 f.:

(And forth he wente (Forth went Beuys O) with Sabyres shepeTo (Unto O) the felde and sore gan wepe

LO.] As Beues was set vppon the down, [As] Whan LO. set] on (om. O) hygh LO.] He lokyd Bacward to Southampton; [Bacw. to] to-warde L; downe to O.] He be-held toward the town, [As he O. town] toure O.] Line 293 Trumpus he herd and taborne, [Trumpettes O. tabour O.] Harpyng, pypyng and moch blis [Harp. p.] There was harpynge O.] Was in the place, that shold be his: [Was] om. O.] 'Lorde,' he said, 'on me thou mone! Was I not an Erlis son? [M folio 126a] Line 298 And nowe I am but an herde Alas, that I ne had a swerde! [297—300:

Lorde, he sayde, of me thou art gouernour:Was I nat an erles son of honour?

O.] Line 300 I wyll no more dwell on this down, [more] lenger O. on] in O.] I wyll home to Southampton And so I wyll ffor thye [so] om. O. for thye] se verely O.] And se, what Mordoure doþe with my lady!' [And se] om. O. my] that O.] Line 304

Line 304 He ranne hym forth at the ȝate, [hym—the] fast on his O.] Till he come to the paleyse gate: [pal.] castel O.] Line 306 'Porter,' he said, 'take it to none yll: [to n.] nat O.] I am a messingere, in to the hall I will!' [I—hall] For into the hal on message O.] 'Fye on the rebaude,' said the porter thoo, [on the] om. O.] Line 309 'Horeson, harlot, home thou goo! There was none, but he was mad, [none] neuer man O. were O. mad] so O; wood M.] In message to send suche a lad!' [In mess. to] That wolde on message O.] Line 312 'Horeson,' said Beues, 'yf I be one, Harlot was I nevure none; [Yet harlot O.] Thou sholdiste none vnkyd man dis|spise! [sh. none vnkyd] shalt neuer straunge O.] Haue thou this ffor thy seruice!' [thou this] this, he sayde O.] Line 316

Line 316 Suche a stroke Beues hym gaue, [Beues] he O.] That his brayn clevid on the staff. [That to his staffe the braynes claue O.] Beves went in to the hall, with oute lees, [went] om. O. with o. l.] went O.] As a man, that thought no pees, Line 320 He wente in with outen leve, [320 f. om. O.] With a ragud gown and a torne sleve, [Wyth ragged clothes and sleues rent O.] And all aboute he gan be-hold; [And] om. O. gan] dyd O.] To Mordoure he spake with wordus bold: [To] syr add. O. with] om. O.] Line 324 'Fals knyght, what dooste thou here? [knyght] thefe O.] Why haste thou slayn my fader dere? Wendith fforth bothe, I you tell! And ye ayenst my wyll dwell, Line 328 . . . . . [326—29:

My moder it is, that thou haste tane:Wende forth in the deuylles name!And if thou dwel agaynst my leue,

O.] I make a vowe to god, I shall you greve, [make a v.] trust O. you] the O.] And there fore wendith forth boþe in fere [M folio 126b] And loke, ye byde no lenger here!' [331 f. om. O.] Line 332 Sir Mordoure said: 'Thou fole, be still! [Thou] om. O.] Thou cannyste no good, but mekyll ill!' [moche O.]

Beues hit sir Mordoure at that worde, That he sowned ryght at that Borde; [ryght at th.] ouer the O.] A nother stroke he smote sadly, Line 337 With that the lady be-gan to crye. Than wold Beues no lenger byde [Beuys wolde O. abyde O.] For knyghtes, that rise on yche a side. [that] om. O. rose O. yche a] euery O.] Beues ran home, the sothe to say, Line 341 And met his eme in myddus the way: [341 f.:

For yonge Beuys wo there was,They toke hym nat, but lete hym passe.Beuys went home thoroughe the strete,Than wyth his mayster gan he mete.

O.] 'What is now best?' Beues said to Sabere; [is n. b.] nowe O. to] om. O.] 'For goddus love, what doiste thou here?' [love] sake O. what] so O; whas (!) M.] Line 344

Line 344 'I wyll you tell all to geder: Bete I haue my stepfader! With my staff I smote hym on the hede, That I lefte hym all ffor dede!' [345—348:

Beten I haue my stepfadereAnd slayne I haue his owne portere

O.] Line 348 Said Sabere to Beues: 'Thou arte to blame, [Said—B.] Than saide Sabere O.] Here fore I gete bothe harme and grame! [Here f.] There O. gr.] shame O.] Be-tyde, what so euer be-tyde, [But bet. O. so e.] may O.] Yet,' he said, 'I shall the hide!' [Yet he s.] Onys agayne O. wol O.] Line 352 Sabere in to the chamber hym led, [in—hym] hym to chamber O.] Of the countez he was adred; The countes wold nevure blynne, Till she come to Sabers ynne: Line 356 'Sabere,' she said, 'where is Bevoun, That wekyd lad, that ffelown?' [wek.] cursed O. that] and stronge O.]

'Dame,' he said, 'he is dede At your counsell, at youre rede: [couns.] and add. O.] Line 360 Lo here his clothis all with blood!' [here] om. O. cl.] are add. O. with] on O.] 'Thou liest,' she saith, 'thou arte wood: [thou a.] as thou were O.] But thou me that lad take, [M folio 127a] [But] if add. O. me] om. O.] Thou shalte dye ffor his sake!' [dye] abye O.] Line 364 Beves herd, how she can threte: [how] that O. can] hym O.] Till her he lepe with hert grete, [He to hyr lept O.] And said: 'Lo! here I am, madame; [am I O.] Do my maister ffor me no shame!' The lady said: 'Thou harlot bold. [harl.] art so O.] Now haue I thy thryfte sold!' [haue—thr.] vnto me thy lyfe is O.] Sabere and another knyght She callid to her anon ryght: Line 372 Her son them be-taught she [Her s.] Hym vnto O. betoke O.] And bad them wend to the see, [wend to] cast hym in O.] 'And caste the boy amyddus the streme, [And c.] Cast ye O. in myddes of O.] And, Sabere, thouȝ thou be his eme, But thou drench that gloton, [But] if add. O. thou] e add. (!) M. drowne O.] Line 377 Thou shalte be hongid for thy treason!' [be h.] abye O. thy] that O.]

'Gladly, madame!' said he. [I wyl gladly O.] The child they led to the see, [vnto O.] Line 380 They wold not drown hym, sekerly, [sek.] in no wyse O.] But anoþure they had redy: [an.] thynge add. O. had r.] gan deuyse O.] They ffound there shippus boþe more and lesse, [there] theire (!) M; om. O.] Of payneme lond and of hethenes; [paynyms O. of] om. O.] Line 384 They sold the childe for gold gret plente, [childe] so O; childer (!) M. for—plente] wyth moche thought O.] And with the paynemus wendith he. [And the paynyms gladly hym bought O.] Beves hert wax all cold, [wax all] wexed O.] For he was to paynemus sold. [Whan O. was to p.] to hethenesse was O.

But yet hym lyst nat for to rage,Ouer they made gode viage.

add. O.] Line 388 Theire sayll they drew, the wynd was good, [The O.] They sayled forth in to the flood, [forth—the] ouer the salt O.] Tyll they come to payneme [payn.] the ryuy O.] In to the lond of Armony. [In to] Of O. Ermony O.] Line 392

Line 392 Her kyng hight Armyn of the lond, [Ermyne O. that O.] His wiffe was dede, I vnderstond; [M folio 127b] He had a doughter ffeyre and bryght, Iosyan, that Maiden, she hight, [M. she] lady O.] Line 396 Her visage was white as floure, [as] lylly add. O.] There in ran a reed coloure; [a] the O.] Line 398 With Bent browes and eyen shene, [Bent] bryght O.] With her long as gold wire on the grene, [long] g, one letter blotted out before it M; om. O.

Hyr nose was comely, hyr lyppes swete,Wyth a louely mouth and fayre fete,With tethe whyte & euen set,Hyr handes were swete as vyolet,Hyr body was gentyl withouten lacke,Wel shapen both body and backe.

add. O.] With small handus and fyngurs longe, [With—and] Hyr handes were smal, hyr O.] No thinge of her was shapen wronge. [of] on O.] Where to shold I her discryve? [Where—her] What nedeth me hyr to O.] There was none so ffeire on lyve. [none so f.] neuer fayrer mayde O.] Line 404 Thes Marchandus gan to courte wend [wend] gone O.] And presentid the kyng Beues the hend; [B. the h.] with Beuys anone O.] He there of was glad and blithe [He th. of] Of hym the kynge O.] And thankyd the marchaundus meny sithe: [meny] an C. O.] Line 408

Line 408 'Be Mahound,' said the kyng, 'I were gay, And this child wold turne to my lay; [And—my] Wolde the chylde forsake his O.] For be Mahound, that is so hye, [is so] sytteth on O.] I saw nevure child with eye, [Yet sawe I O.] Line 412 That had so moche of ffayrehede, [That bare so moche fayrnesse O.] Nother of lengith ne of brede. [of] in O. ne of br.] nor in brodenesse O.] Child,' he said, 'thy name tell me! [tell] thou add. O.] Where was thou borne and in what contre?' [was thou] thou were O.] Line 416 'Sir,' he said, 'Beues is my name! Where I was borne, me thinkyth no shame: [There O. me th.] thynke 1 O.] In Englond bare my moder me, At Southampton vppon the see; [my moder bare O.] Line 420 My fader was there erle a while, [therof was O.] My moder let slee hym with a gyle [with] by O.] And hath me sold to paynemus lond: [payn. l.] paynemys O.] Wekyd is woman ffor to ffond! [A wyckeder moder may none be iwys O.] Line 424

Line 424 And I may lyve sekerly, [And] If O. certaynly O.] [M folio 128a] I shall venge my faders dethe sir Gye!' [faders d.] fader O.] Said kyng Ermyn also snell: [The kynge of Ermony sayde ful wel O.] 'Of Gye hard I oft tell; [oft] of (!) M. hard—oft] of Hampton I haue herde O.] Line 428 Many a panym and meny a sarzyne [sar.] so O; sarzon (!) M.] Hath he slayn with mekyll pyn; [moche O. payn M; yeyne (!) O.] But, Beves,' he said, 'I haue none eyre, [But] om. O.] Saue a doughter, that is ffeire: [Saue] But O.] Line 432 And thou wyll thy lord forsake [And] if add. O. lord] god O.] And Apolyne to thy lord take, [And] to add. O. to—take] our god the betake O.] I shall geve the her to wiffe [geve—to] the hyr gyue to be thy O.] And all my lond after my lyffe!' [And] Wyth O.] Line 436 'Sir,' he said, 'that wyll I nought For all the tresoure, that euer was wrought, [tres.] gode O.] Ne for no yeft that may be, [Nor O. ȝeft] thynge O.] Line 439 Ne for thy doughter, that is so ffree! [Nor O.] I dyd my selfe dishonoure, [selfe] great add. O.] And I forsoke my creatoure!' [If O. fors.] shulde forsake O.] Line 442

Line 442 The kyng had of hym more affiaunce, [of] in O. more] no (!) O. fyaunce O.] For he was stidfast in his creaunce; He said: 'Beues, whill thou arte swayn, [He] The kynge O.] Thou shalte be my chamberlayn, Line 446 And whan thou arte dubbyd knyght, [And] om. O. arte] more and add. O; be (!) add. M.] Thou shalte bere my baner in ffight!' Beues answerid myldly and still: [mylde O.] 'That ye me teche, gladly I wyll!' [What O. teche gl.] byd do O.] Beues was lovid with knyght and kyng, [kn. and kyng] squyer & knyght O.] For he was curtes in all thinge; [in all th.] both day and nyght O.] Line 452 Iosyan Beues can love [Beues can] began hym for to O.] Ouer all erthly thinge above. [erthly th.] thinges that were O.] Whan Beues was XIIII yere old, Knyght ne squier was none so bold, [ne] nor O.] That durst ageyn yong Beues ride [agaynst yonge Beuys durst O.] Line 457 Ne with no wepyn hym abyde. [Nor O. wth (!) M.] The ffurst dede, with outen lees, [M folio 128b] That Beues dyd in hethenes, Line 460 By-fell vppon the Yewle day: [It befel O. the Y.] a Crystenmas O.] How it was, I shall you say. [wyl O.] Line 462

Line 462

Beues rode to the feld, hym to solace, And Sixti Sarzons more and lasse; [Sixti] thre skore O. more and l.] wyth hym was O.] A Sarzin can to Beues say: [A S.] Than one of them O.] 'Beves,' he said, 'what hight this day?' Beues answeryd and said: 'Iwys, [and s.] om. O.] I wot not, what day it is, Line 468 For I was but VII yere old, To Sarzins whan I was sold; [Sar.] hethenesse O.] There fore, ffelow, blame not me, Yf I ne wot, what day it be!' [ne w.] wot nat O.] Line 472 Than the Sarzin said and louȝe: [Than the S.] The sarazyns O.] 'I wot, Beues, well I-noughe: [I w. B.] We can tel the O.] This is the ffurst yewle day, [This] same add. O. ffurst y.] Crysten|mas O.] Thy god was borne, as men say; [That thy O.] Line 476 This day thou sholdist thy god honoure [shulde O.] With all thinge, as we done oure!' [all th.] some noblesse O.]

Beues to the Sarzin said: [to the] vnto a O.] 'Of crystondome I haue a-brayd; [I h. a b.] dost thou me braid O.] Line 480 Were I as well armed in this place, [Were I] I wolde I were O.] As euer sir Gye, my fader, was, For his love, that werid the crown of thorne [ware O.] Line 483 And also on this holy day was borne, [on] om. O.] With all youre route wold I juste, And there it shall be right well wiste, [485 f.:

Wolde I iuste with al the rout,Than shulde men se withouten dout

O.] Wheþure were strenger god in hevyn [god were stronger O.] Or all the mawȝmettes, that ye can neven!' [mahoundes O. neven] mene O; neme (!) M.] Line 488 'Herkenyth, felowes,' said a sarzin, [Harke O. felowes] so O; felowe M. a] the O.] 'How he disspisuth Apolyne! Yet wenyth this wreche crysten hound, [wreche] om. O. crysten] so O; hethyn (!) M.] [M folio 129a] That he shold bryng vs to the ground: [to the] al to O.] We wyll no lenger haue respite, Line 493 Who doith beste, shall be sene tyte. [tyte] nowe ryght O.] Turne the, Beues, we the deffye, There is none oþure, but thou shalte dye!' [none o.] nought elles O.] Line 496

Line 496 All at onys to hym they thronge [to] on O. swonge O.] And gave hym woundus wyde and longe; Beues was sure of no wepyn longe ne small, [was s. of] had O. longe] great O.] Line 499 That he myght deffend hym with all, [That he m.] For to O.] And he sye, it was no better paye, [And he s.] Than O. better p.] bote to pray O.] But shifte hym in the beste way; [sh.] let O. in—way] do the best he may O.] Beues was wise and toke good kepe: [wise—kepe] both lyght & quycke O.] To a Sarzin anon he lepe, [And to O. anon] gan O.] Line 504 With his fiste smote hym so faste, [Whome with. O. smote h.] he stroke O.] That his cheke-bone all to-braste; [cheke-bones O.] The sarzins sword he toke on hond, [Than the O. on] in O.] He ffellid all that be-fore hym ffond. [He] And O. that] wolde add. O. stande O.] There myght men se mekyll on-hele, [men myght O. moche wo O.] Whan that Beues be-gan to rele: [that] om. O. rele] go O.] Some he gaue suche a wounde, Line 511 That they lay gronyng as an hound. [gr. as] grennynge lyke O.] Of Sarzins were meny, with oute ly, [Of] The O. meny—ly] both wight and slye O.] That asayled Beues with gret envye; [That] And O.] Beues amonge the Sarzins lepe, [amonge the S.] about them dyd O.] As they were a flok of shepe; [were] had ben O.] Line 516 Of som the wombes had he torne, [had he t.] he gan downe tere O.] There trayled her guttes ham be-forn. [That the guttes trayled here and there O.] There was no sarzin, that hym hitte, [hym] he O.] But he is body all to-slitt: [all to-s.] in sunder smyt O.] Line 520 There myght none fle be no side, [be] on O.] But he was with strokys made on-ride, [But Beuys made hym to abyde.]

And Beues with in a litull stound [And] Thus O.] [M folio 129b] Sixte sarzins he brought to ground. [The LX O. he] had O.

Great game had Beuys, to se thenThe dede Sarazyns lye and grenne.

add. O.] 'Here is it sene,' said Bevoun, [it] om. O. Bev.] Beuys in this stounde O.] Line 525 'That god is stronger than is Mahoun!' [is M.] Mahounde O.] The Sarzins stedis home can renne [can r.] warde ranne O.] With oute takynge of any men, Line 528 And Beues homward gan ride [And] Than dyd O. gan] om. O.] With woundis bledyng on ych a side; [blody woundes O. ych a] euery O.] He stabeled vp his hors thoo, Vnto his chamber gan he goo, [And to O.] Line 532 To the freshe erth he laid hym flatt, [To] On O.] For to staunche his woundus with that. Tydinges come to kyng Ermyne, That in disspite of Apolyne Line 536 Beues had slayn of his men sixte [How B. O.] The kynge to scathe and velonye. [The—scathe] To the kynge great shame O.] Yf it were so, till Beues were dede, [were] be O. B. w.] he be O.] [put after 540 O.] The kynge swere, he wold nevure ete bred. [kynge] so O; om. (!) M. shulde O.] Line 540 Whan Iosyan it herd, she was full woo [it] that O.] And to her fader can she goo, [Vnto O.] And she said: 'It fallid to geve no jugment, [she] om. O. said] syr add. O. fall.—no] falleth nat to gyue O.] But bothe partyes were present. [But] Tyl O. were] be O.] Line 544

Line 544 Beues is so myld of mode, I wot, he dyd no man but good, Be Mahound and Turmagaunte, Line 547 But it were hym selfe defendaunte; [But] if add. O. hym] his O.] Whan ye haue herd bothe partyes, Than it is tyme, to be Iustice!' [be] gyuc O.] The kyng said: 'Brynge Beues to me: [Than saide the kynge O. Beues] both O.] As Iosian said, so shall it be!' [saith O.] Line 552 Iosyan callid forth II knyghtes: 'Go,' she said, 'anon rightes [anon] forthe O.] To Beues chamber, that is so ffree, And byd hym com and speke with me!' Line 556 To the chamber they went, as she hem bad, [M folio 130a] [the] his O. them O.] Eyther be the arme oþure lad, [be—oþure] other by the hand O.] Whan they cam to the chamber dore, [f.] so O; om. M.] The one knyght went in before Line 560

Line 560 And said: 'Beues, is it thy wyll, [is it] if it be O.] To come speke with Iosyan thy ffyll?' [To] om. O. with] so O; om. M.] Beves lokyd vp with grym vesage, As it had be a man savage: [Fye, he saide, on your message! O.] Line 564 'I will not rise ffro this ground, [rise fro] onys stere of O.] To speke with no hethyn hound! [no] an O.] Oncristoned dogges, I rede, you flee, [Uncrysten hoondes O.] Your hertes blood ellis wyll I see!' [Or 1 your O. herte O. ellis w. 1] shal O.] Line 568 The knyghtis hied ham sone away, [ham s.] fast O.] To Iosyan can they bothe say; [And to O. bothe] om. O.]

They said: 'Beues clepith the hound [Beuys called the hethen hounde O.] Thris with in a littill stound: [Thris] so O; Thus M.] Line 572 We ne will efte wend to hym [ne—wend] wolde nat agayne retourne O.] For all this Cite, he is so grym!' [is] loketh O.] Than said Iosyan: 'Come with me, [Than] Wel O.] And I shall youre warand be!' [And] truly add. O.] Line 576 Forth they went wyth that may [that] the O.] To Beues chamber, there he lay; [Vnto the chamber where Beuys lay O.] Beues lokyd vp stoutly thoo [stoutly] anon O.] And Iosyan in her armes two Line 580 Toke hym vp and kyssud hym swete, [hym vp] Beuys O.] His malincoly there to abate; [His malice, she saide, that she wolde bete O.] She said: 'Beues, leman, thyn ore! Thou arte wounded fferly sore: [fferly] wonder O.] Line 584 There is not in all payneme lond [paynyms O.] Better salve, I vnderstond, Than I haue made in a littill stound, [made—lit.] brought this O.] For to hele with all thy wound. Line 588 Arise,' she said, 'and go with me, And thy warand wyll I be!' [589 f. om. O.]

Beves rose vp at her Byddyng Line 591 [M folio 130b] And home he went be-ffore the kyng. [home he w.] went hym forth O.] On Beues was there told that tyde Thrytty woundes large and wyde; [large] longe O.] Kyng Ermyn ffrayned hym the soth and herd [the soth and] so O; so (!) M.] All the treason, how it fferd; [ffaryd M. Howe Beuys and the Sarazyns ferde O.] Line 596 Hym thought suche ruth and pite, [Hym th.] He had O.] The teris ran down gret plente; [That the O. ran] fel O.] He said: 'Doughter Iosyan, Hele Beues woundis, yf thou can! Line 600 I wold not, as I vnderstond, Lose his liffe ffor all my lond!' Iosyan to chamber gan hym lede [to—hym] dyd Beuys to chamber O.] And staunchid his woundus, they shold not blede; [And st.] To stop O.] Line 604 With drinke and salffe she helid hym softe, [salues and drynkes O.] And she kyssud hym ffull ofte, [And] euer amonge add. O. ffull] om. O.] Line 606

Line 606 So that in a litull stound [that] with O.] Beues was bothe hole and sound. Line 608

A wild bore was there aboute, All men of hym had gret doute, Man and beste, all that he toke, With his tusshis he all to-shoke; Line 612 The Bore was mekyll and ferly longe, [mek.] great O. ferly l.] wonder stronge O.] His body was herd, his tusshis stronge, [His hede was great, his tunge was longe O.] Ech man dred hym, bothe knyght and kyng, [man d. h.] one was greued O.] To come in that Borus metyng. [For to O.] Line 616 'Lord,' thought Beues on a day, [thought] saide O.] 'Wheþure the bore be, as men say, Certes, my hert shall euer be sore, [Sothly O.] Till I haue ffought with that bore!' [that] the O.] Line 620

Line 620 Beues rose erly vppon a day And he sadullid his palffraye; [he] om. O. his] gode add. O.] He toke a sword stiffe and stronge, A stalworth sheld and spere longe; [stalw.] stronge O. and] a add. O.] Line 624 Forth he prekyd ouer the feld: [Then pryked he O.] [M folio 131a] Iosyan sawe and all she be-held. [sawe] stode O. she] om. O.] Beues come to the wood, his spere he shoke, [Whan B. O. his sp.] om. O.] Line 627 His sworde aboute his medull he toke, [med.] necke O.] His hors he tied be a thorne [be] to O.] And lowde he gan blow his horne, [he g.] began to O.] All aboute the forest he sought, [All] Rounde O. forest] so O; bore M.] But the Bore ffound he nought, [But] of add. O.] Line 632 Till he come at the devillus denne, [at] to O. dev.] bores O.] There found he meny dede men, [he] om. M.]

That in the wood the Bore slewe, [Whyche O. the] that O.] The blood he drinkyth, the flesh he gnewe; [dranke O.] Line 636 'Arise,' said Beues, 'thou ffoule geste, [Rise, he saide O. beste O.] And geve me batell here in haste!' [geve] agaynst O. here in] thou O.] Whan the Bore Beues sye, [B. sye] of Beuys had an iye O.] He set his Brystullus all on hye, Line 640 And he starid with eyen holowe, [And] om. O. with] his add. O.] As he wold Beues swoolow. [Ryght as O. swoolow] corrected with darker ink from swaloo M.] 'Of the,' said Beues, 'I haue mervayll: [haue I O.] Full well I haue be-sett my travayll!' [Full] om. O. sett O.] A spere Beues to hym bare, [Beuys to hym a spere dyd bere O.] Line 645 On ffourty pecis it brake thare, [In seuen O. it br.] he brast it O.] All to lethy the spere was wrought, [lethy] weyke O.] For in the Bore bote it nought. Line 648 His sword he drew, hym to were, But there myght no thing him dere; [thing] dynt O.] Beues thought at iche dynte, That he had smetyn on a fflynte, Line 652 And the Bore stroke to Beues hard, [And] om. O. smote O. B.] so add. O.] That nevure was kyd no coward. [nevure—no] he was nere hande ataynt O]

With oute reste tho ffought they, [tho] so O.] Till it was none of the day. Line 656 [M folio 131b] 'Lord,' said Beues, 'helpe and mercy! I am so wery, me thinkyth, I dye!' The bore was ffeynt and febull also, [feble and faint O.] Fro Beues than can he goo; [And from O. than] om. O.] Line 660 Than said Beues: 'That wold nevure Iesus, [nat Iesu O.] That I shold lose my vertue thus! [thus lese my vertue O.] Certes,' said Beues, 'tyde, what wyll be-tyde, [Certes] Betyde O. tyde w. w.] what me O.] The tone of vs shall dede abyde!' [The one O.] Line 664 Beues sewith the Bore in to the playn, [scwith] met O. to] om. O.] The Bore sye that and turnyd ageyn; As the Bore come gapyng in the way, [the B.] he O. in the w.] al to wonder O.] The ouer groyne smote Beues a-way, [smote B. a-way] he smote in sunder O.]

Evyn thorough oute the Bore he bare [In at the mouthe he bare the bore O.] And clefte his herte in sonder thare, [claue O.] And with his sword also hote [Than O. also h.] al in hast O.] The Boris hede of he smote; [smote] cast O.] Line 672 Vppon a trunchyn of a spere [Vppon] And on O.] The hede he stekyd forth to bere. [forth] for O.] That sye the fosters of that foreste, [fosters] so O; foster M.] How Beues had slayn that foule beeste; They said: ' Now is this disspite, [Now—dissp.] we haue great disdayne O.] Line 677 That he hath slayn this bore so tyte; [slayn] om. O. so t.] slayne O.] Go we to hym, we shall hym sloo And take the Borus hede hym ffroo! Than shall we haue honowres, [haue] al the add. O.] Line 681 Like as we were conqueroures! ' [Like] Ryght O.]

As Beues shold passe with pley and pride, [As] so O; And M. passe—pride] fro the forest ryde O.] They hym be-sett on yche syde; Line 684 Thes fosters were well armed XII [The XII fosters were armed eche one O.] And Beves nakyd but hym selfe; [B.] was add. O. but h. s.] & al alone O.] Beues shold his swerd take, for to say, [Whan B. O. his—say] hande on his swerde lay O.] The scabarde he ffound, the sword was away, [the] his O. was] so O; om. M.] [M folio 132a] Line 688 For he had his sworde levyd [his s. l.] left his swerde thore O.] There he smot of the borus hede. [Where he slewe the wylde bore O.] Than he had hym nouȝt with to were, [he—with] had he nought hym O.] But a tronchyn of a spere. [a] the O.] Line 692 The ffosters he bete down [The] Thre O. smote he O.] With a dynte of a trounchon; [dynte] stroke O. a] his O.] Nyne he slouȝe at dyntes thre, The tother thre awey gan flee. [The t.] And other O.] Line 696

Line 696 Beues with the hede went forth his way, [Beuys went wyth the hede a way O.] Iosyan sye all, there she lay; [Ios.—there] Al sawe Iosian where O.] Line 698 Such love Iosyan to hym caste, [Ios. to h.] on hym she O.] That never shall ffall, but euer laste. [shall ff.] dyd fayle O. euer] dyd add. O.] Line 700 The hede of the wyld swyne, Beues presentid it kyng Ermyn. [it] to O.]

Than at the arste rose Beues lose [fyrst O. lose] pryse O.] With all tho, that riduth and goos. [That was bothe curteis and wyse O.] Line 704 Sone after that tyme [that t.] nat longe durynge O.] Come tydinges to kyng Ermyn [tyd.] a messanger O. k. E.] Ermyne the kynge O.] Fro kyng Bradmond of Damas, Line 707 That swore be Mahound and Golias, But kyng Ermyn geve hym as blyve [But] if add. O. geve—blyve] without stryfe O.] Iosyan, his doughter, to wyffe, [Ios.—to] Sende Iosian, to be his O.] In all his land he wold hym noye [all h. l.] many wayes O.] Line 711 And all his castellis he wold distroye, [cast. he w.] londe robbe and O.] And told hym, in the ffurst weke of May [told h.] saide O. weke] day O.] Shold he come and hold his day, [Sh. he] That he wolde O.] Line 714 And lede away his doughter than [And] To O.] And all his landus stroye and bran. [londe O.]

Kyng Ermyn was wode and wrothe; [and] om. (!) O.] He send after Erles and barons bothe [He] And O.] And told hem all, with oute ffayll, [them O.] How Bradmond the kyng hight hym batayll. [How—hym] That kynge Bradmonde bad them O.] [M folio 132b] Line 720 A worde spake Iosyan the bryght: [A w.] Than O.] 'Be Mahoun, were Beues a knyght, [Mah.] syr add. O. a] om. O.] He wold you socoure well I-nowe! My selfe sye, where that he slowȝe [where that] whan O.] Line 724 Nyne fosters at dyntes thre [dyntes] strokes O.] And oþure thre they gan to fflee, [they gan to] away gan O.] And he had nought hym with to were, [And] Yet O. with] om. O.] But a tronchoun of a spere!' [a] the O.] Line 728

Line 728 Said the kyng: 'There fore we shall not lett!' [Therfore, saide the kynge, shal we O.] Line 729 He made Beues be-ffore hym ffett [He m.] But let O. be-f. h.] to vs be O.] And dubbyd than Beues a knyght, [And] He O. Beuys than O.] He made hym cheften ffor to ffight; [He] And O. cheft.] harnes O.] Full wele he dyd the kynges jurney [he—jurney] the kynge gan hym puruay O.] With mekyll hoste ageyn the day. [mck.] a great O. the] that O.] The kyng said to Beues: 'At my nede [Beuys, saide the kynge, helpe at this nede O.] All myn hoste now shalte thou lede: [For al O. hoste—thou] men thou shalt O.] Arme the tite and take the ffeld, [tite] ryght O. the f.] thy shelde O.] Line 737 For Bradmond biduth vnder sheld!' [Kynge Bradmonde abydeth the in the felde O.] Beues dyd on an haburgun, [an hab.] his auctowne (!) O.] Line 739 Was wrought in meny a good town, [That had angred many a towne O.]

And an haubarke Iosyan hym brought, [And] om. O.] And an helme well I-wrought; [

Sothly, a better was neuer wrought.

O.

An helme she gaue hym gode and fayre,There myght no thynge it apayrs.

add. O.] Line 742 Than gave hym that ffeire may His good sword Morglay; [His] A O. sw.] that hyght add. O.] Line 744 There was none better vnder the son, Many a lond with that was won. [with that] therwyth O.] Iosyan gave hym suche a stede, [suche] sithen O.] The beste, that euer was at nede; [was at n.] on grounde yede O.] Line 748 He was so swifte and so snell, [Ful wel I can his name telle: O.] Men callid hym Arondell; Ther was no hors in the world so stronge, Line 751 [M folio 133a] That myght ffolowe hym a fur longe. [hym folowe O.] Sir Beues, in the sadull he light, [Sir] om. O. he] om. O.] Iosyan smyled, that is so bryght; [smyled] so O; symled (!) M. is] was O.] Beues gan than his horne blowe, [than] om. O.] For all his hoste shold hym knowe. [For all] That O.] Line 756 Beues lad with hym, I vnderstond, Of bold Sarzins XX^ti thousand, [Sarzins] barons O.] And yet they, that were theire ffoo, [they th. w.] there was of O.] Had also meny moo; [For Bradmonde had O.] Line 760 And whan Beues come in to the ffeld, [And] om. O. in] om. O.] Bradmond the kyng stode and be-held; [the k.] om. O. and] hym add. O.] A lowde lauȝter louȝe Bradmond thoo, [A—louȝe] Lowde laughed O.] For he sye, there was no moo; [For] Whan O. was] were O.] Line 764 Eyther oste can oþure ascrye, [oste] om. O. oþure] oft add. O.] They shott dartis on eyther partye,

With Bowes turkes and arablaste [arablasters (!) M.] They slowe on bothe partyes faste; [They sl. faste on b. p. M.] Line 768 But whan they met to geder in same, There was sorowe and no game: [767—70:

Wyth swerdys thei gaue woundes wyde,Many were slayne on euery syde;But whan that they had broke the ray,Fyers and mortal was that fray.

O.] Kyng Bradmondus baner bare Radison, He was sterne as any lion; [Whyche was stronge O.] Line 772 Beves and he ffor gret envye [and he ffor] at hym had O.] Eyther oþure gan deffye; [And as sone as he dyd hym spye O.] They smote theire stedus with spurres of gold, [They—stedus] He smote Arundel O.] Arondell ran right as he shold. [Ar.] And he O. ran] euen add. O. wolde O.] Line 776 Bothe partyes stode and be-held: Ayther smote oþure in myddus the sheld; [Howe eyther hyt O. myd.] of add. O.] Sir Radisons spere in sonder braste, [Sir] om. O. in s. br.] al tobrast O.] Beues spere held and he smote faste, [But B. O. he] om. O.] That thorouȝe sheld and actoun Line 781 He bare thorough knyght Radison; [thorough kn.] kinge O.] The spere brast, the knyght fell down, [the kn.] and he O.] And in his breste be-lefte the tronch|own. [M folio 133b] [And] om. O. be-l.] abode O.] Line 784 Tho was kyng Bradmond abasshid, [Tho w.] Than O. Br.] was al add. O.] For in Radison was all his truste. [was—truste] al he trusted O.] They went fforth, they had suche mayn, [went—had] wende, for he was of O.] That none shold stond ham ageyn; [no. sh.] no man myght O. hym O.] Line 788 Aboute sir Beues they can gone, [can g.] cam redely O.] To venge the dethe of Radison, [the] his O. of R.] on eyther partye O.]

And Beues had game and thought full good, To bathe Arondell in theire blood. [Ar.] Morglay. O.] Line 792 Beues men myght se in a stound [B.] om. O. se] haue sene O. a] that O.] An hunderid Sarzins ffellid to ground. [ffellid] brought O.] A litull ffurther rode he thoo [farther he rode O.] And slewe there as mony moo. [sl. th.] there he slewe O.] Line 796 The Sarzins, that with Beues were, Helpud hym to theyre powere; [Helpe O. to] fast wyth O.] Men myght se ouer all Hedys cirlyng as a ball. [cirlyng] trendel O.] Line 800 Sarzins meny myght men mete [Many Sarazyns O.] With guttes tirlinge in the strete; [With] theyr add. O. tir.—s.] trailynge about theyr fete O.] A thousand stedus men myght se than Ren with outen any man. [803 f.:

Some al armeles away gan fleAnd some blindefelde with neuer an iye;Some thoroughe the chekes were smyten clene,Some lay gronynge on the grene;Some were smyt with suche a wounde,That they lay grennynge lyke an hounde.A thousand stedes men myght seWyth dede Sarazyns away fast fle,And al they sayde, seke and hole,That they had ben at Beuys dole.

O.] Line 804 Bradmond sye his men evill fare, [evill f.] mysfare O.] Toke he two of Beues knyghtes thare, [Toke—knyghtes] Two of Beuys knyghtes he toke O.]

And he lad hem fforth and fled, [he] om. O. them O. and] wyth them add. O.] Beues sye that and hym besterid, [that—best.] howe they were bestad O.] Line 808 And he said: 'Abyde, thou wreche! [And] om. O. thou] olde add. O.] Arte thou come, Iosyan to ffeche? Take me tho presoners, with oute vari|aunce, [tho] thy O. distaunce O.] Line 811 Or I shall make of the delyueraunce!' [of the] om. O.] Such a stroke Beues gaue Bradmond, [Beues] he O.] That hors and man he ffellid to ground. [he f.] fel O.] 'Mercy,' said Bradmond, 'Beues, thyn ore! [M folio 134a] [Beues] om. O.] Let me liffe, smyte me no more, [liffe] and add. O.] Line 816 And thre cites with castellis and towrus [And] om. O.] I shall the geve with honowrus!' [with] great add. O.]

Said Beues: 'I wyll not of thyne, [Beuys sayde O. none O.] But þou shalte be-come the kynges man Ermyne [þou sh.] om. O.] Line 820 And do hym omage and ffewte, For other wyse shall it not be!' [wyse] wages there O. it not] none O.] Said Bradmond: 'Me is levure to do so, [Said—to] Br. saide: Leuer had I O.] Than here to dye with moche woo!' [moche] peyne and O.] Beues chargid hym there on his laye, [there on] in O.] That never he shold be nyght ne day [he shulde neuer O. ne] nor O.] Wayte kyng Ermyn with treason, [with] no O.] But to be redy at his somown [to] euer O.] Line 828 And hold hym of his londis chefe, [his l.] thy londe as O.] Were hym lothe or were hym lefe. [Were h.] Be thou O. be thou O.] Beues was kynge Ermyns attorney [was k.] om. O. att.] was add. O.] And toke omage of Bradmond that day; [To receyue homage in that place O.] Whan he had done, he let hym goo: [he] Beuys O.] Alas, why nold he not hym sloo! [nold] dyd O. hym nat O.] For afterward, as ye shull here, [afterw.] sone after O. may O.] He seruyd hym of well wors chere. [of w.] in O. manere O.] Line 836 Thes knyghtes, that Beues raught fro Bradmond, [B. raught] he toke O.] He led ham fforth with hym that stound; [He] Beuys O. ham f.] om. O. hym] in add. O.] For gret love he wold not blynne, [he] Beuys O.] But bothe he led ham to his ynne; [bothe—to] led them bothe vnto O.] He gave them mete and drynke of the beste Line 841 And on his bed laid hem to reste. [them O.]

Whan sir Beues had so I-do, [And whan O. done so O.] Line 843 To courte to the kyng gan he goo: 'Sir kyng,' he said, 'make good visage, [He sayde: Syr kyng O.] For Bradmond hath do you omage, [M folio 134b] [you] the O.] To be his chefe lord in feld and town, [To be] And take you to O.] And redy shall be at youre somown!' [And—be] Euer to be redy O.] Than was kyng Ermyn glad & blithe [Than—E.] The kynge Ermyn was O.] And kyssud Beues meny a sithe; [kyssud] thanked O. meny a] often O.] He said: 'Iosian, my doughter,' thanne, [Ios.—thanne] to his doughter Iosian O.] 'Anon that you on-arme this man, [An. th. y.] Sone O. un.] me add. O.] Line 852 Lede Beues in to chamber, god hym saue, [B. in] him O. god] Mahounde O.] For there may Beues his ease haue, [For—Beues] That he may there O. rest O.] And serve hym there with mete and drynke, [And] om. O. there with] both of O.] Of the best that he can thynke!' [can] after add. O.] Line 856 Than was Iosyan ffull glad, [ffull] ryght O.] To her chamber she hym lad [And to O.] And sett Beues on her bed; [She set hym soft vpon a bed O.] Line 859 A borde was sett, a cloth was spred. [A—was] Bordes were laide and clothes O.]

Whan she had on-armed Bevoun, [had] so O; om. M. Beuys O.] Line 861 At the Bord they set ham down [At] To O. they—down] she hym set iwys O.] And made them well at ease and ffyne [them] hym O.] With riche metes and nobull wyne. [mete O.] Whan they had well etyn Line 865 And on her beddus well I-setyn, [theyre bed togeder sytten O.] Iosyan, that was so trewe, Thought, she wold her love renewe; She said: 'Beues, leman, thyn ore! Than I can tel, I love the more; [Than I can tel] so O; Certes, Beucs M.] But yf thou do after my rede, [Certys, Beuys, but thou me rede O.] For pure love I mvst be dede!' [shal O.] Line 872 He said: 'Iosyan, be thou styll! [He s.] Than saide Beuys O. thou] om. O.] Me thinkyth, thou spekyst ageynst skyll: [Me th.] om. O. spekyst] al add. O.] Thou maiste haue one me on-liche, [myghtest O. me] al O.] [M folio 135a] Bradmond, the kyng, that is so ryche; [B. the k.] Kynge Br. O.] In all the world is no man, Line 877 Kynge ne duke ne Soudan, [Kynge ne d.] Prynce, kynge O.] But he wold haue the to quene, [he] they O.] And he had the with eyen sene; [And he] If they O. with e.] onys O.] Line 880 And I am knyght of vncouth lond, [And] om. O. am] a add. O. straunge O.] I haue no more than I in stond!'

'Mercy, Beues!' said Iosyan, 'I had the lever to my leman, Line 884 Thy body wythe thy shirte all nakyd, [wythe] in O.] Than all the gold, that Mahoun makyd!' [gode O.

'Beuys,' she saide, 'tel me thy thought!'Beuys sat styl and spake nought.

add. O.] She ffell down and wepte sore And said: 'Thou saidiste soth be-fore: [And] She O. soth] here O.] What kyng he is, that had me sene, [What—is] There is no kynge O. me hath O.] But he wold me wed to quene, [But] that add. O. me w.] haue me O.] Line 890 And thou thinkyste of dispite? Wend oute of my chamber tite! [891 f.:

And thou disdaynest of me so:Se, thou out of my chamber go!

O.] Line 892 More kyndely it were the liche, [comely O.] For to fferme an old diche, [fferme an o.] hedge and make a O.] Than nowe to be dubbid a knyght, [nowe] thus O. a] om. O.] To sitt amonge byrdus bryght; [And to O. byr.] maydens O.] Line 896 Go forthe, carle, oute of my fare, [forthe c.] churle O.] Mahoun geve the sorowe and care!' [sor. and] moche O.] 'Damysell,' said Beues, 'I am no carle, [said B.] he sayde O. churle O.] My fader was bothe knyght and erle!

To my contre I wyll me hye, [Vnto O.] Line 901 Thou shalte no more se me with eye; [Neuer more shalt thou me se O.] Thou gaue me an hors, now take hym here, [now] om. O.] I kepe not to be in thy daungere!' [thy] my O.] Line 904 He went forth and wold not blynne, [He] Beuys O.] Tyll he come to his ynne, [his] owne add. O.] Sore agrevid and evill apayd, [M folio 135b] [and e. a.] as he were blamed O.] For Iosyan had him myssaid. [myss.] so asshamed O.] Line 908 Thes two knyghtes, that Beues there levid, [The O. there l.] saued O.] Askyd, who had hym grevid; [Askyd] hym add. O.] Beues said noþer good ne yll, [ne] nor O.] Line 911 But sett hym down and held hym still. When Beues went Iosyan ffro, [went] was gone O.] Than be-gan all her woo; She callid her chamberlayn Bonyface And bad hym helpe in that case; [helpe] hyr add. O. this O.] Line 916 To Beues ynne she hyme send [ynne] on message O.] And said, she wold all amend. [And s.] Saynge O. all] thynge add. O.

That she had saide loude or stylle,So that he wolde come hyr tyll.

add. O.] Bonyface his way hath nomen, [his—nomen] forth is gone O] To Beues chamber is he comen [is he c.] he cam anone O.] Line 920

Line 920 And said: 'Sir, Iosian me send [And] He O. sir] that O. me] hym thyder O.] And saith, she wyll all amend [saith] that O. all] thynges add. O.] That she myssaid you with yll, [yow] þow (!) M. myss.—yll] hathe sayde loude or styl O.] Line 923 With that þat ye wyll com her till!' [So O. þat] om. O.] Beues said: 'What shold I do thare? [What] Why O. do th.] so O.] She bad me go oute of her chamber!' [go—chamber] out of hyr chamber go O.] A Robe gaue Beues the messingere [Beues] he O.] Line 927 With all the garmentes fresh and clere: [all—fresh] other wedes fayre O. clere] nere (!) M.

Wel furred wyth great valour:'Haue this,' he sayde, 'for thy labour!'

add. O.] 'And grete thy lady thus by me, [And gr.] Grete wel O. thus by] fro O.] Say, I wyll her never see!' [Say] And say that O. neuer hyr O.] Bonyface hym thankyd thoo [thonked hym O.] Line 931 And went ageyn there he come ffro; He said: 'Madame, make good chere! But Beues wyll no more com here. [For O. no] neuer O.] Certes, madame, ye did not ryght, [not r.] vnryght O.] To myssay so nobull a knyght, [For to O.] Line 936

Line 936 For it was nevure churlis dede, [nevure] a add. O.] [M folio 136a] To geve a messingere suche a wede!' Than said Iosyan the ffree: 'Synne Beues wyll not come to me, [939 f.:

If Beuys wyl nat come to me,I wyl nat rest, tyl I hym se.

O.] Line 940 Be-fall there of wele or woo, To his chamber wyll I goo!' [his] Beuys O.

Iosian wolde no lenger blynne,Tyl she cam to Beuys ynne.

add. O.] Beues herd Iosyan with oute, [Whan Beuys O.] As he shold slepe, he be-gan to route. [he] so O; om. M.] Line 944 'Beves,' she said, 'a while ye wake: [ye w.] awake O.] I am come, my peas to make!' 'Damysell,' said Beues then, [then] tho O.] 'Let me lye and go hen! [hen] me fro O.] Line 948 I am wery for ffyghtyng sore, [wery f. f.] of fyghtynge wery and O.] So wyll I for thy love no more!' [thy] om. O.] 'Mercy,' she said, 'my leman swete!' Than fell she down to his fete; [She fel downe and began to wepe O.] Line 952

Line 952 'Forgeve me, Beues, that I myssayd, [Beues] om. O. myss.] haue myssayde O; mysdid M.] I wyll, yf thou be wyll payd, [yf thou] that ye O. apaide O.] My fals goddus I wyll forsake Line 955 And crystondome for thy love take!' 'On that comenand,' said Beues than, 'I wyll the love, Iosyan!' [love] faire add. O.] And he kyssud her to cordment; [And] om. O. a cordement O.] There fore was sir Beues shent. [was s. B.] after was he O.] Line 960 There thes two knyghtes were that stound, [There thes] The O. were] there add. O.] That Beues delyuerd of Bradmond, [del. of] had taken fro O.] And herd all theire talkynge; [And] They O. talk.] couenaunt O.] To the kynge they went, with oute lesyng, [They went to the kynge in that instant O.] Line 964 And said: 'Beues this iche day [And] They O. iche] same O.] Hath made Iosyan forsake her lay; [

Certys, nowe wol he by hyr lye,But if ye fynde some remedy.

add. O.] But he be brought down, sekerly, [down s.] of by awe O.] All oure law he wyll distroye!' [Sothly, he wyl destroy your lawe O.] Line 968

Line 968 This ys trewe, by al halowes: [M folio 136b] [It is sothe O. by al hal.] so O; with oute ffabullus M.] Delyuer a theeff ffro the galoos, [galowes O.] And he shall wayte the to rob or sloo; [He shal the wayte O.] And so ffared be thes knyghtes two: [And so] So it O. ffared] so O; ffare (!) M.] Beues delyuerd hem ffro perill, [them O.] Line 973 And they haue quyt hym all with gile. [haue] om. O. all w.] with a O.] 'Alas,' he said, Armyn, the kynge, [he] om. O. Arm. the] Ermyne O.] 'Sore me rewith of this tyding! [of this] that O.] Line 976 Sethyn that Beues come me to, [to] tyl O.] Moche he hath ffor me do; [ffor me do] done at my wyl O.] I wyll not ffor all Armonye [wolde O.] Se men do Beues velonye; [men do B.] Beuys take any O] Line 980 But I wold awrokyn be, [auenged O.] So that I shold not it see!' [shold not it] dyd it nat O.] Said than to hym a sarzin: [Said—hym] Syr, sayde O.] 'Ye shall make in perchmyne [We O. make] do wryte O.] Line 984 A letter kyng Bradmond to [k. Br. to] vnto kynge Bradmonde O.] And byd hym, that he Beues sloo, [Byddynge hym brynge Beuys to the grounde.]

As he is knyght to you sworne, [is] trew add. O.] Line 987 And he shall bere this letter to morne: [And by Beuis shell the letter be borne O.] And, be Mahoun, than dare I say, [Than d. I] I dare O.] That Beues shall nevure go quyk away!' And whan this letter was made, vera|ment, [And] om. O. letter—ver.] was brought to the ende O.] After Beues the kyng, he sent [The kinge gan after Beuis sende O.] Line 992 And said: 'Beues, thou mvst go as tyte [Beues] om. O. shalt wende O. tyte] ryght O.] In to Damace all in delite [And be true messenger, as thou art knight. O.] And bere kyng Bradmond this letter: [bere] so O; bare (!) M.] Euer more thou shalte be the better!' [And euer O.

Another els shoulde bere it:It shall turne the to great profyt.

add. O.] 'Sir, haue I Arondell and Morglay, I wyll vndertake that way: [that] the O.] Line 998 Be Bradmond nevure so wroth ne wood, I shall geve hym strokys good!' [M folio 137a] [geve h. st.] make my parte O.] 'Where to,' sayd Ermyn, 'said þou so? [to] fore O. said] thynkest O.] He is thy ffrend and not thy ffoo: [Thou shalt but on message go: O.]

Take an easy hakeney, That may bere the be the wev, [be the w.] easely away O.] Line 1004 Hit ffallith no messingere to lede [messager for to O.] To vncouth lond suche a stede! [To vnc. l.] So vncomly O.] But, Beves,' he said, 'thou shalte swere, [he s.] om. O. shalte] me add. O.] Thou wylte be trewe, my letter to bere; [Thou—trewe] That thou shalt truly O. to] om. O.] As thou arte trew man and sele, Line 1009 Vndo not the prynte of my seale!' [seale] brefe O.] 'Nay,' said Beues, 'be Cryste on rode!' [be Cr. on] on christen O.] He toke the letter, and forth he yode [the] hys O. he] om. O.] On an ambelynge hakeney; [Upon O.] Line 1013 At home he lefte Arondell and Mor|glay. [Leuing at home O.] Iesu hym counsell and rede: [couns.] comfort O.] On hym selfe he beryth his dede! [Upon O. selfe] om. O. his] owne add. O.] Line 1016 Alas, that he ne wiste ryght nought Of all the treason, that was wrought: But god, that died ffor man be name, Saue his body ffro dedly shame! [1017—1020 om. O.] Line 1020 Leve we sall of Beves here, [sall] now O.] And speke we of his eme, sir Sabere. [sir] om. O.]

After that Beues was fro hym sold, Hys hert waxid ffor hym ffull cold, [waxid—ffull] for him waxed O.] Line 1024 And callid to hym his son Terry [And] He O.] And bad hym wend to asspye In to Sarzins lond ffar and nere, [In] om. O. lond] bothe add. O.] Line 1027 Yf he myght ought of Beues here:

'A palmers wede thou shalte were, [A] om. O.] So may thou best after hym inquere!' [maist O. better O. inq.] spere O.] Than toke he hym tresoure I-nough to spend, [Than t. he] He gaue him O. I-n.] for O.] [M folio 137b] Line 1031 By that were gone, god more wyll send. [Whan O. gone] done O. more w.] may more O.] Forth gan child Terry ffare [Forth] than add. O.] To hethynnes, till he come thare, [heth.] Sarasyns lande O.] In meny londis he hath hym sought, [londis] a lande O. hym s.] fought O.] But of Beues harde he nought, [he herde O.] Line 1036 Till it be-ffell vppon a day, As afterwarde I shall you say; Turne we ageyne, there we were be-fore, [ageyne] om. O.] And speke we of sir Beues more! [And—Beues] Of Beuys of Hampton speke we O.] Line 1040 Beues rode fforth a softe pace [softe] om. O.] Towarde the Cite of Damace; He rode two days and nyȝtes bothe, [two] om. O.] He restid hym not, with oute othe; [He r. h.] And rested O.] Line 1044 He rode as faste as he myght ride, Tyll the thrid morowe tyde, [Tyll the th.] Two or thre O.] And than leste he bothe ete and drynke, [And] om. O. he b.] hym bothe to O.] As euery man doth after swynke; [euery] a wery O. sw.] thynke O.] Line 1048

Line 1048 Slepe he mvste, as the romans tellis, [mvste] lysted O.] That nyght he gate nought ellis. [nyght—nought] myght he gete and no thynge O.] Beues lay down and slepte a stound And leyd his face vnto the ground. [And lete his hors bayte on the grounde C.] Whan he wakyd of his slepe, [awoke O; out add. O.] Line 1053 No more he bode, but vp he lepe, [But no (!) M. more] lenger O. but] so O; om. M. he] dyd O.] And as Beues fforth rode, [And as B.] Beuys than O.] In a foreste ffeire and brode [In] Towarde O.] Line 1056 He sye a palmer sitt hym nere With bred and wyne at his dynere; [at] to O.] Bakyn curlews had he thre, [he had O.] Thouȝe he were pore on to see. [on to] so O; vnto M.] Line 1060 The palmer saw, Beues was knyght, [was] a add. O.] [M folio 138a] And avayled his hat, as it was ryght, [valed O. hat] bonet O.] And seid: 'Sir, ffor love myne, [And] The palmer O. sir ffor] fayre O.] Line 1063 Ys it thy wyll, to come and dyne?' [thy] your O.] 'There of,' said Beues, 'I am ffull ffayn: For hunger hath me almoste slayn!' [1065 f.:

For my wyl is moche gyuen to the,Therfore it forgyueth me,That thou shalt wysshe me, withouten fayle,To a man, for whome I trauayle!'Beuys saide agayne ful fayne:'Hunger hath done me moche peyne!'

O.] Beues ete and dranke gret plente, [gret] ful gode O.] Whill he wold there at be; [wold] syt and add. O.] Line 1068

Line 1068 Than to speke Beues be-ganne: 'Palmer,' he said, 'arte thou a cryston man? Line 1070 Where was thou borne? tell it me, [was th.] thou were O. it] thou O.] And what thou doiste in this contre!' Said the palmer, I vnderstond, [Than saide O.] That he was borne in Englond, [he] I O.] At South-Hampton vppon the see, 'And I come to this contre, [I am come O.] Line 1076 To seche after a child, I-plight: [I-pl.] ryght O.] Beues ffor sothe he hight; [Beues—he] That Beuys of South-Hamp|ton O.] I shall hym seke, till I hym ffynd, Right vnto the worldus end, [Right vnto] Thoughe I hym seke to O.] Line 1080 To bryng hym in to Englond, To helpe my fader with dyntte of hond!' [dyntte of] his O.

Agaynst his stepfader for to fyght,To wynne his heritage and his right.'

add. O.] 'What hight thy fader, sir palmere?' [sir] om. O.] He said: 'Men call hym sir Sabere; [He said] Syr O. sir] om. O.]

He is Beues eme, be my liffe, Line 1085 For hym he is in moche stryffe; [1085 f.:

He hath ben euer in stryfeSyth syr Guy of Hamptons lyfe.

O.] I lefte hym in an yle good, Be-closud it is with salte flood, [Be-cl. it is] Closed about O. salte] the se O.] Line 1088 And euery other day, sertayn, [other] yere a O.] He fyght with sir Mordoure of All|mayn, That with hym holdith gret baronage, To wynne Beues heritage. [1091 f.:

For to wynne his heritageHe doth for hym great viage.

O.] [M folio 138b] Line 1092 Tell me nowe, yf thou can, [nowe] syr O.] And wise me ryght to such a man!' [And] om. O. to such a] vnto that O.] Than said Beues with myld chere: 'I haue known Beues this vii yere: [I—vii] Beuys haue I knowen this X O.] Hit is not yet iiii days at all, [yet] om. O. thre O. at] wyth O] Line 1097 Sethyn we ete bothe in one hall; [Seth.] That O. ete] were O.]

There is no man, be goddus ore, In cristondome, that I love more, Line 1100 And he told me ffor thy, [We were felawes and certaynly O.] That his ffader hight sir Gye.' [That] He tolde me O.] 'Sir,' said the palmer, 'that is he: For goddus love, let me hym se!' Line 1104 'Nay,' said Beues, 'it may not be so, [Nay s. B.] Beuys saide O.] For in message mvste I goo; [in] on O.] And wend thou forth to Englond ageyn, [And—forth] But go thou home O.] And helpe thou thy fader with all thy mayn, [thou] om. O. all thy] myght & O.] Line 1108 For whan I haue my message done, I wyll speke with sir Beues sone [wyll] shal O. sir] om. O.] And tell hym of this tythand [of this t.] this, I vnderstande O.] Line 1111 And make hym hye in to Englond: [hye] hym add. O.] Par chaunce, ffor Beues is my ffrend, [ffor] om. O.] I shall with hym in to Englond wend!' [in] om. O.] 'Sir,' said the palmer in his langage, 'Wheþer go ye in message?' [in] on O.] Line 1116 'To kyng Bradmond,' said Beues, 'I wend, [To—Beues] He saide: 'To kynge Bradmonde O.] He is my ffoo and not my ffrend.' [He] Whyche O.] Said the palmer: 'Yf thy wyll be, [The palmer saide O. thy] it your O.] Wilte thou let me thy letter see?' [Wilte—thy] Let me a lytel your O.] Line 1120

Line 1120 Said Beues: 'Nay, as haue I rest or roo, So couth I my selfe haue do; [1121 f.:

Nay, saide Beuys, so mot I go,So thought I nat my selfe to do!

O.] [M folio 139a] Shall it never on-done be, Tyll the kyng hym selfe it se!' [the—selfe] kynge Bradmonde hath O.] Line 1124 They toke theire leve ffor to go, [ffor to] and forthe gan O.] And yche ffrome oþure gan parte thoo. [Eyther kyssed other of them two O.] The palmer went to Englond warde And Beues rode fforth swith harde [fforth s. h.] sone forwarde (!) O.] Line 1128 Towarde the cite of Damas, That was a ffull ffeyre space; [place O.] All the wyndowes and all the wallis [For al O. all] om. O.] With cristall was peynted, chamber and hallis, [With—chamber] Were painted wyth golde bothe toures O.] Line 1132 Pelouris and durris were all of brasse, [al were O.] With laten sett and with glasse; [With—and] Wyndowes of latyn were se (!) O.] Hit was so riche in many wyse, That it was like to paradise. [to] a O.] Line 1136

Line 1136 Aboute the place lay a diche, [lay] there was O.] For brodder and depper was none it liche; [In brede and depenesse there O. it] om. O.] Ouer that a brygge lay, [that] the dyke O. brygge] there add. O.] Line 1139 That man and beste myght passe away. Vnder the bryg was syxte bellus, [were O.] As the story of Beues tellis, [As—Beues] Ryght as the romayns O.] That there myght passe no thing, [passe no th.] no man passe in O.] But the bellis began to rynge, Line 1144 To warne them, that were with in [1144 f. om. O.] Thorough the ryngyng of that gynne. [Thorough—that] But al they range wyth a O.] At the Bryge stode a toure, [bryge] ende add. O.] Peynted with gold and asure, [and] with add. O.] Line 1148 Riche it was to be-hold, [was it O.] There on stode an egull of gold; His eyn were of precious stones [were] al add. O.] Line 1151 Off gret vertue ffor the nones. [

The stones were so riche and bright,That al the place shone of lyght.

add. O.] [M folio 139b] Whan Beues was nere at the Cite, [at] om. O.] Of that place than mervelid he, [than] om. O.] For sethyn that Beues borne was, [tha M.] Sye he never so ffeire a place. [so f.] suche O.] Line 1156 Whan Beues was the Cite within [was] cam O.] A gret araye he sye be gynne, [A g. a.] Great myrthe and noise O.]

As sarzins shold make theire sacryfice To theire mawmettes in theire gise; [in] so O; and M. th. g.] this wyse O.] And Beues come nere, ffor to see, [And] om. O. nere] them add. O.] Line 1161 And he said: 'What devill do ye? [And] om. O. devill] of hel add. O.] Why make ye Mahound this present And so disspice god omnipotent? [so] om. O.] Line 1164 I shall wytt, so haue I roo, [so—roo] or that I go O.] What Mahound can say or doo!' [do O; goo M.] Beues lepe to Mahoun [lept vnto O.] Line 1167 And pullid hym right to the ground [And toke hym ryght by the crowne O.] And caste hym in myddus the myre, [And] He O. myd.] of add. O.] And he bad hem take her syre. [he—her] bad them take vp theyr O.] The Sarzins, that be Beues stode, For Ire and tene waxid wood, [ire—wax.] very angre were nere O] Line 1172 And they swore all, he shold abye [And] om. O. swore] saide O.] For disspysinge of theire mawmentrye. [dissp. of] he despysed O.] There was no more than to say, [than to say] vnto hym saide O.] But all at onys to Beues they lay; [to B.] on hym O. layde O.] Line 1176 Beves sye, that theire swordus they drowe, [Beuys than his swerde drewe O] And all that wold abide, he slowe. The crye arose in the Cite, [Than rose a crye O.] Sarsins gaderid gret plente [The Sar. O.] Line 1180 And presud faste to sir Bevoun, [They presed about Beuys tho O.] [M folio 140a] For he had disspised Mahown. [Mah.] so add. O.] Beues sye that and toke a stoure, Line 1183 And at eche stroke he ffellid ffoure; [And] om. O.] Withe the Sarzins he faught so faste, That two hunderid to ground he caste; [to] the add. O.] With in a litull while men myght mete [lit.] om. O.] Sarzins fleynge in yche a strete, [yche a] the O.] Line 1188 To haue socoure of theire kynge, And there they told hym this tydinge [1189 f.:

Vnto the palays they ran fleinge,For to haue socour of the kynge.

O.]

And said: 'Sir, we be anoyed, [They sayde: Syr kynge, we ar sore noyed O.] The Cite is nere hand distroyed [The] Your O.] Line 1192 Thorough a knyght, that is heder comyn, [hyder is O.] Cure god ffrome vs he hath nomen [goddys hath he from vs O.] And tredith hym vnder his fete [troden them O.] In the dirte amyddus the strete, [dirte am.] foule myre of O.] Line 1196 And all thy men hath he slayne, [he hath O.] That eny thing dyd hym ageyn. [eny thing dyd] euer faught O.] Sir kyng, but we haue helpe of the, [helpe] some counsel O.] He shall distroye all this Cite!' [wyl O. the O.] Line 1200 Said kyng Bradmond: 'Be my hode, [Kynge Bradmonde saide O.] He is a devill or he is wood; What he is, I wyll go see: Line 1203 Arme you tite and come with me!' [tite] ryght O.] Forth they went, all the route, Of that place they passud oute, [Of the palays without dout O.] Line 1206 Right on the bryge, the Romans seys, [seys] so O; tellis M.] They met Beues inwarde the paleys. [Beues inw.] into O.] Whan Beues sye the kyng with crown, On his knees he set hym down [set hym] kneled O.] [M folio 140b]

And gave hym his letter with his hond; [his] the O. with] in O.] He said: 'Iesu, that is all weldand, [He] And O. weld.] I vnderstande O.] That shope all this world rounde, [this] the O. world] so add. O.] Line 1213 He geve the sorowe, kyng Bradmond! [He] so O; They M.] Bothe Mahound and Apolyne [But O.] Line 1215 And Turmagawnte, all goddus thyne, [all] be O.] They geve the theire blessynge, That is shorte liffe and evill endyng! Well the gretys kynge Ermyne Line 1219 And sendith the a letter in parchemyne; [And] He O. a] this O.] He byddith the, thou do his byddyng, As thou arte a trewe kynge!' [1221 f.:

And byddeth the his byddinge do,Ryght as thou art sworne hym to.'

O.] The kyng toke at Beues this dede [toke—this] of Beuys receyued the O.] And toke it a clerke ffor to rede; [toke] gaue O. it] to add. O. ffor] om. O.] Line 1224 The letter bad, that he shold Beues sloo, [that] om. O. Beues] hym O.] And that he shold not away goo: [away goo] passe hym fro O.] 'For, sertes, yf that he passe away, [that] om. O.] He wyll distroye all oure laye!' Line 1228

Line 1228 Whan kyng Bradmond herd this, [herd] al add. O.] He made moche Ioy and blis [He was therof ful glad iwys O.] Line 1230 And said: 'Beues, welcome be this day, [And] He O. be th. d.] to court with shame O.] For sone thy songe shall be: welawey! [We shal lerne the a newe game O.] Thou arte he, that made me thrall And sethyn sloweste my men all, [And s. sl.] Me and O.] Thou slowe my men and brought to ground Line 1235 Fyftene thousand in a litull stound [Twenty O.] And haste disspised seynt Mahoun [And hast in despyte slayne Mahounde O.] And slayne my men in this town! [slayne] om. O. town] stounde O.] [M folio 141a] But Mahoun, blessud mvste thou be, [But blessyd mot Mahounde be O.] That the hathe send heder to me, [hath the O.] Line 1240 For now I shall be vengid sone [shall] wol O. wroken O.] Of all the sorowe, thou haste me done! [sorowe] treason O.] But wyte me not, Beues, thy turment, [wyte] blame O. thy t.] in thyn entent O.] But wyte hym, that the heder sent: [blame O.] Sone he me bad, thou shold be slayn [Sone—thou] Some saide, he O.] And never more come there ageyn!' [And some saide, he shulde be quycke flayne O.]

Than som bad drawe hym thorowe the Cite, [Than] om. O.] Line 1247 And som bad hange hym on a tree, And euer stode Beues still and herd [And—and] Styl stode Beuys and them O.] All the treason, how it fferd. [Of al that O. ffarid M; fared C.] 'Sir kynge,' he said, 'is it thy rede, [is it thy] it is no O.] To Iuge me to a doggis dede? [to] om. O.] Line 1252 A knyght I am, as well as thou, [you O.] There fore take thy counsell nowe [your O.] And graunte me armour and stede, Sworde and spere at my nede, [Shelde O. at my] gode at O.] Line 1256 Seker helme and stalworth sheld, [Sure O.] And brynge me save in to the ffeld, And arme thy men lesse and more, Sixte thousand yf they wore, [hundred O.] Line 1260 And let me dye in batell right, [Than O.] As maner is of a doughty knyght!' [noble O.] The Sarzins then cried all, [Than the Sarazyns O.] And to theire kyng can they call [And to th.] Unto the O.] Line 1264 And said, 'He shall thy men down fold, [And] They O.] Line 1265 Yf thou graunte hym this batell bold: [Yf] that add. O. this] om. O.] Graunte hym preson thorouȝ oure rede [thorouȝ] by O.] And hold hym there, till he be dede, [And h. h.] Let hym be O.] For in youre preson are dragons two [be O.] And oþer wormes meny moo, [M folio 141b] [And] Wyth O.] And were he in preson brought, [And] om. O. in] into your O.] Line 1271 Vnto none of day levith he nought. [of—he] he lyueth O.] Brynge hym theder, as we can, [as we c.] they al saide then O.] Line 1273 And not in ffeld amonge thy men!' [thy] your O.] Than be-spake kynge Bradmond: [spake O.] 'Faste brynge you hym to grounde, [Faste—to] Bringe hym lyghtly to the O.] For he shall dye with moche sorowe, All cristondomeshall hym not borowȝe!' [nat hym O.] Aboute Beues than can they dryve, [than] om. O.] As Bees done aboute an hyve, Line 1280 And Beues sye no better bote, [And] Whan O. none other rest O.] He wold with hem no more mote. [Than he began to do his best O.]

With his sword he stode at deffence Ageyn them all in presence. [Agaynst O. in] theyr add. O.] Line 1284 Sir Beues ffought so wonder-faste, [so w. f.] al to wonder O.] Tyll his sworde in sonder braste; [brast in sonder O.] 'Alas,' said Beues, 'and welawaye, For now I lake my good Morglaye [For—my] Nowe want I O.] And Arondell, my good stede: Line 1289 Alas, helpe now at this nede!' [1289 f. om. O.] But not ffor thyȝe sir Bevoun, [not f. th.] neuerthelesse O. Beuys O.] With his ffistus he ffellid hem down; [Brought to grounde wyth his fystes O.] Sixte Sarzins to ground he caste, Sethyn his sword in sonder braste, [Sethyn] After that O. in s.] dyd O.] Line 1294 And euer they folowyd moo and moo [And] But O. fol.] gadred O.] And toke Beues with moche woo; They bound his handus to geder faste, [his—geder] togeder his handes so O.] At yche ffynger the blood oute braste; [At—the] That al his fyngers on O.] They led hym sithen in to the hall [sithen] than into O.] And set hym in a knyghtes stall; [M folio 142a] A knyght hym ffed with mete and drinke [with] of O.] Line 1301 And all that he wold after thinke. [And a. th.] What euer O.] The kyng bad hym ete ffaste: [hym] Beuys O.] Line 1303 'For this,' he said, 'shall be thy laste!' And hunderyd sarzins and moo Were aboute Beues with swordus thoo, [Stode O.] Yf in chaunce his bondis braste, [In chaunce if O. bon.] handys out O.] Line 1307 That he shold make hem all agaste. [That] Lyst O. hem all] them O.] Whan Beues had etyn and made hym glad, In to preson they hym led. [to] the add. O.] Line 1310 Whan he was down in preson ground, [down in] at the O.] Beues handis they on-bound, [Beues] Sone his O.] For of hym they were bothe seker and traste, [For than were they sure and fast O.] That he shold nevure make ham agaste. [nev.] nat O. them O.] In to preson whan he come down, [to] the O.] There he ffound a shorte trunchown; In his hand he it vp toke, [vp] om. O.] Line 1317 It savid his liffe, thus saith the boke. [It] And O. thus] so O.] A water thorough the preson ranne, [the] that O.] That bare the ffilth of that man; [That b.] To voyde O. of th.] from any O.

He had nat ben there but a whyle,Nat the mountenaunce of a myle,

add. O.] Line 1320

Line 1320 Two dragons of moche myght [The two O.] Line 1321 Ageyn hym come ffor to ffight; [Ag. h.] Agaynst syr Beuys O. ffor] om. O.] Fast he ffaught, bothe he and they, [he] om. O.] All the nyght and all the day, Line 1324 That thes two dragons never blanne; [That] om. O. two] om. O. bl.] left of, truly O.] By that was Beues a wery man. [Tyl Beuys was both sore and wery O.] But by the oþure day at none [the] that O.] Bothe dragons were for-done; [Bothe] These two O.] Line 1328 His staff was brokyn all awey, [all] nere O.] A litull in his hond lafte aye. [M folio 142b] [hond] was add. O.]

When the two dragons were dede, [the] these O.] Beues couthe no better rede, [Than coude Beuys O.] Line 1332 But thankyd god, that all can wynne, [god] Iesu O. can] shal O.] Of the sorow that he was ynne, [Of] al add. O. care O.] And thankyd god of all his care. [om. O.] Sevyn wynter was he thare; [yere O.] Line 1336 Mete ne drynke had he no more, [ne—no] he had neuer O.] His liffe that tyme to restore, [om. O.] But onys on the day, with oute lees, Of bran he had a sympull messe, [Of] whete add. O. sympull] om. O.] Line 1340 For to lengith with his liffe, [with] al add. O.] In penaunce and in moche stryffe. [penurye O. in] om. O.] Bred ne corne he ete none, [ne] of O. ete he O.] But water had he good one; [

But w. he had greet wone

O.

Rattes and myce and suche smal dereWas his mete that seuen yere.

add. O.] Line 1344 Thus is Beues at the pittes ground: [is] so O; om. M. pit.] pryson O.] God bryng hym vp hole and sound! [vp] out both O.]

Speke we nowe of Iosyan, that may, [nowe] om. O.] How she to her fader dyd say; [she] om. O. dyd] she gan O.] 'Sir,' she said, 'where is he? [Sir] Beuys add. O.] Line 1349 For it is longe, sith I Beues see!' [Ful longe me thinketh, tyl I hym se O.] 'Doughter,' he said, 'I vnderstond, Beues is gone in to Englond [Beu.] He O. gone] home add. O.] Line 1352 And levith there on his heritage, [There lyueth he in O.] And hath a wiffe of gret parage: [lynage O.] The kynges doughter weddyd hath he, [The] A O.] As marchauntes hath told me!' [A marchaunt, iwys, so tolde it me O.] Line 1356 Than was Iosyan woo I-nouȝe, Her here she all to-drewȝe: 'Yf it be sothe, my fader me told, Alas, that I ne were cold!' Line 1360 She wepte and said euer moo, [M folio 143a] That som treason was I-do,

That he ne told me, whan he went, For he was bothe good and gent! [1357—1364:

Than was Iosian ful of woAnd to hyr chamber dyd she go.She wept sore (for syr (fyr (!) ms) BeuysAlas, she saide, some treason there is!There is no man can tel the sorowe,That she made bothe euen and morowe.

O.] Of Mombraunte kynge Yuore, Line 1365 A riche kynge of gret honowre, Whan he in to the wer wold, Fyftene kynges folowe hym shold; [1367 f. om. O.] He is come Iosyan to wed, [He] om. O.] Line 1369 For with her fader sone he sped, [For with] And of O. sone] hath O.] That he her graunted to his wiffe [He graunted hyr vnto O. his] so O; om. M.] And all his londis after his liffe. [londe O.] Line 1372 Whan Iosyan wiste to be a quene [wiste—a] herde she shulde be O.] Ageyn her will, as I wene, [Agaynst O. as] it was O.] Lever her were to haue lesse, [Leuer she had withouten lesse O.] And for to Be Beues countes, [And—Be] To haue ben syr O.] Line 1376 But never the lesse, now it is so, [But] om. O. now] syth O. was O.] Her faders wyll she mvst do; [Agaynst hyr fader she durst nat do O.] In to chamber there she went, And sore she wepte, verament; Line 1380 Mekyll she wepte and made mone And said to her goddus ychone: 'Now that Beues wyll me forsake, That shold be my worldus make, Line 1384

Line 1384 I wyll ffor-sake hym nevure the more For none oþure kynges lore, For my hert seith me sone, That som treason is I-done, Line 1388 For he nevure told me, whan he went; He is so curtes and so gent, And for that he was so good, Line 1391 I love hym as my herte blood; [M folio 143b] For his love was so gent, I wold thorough a chauntment, A litull girdull to make me, That shall aboute my medull be. Line 1396 I wyll adaunte never more To no hethyn kyngis lore, Will I never haue to done On suche maner with no man, Line 1400 I wyll never so on-trew be, As Beues is in his contree!' Tho it to the tyme sped. [Tho] To M.] That kyng Yuore shold her wed, Line 1404 He let send, with oute encheson, To the Soudan of Babilon And after the XV kynges, That to hym shold do bowinge, Line 1408

Line 1408 And they shold come to his heste, For to honoure all his feste. Of his ffeste I wyll not tell, For than I shold to longe dwell, Line 1412 But to the fest they yede. [fest] written in blacker ink above the line. M.] Tho he wold lepe on his stede, Men brought cartus and somers, Knyghtes hors and squiers, Line 1416 And Iosyan was brought in a chare; They toke theire leve ffor to fare. The kyng Ermyne toke Arondell And made hym be sadullid swyth well, [With add. M.] Arondell, so god me saue, Line 1421 That was wont Beues to haue. Arondell made gret pryde: [M folio 144a] He wend, Beues shold on hym ryde. He yode to the chamber, there Beues lay, Line 1425 And he toke his sword, þat hight Morglaye, And the hors to [to above the line.] kyng Yuore led [to] written above the line. M.] Line 1427 With that sworde and to hym said: 'Son,' he said, 'haue here this sworde, The beste, that eny man may with girde,

Also haue here this stede, The beste, that any man hath at nede! I tell the, be goddus son, Line 1433 Both were Beues of Hampton; He ne wold yeve hem oute of his hond For all the gold in payneme lond!' 'In trouth,' than sayd kynge Iuore, 'Nother I ffor all the tresoure, That I myght in this toure loke!' Said kynge Ermyn: 'Well thow it broke!' Line 1440 So there they can her hors be-stride, And to Mombraunt can they ride, To Mombraunte, the cite riche, In hethynnes is none it liche; Line 1444 Hit and Damas hath the price, There that Beues in preson lies. [1379—1446:

Euer she sayde: 'Syr Beuys,Kynde knyght of South-Hampton is,Haddest thou me neuer forsake,But some treason it dyd make:I shal neuer so vntrue be,Line 5 As thou art, Beuys, vnto me;I shal go make me a wrytteThoroughe a clerke wyse of wyt,That there shal no man haue grace,Whyle that letter is in place,Line 10 Agaynst my wyl to lye me byNor do me shame nor velany!'She dyd the letter sone be wroughtOn the maner, as she had thought,About hyr necke she hanged it,Line 15 She wolde nat begyle Beuys yet.Whan it was to the tyme sped,That kynge Iour shuld be wed,He sent after, withouten mo,The Sowdan of Babylon thoLine 20 And after the Sowdan of Percy:What nedethe, theyr names to discryc?He prayed them, wyth hym to be,Whan he shuld wed that lady fre.Whan the feste shulde begynne,Line 25 Euery knyght went to his ynne;Whan the feste was al done,Kynge Ioure wolde home goWith Iosian, that lady bright,That was true both day and nyght.Line 30 Iosian was brought to chareWith great thought & moche care.Kynge Ermyne toke ArundelAnd saddled hym fayre and wel;He toke wyth hym gode Morglay,Line 35 And to kynge Iour gan he say:'Haue here, I gyue the this stede,Stalworth and gode at euery nede,Haue here Morglay of stele browne:Line 39 They longed both to Beuys of Hampton!'Kynge Iour hym thanked thenAnd rode forth before his men.

O.] Tho they were com ny Mombraunte, [Whan O. com ny] nere O.] He swore be sir Termagaunte, [He] The kynge O. sir] om. O.] Line 1448 That he wold to town ride [to t.] into the cyte O.] On Arondell be-fore the bryde. [the] his O.] The hors he nome be his side And anon he can hym be-stride; Line 1452 So sone in the sadull he satt, Arondell this vnder-yate, That Beues sat not on his ryge: [M folio 144b] The kynge sore it shold abyge. Line 1456 Arondell sore was in grame, The brydull with the teth he name [1451—1458:

On Arundel he was vp brought,But Arundel was wel bethought,That it was nat syr Beuys,That was vpon his backe, iwys.

O.]

And ran ouer ffeld and corne [And r.] He lept O. ffeld] dyche O. and] ouer add. O.] And ouer the diches and ouer the thorne; [And—diches] Ouer brere O. the] om. O.] Line 1460 Nother in water ne in lond For no thinge wold he stond. Youore, that on hym sat tho, Wend, his liffe had be do; Line 1464 All this kyngdome myȝt on-nethe Kepe hym ffro the dethe, And or they myght that hors wynne, They hym toke with gret gynne. Line 1468 A wonders thinge ye may here: In that ilke VII yere To a Rak his stede he tied; Line 1471 Was no mete ne drinke to hym laid, [1461—1472:

He wolde neuer stynt rennynge,Tyl he had cast downe the kynge.So sore to grounde he hym cast,That his backe al tobrast,And hat nat soner come socour,He had slayne kynge Iour.They toke the hors wyth moche slyghtAnd led hym to the palays ryght;Wyth great ropes they hym bounde,There was no mete before hym founde,

O.] Hey, bred ne water clere, [Hey, bred] Neyther otes O.] But be a cord thorouȝe a selere. Durste no man be hym stond, There the hors stode in bond. [1474—1476:

There he stode that seuen yere,But that Iosian hym brought,And that wyst the kynge right nought,For his men coude no rede,Wyth hunger nor thyrst peyne hym to dede.

O.] Line 1476

Line 1476

Now is Iosyan a quene, Line 1477 Beues in preson hath moche tene. [And B. O. hath] wyth O.]

2071 ff.: Beuys sayde: 'Bretherne dere, [O folio 33b] For what thynge abyde ye here?' They answerde hym, that there stode: 'We stande here, for to haue some gode!' Line 1916 Beuys sayde: 'Who shal vs gode do?' 'The quene,' they sayde, 'we byleue so, For al that she hathe fonde here, Euery day this seuen yere, Line 1920 Gode chere she dothe them make Onys on a day for goddys sake, And also she dothe it, by my crowne, For Beuys loue of Hampton.' Line 1924 Than sayde Beuys: 'For Crystes ore, Tel me nowe, ye palmers pore, Whan this almys shal be done!' 'Syr,' they sayde, 'at after-none!' Beuys sayde: 'Yet is it but erly day!' Therfore he went fro them away;

He thought, he wolde go spye & se, Howe that it myght best be. Than, as he cam by a turret, That in the castel wal was set, Line 1934 He herde Iosian wepe and crye; Theder than went he to espye. 'Alas,' she sayde, 'for syr Beuys, [O folio 34a] He gentyl knyght of South-hampton is: Wheder I shal neuer se that day, That I wyth hym speke may? But Iesu Cryste, I the pray, Line 1941 Helpe me nowe, as thou best may!' This seuen yere euery day Iosian, that fayr may, Was wont, suche sorowe for to make For syr Beuys of Hamptons sake. Sone after she went to the gate thore, For to let in the palmers pore. Line 1948 Beuys hyed fast to the gate, Lyst he shulde haue come to late; The palmers presed in fast, Beuys abode and was the last. Unto the hal she led them than; Line 1953 Than vnto Beuys sayde Iosian:

'Palmer, thou semest best to me, Therfore men shal worshyp the: Begyn the borde, I the pray, Line 1957 Thou semest best, withouten nay!' Whan the palmers were al set, Mete and drynke was to them fet; Than dyd Iosian to Beuys say: 'Tel me, palmer, by thy fay, Line 1962 Hardest thou euer tel, In any londe, there it befel, Eyther in felde or ellys in towne, Of syr Beuys of Hampton? Line 1966 I shal make hym ryche, wythout lesynge, [O folio 34b] That can tel me of hym tydynge!' 'Ye, dame,' sayde Beuys and loughe, 'Syr Beuys knowe I wel ynoughe: At home in his owne cuntre Line 1971 I am an Erle and so is he;

There he loued me wel I-wys, Line 1973 He was my felawe and I was his. At home he gan me moche tel Of an horse, called Arundel. I haue asked in many a londe For that horse, I vnderstonde, Line 1978 I haue hym sought both farre and nere, But euer men say, that he is here: Ryght as ye loue that same knyght, Late me haue of that horse a syght!' Than the quene, without fable, Led Beuys into the stable. Line 1984 The quene began Beuys to beholde; Than vnto Bonyface she tolde: 'I trowe,' she sayde, 'by my crowne, This is syr Beuys of Hampton; But Beuys browe was neuer torne, Sythe he was of his moder borne!' Whan Beuys into the stable cam, Lyghtly to Arundel he ranne; Line 1992 He sayde: 'Arundel, god the saue, Without the towne I wolde the haue! Wyth the come I neuer to Mambraunt, But with me thou shuldest to England!'

He brast in sonder cheynes seuen, [O folio 35a] Whan he harde Beuys steuen; Of the stable ran he out, Line 1999 And many one put he in great dout. 'Alas,' sayde Iosian tho, 'For Arundel I am ful wo, For he wyl be many a mannys bane, Ere that he agayne be tane!' 'Nay, nay,' sayde Beuys and loughe, 'I can take hym wel ynoughe; So that ye wyl gyue me leue, Line 2007 I shal hym take wythout greue!' To take the horse she hym prayde: 'And lede hym vp!' the lady sayde, 'Let there be no more dystaunce, And I shal after the auaunce!' 'I graunt,' sayde Beuys, 'by goddys dome!' Line 2013 Whan Arundel sawe his lorde come, He wolde neyther stryke ne lope, Tyl Beuys fote was in the styrope.

Beuys hym selfe in the sadyl threwe, And therby Iosian anon hym knewe; She sayde: 'Beuys, loue dere, Line 2019 Ryde nat fro me in no manere! Thou promysed, me to wyfe to take, Whan I my fals goddys dyd forsake: Helpe me, Beuys, at this nede, For thou hast Arundel, thyn owne stede; Line 2024 I shal the fetche thy swerde Morglay, And lede me, Beuys, wyth the away!' Syr Beuys sayde: 'By saynt Iame, [O folio 35b] If I the loue, I were to blame: Line 2028 For the I lay in pryson stronge Seuen yere, and that was longe; Also the patriarke on my lyfe Charged me, neuer to take wyfe, Line 2032 But if she were a mayden clene, And seuen yere thou hast ben quene,

And euery nyght a knyght by the; Howe shuldest thou than a mayden be?' 'Mercy, syr Beuys,' than sayde she, 'Haue me home to thy cuntre: Line 2038 But ye fynde me a true woman In al that euer ye say can, Sende me hyder to my fo, My selfe naked and no mo!' Line 2042 'I graunt,' sayde Beuys, 'that thou wyth me go, On that couenaunt, that it be so: Hye the fast and make the prest, If thou wyth me go lest!' Line 2046 Bonyface stode a lytel besyde And herde theyre counsel in that tyde; 'Syr Beuys,' he sayde, 'it is peryl; I shal you tel a better skyl: Line 2050 The kynge is gone on huntynge, certayne, And sone wyl he retourne agayne; If he fynde, we be a way, He wil pursue bothe nyght and day Wyth al his great chyualry; Than we for our trechery Line 2056

Line 2056 Thoroughe the towne shal drawen be [O folio 36a] And after hanged vpon a tre. Line 2058 Syr Beuys,' he sayde, 'I wyl you rede, Arundel to stable agayne ye lede, And at the gate ye shal abyde, Line 2061 For, whan the kynge doth in ryde, He wyl of you aske tydynges, I wene, In what cuntrees ye haue ben; Ye shal tel hym redely, Line 2065 That ye come out of Surry; Tel, that londe is greatly noyed, The townes brent & men destroyed, And that kynge Bradwyn is Line 2069 In poynt, to lese his londe, I-wys, Thoroughe kynge Syracke, wythouten fayle, Line 2071 Whyche often tymes doth hym as|sayle; Loke, ye tel hym none other, Line 2073 For kynge Bradwyne is hys broder, And whan he hereth this tydynge, He wyl go thyder wyth great hastynge With al his power and al is oste; Than may we go wyth lytel boste!' Than sayde Beuys: 'I holde me payde!' He led vp the horse as he sayde. Line 2080

Line 2080 Sone after cam the kynge from hunt|ynge, Line 2081 And at Beuys he asked tydynge; Vnto the kynge tolde Beuys thore, As Bonyface tolde hym before. Line 2084

Line 2084 'I haue great wonder,' sayde kynge Iour, 'That he sendeth nat hyder for socour!' 'The messangers were taken fyue,' [O folio 36b] Syr Beuys sayde, 'by my lyue, Line 2088 That cam from kynge Bradwyne; I the tel by goddys pyne: Kynge Syracke hathe them in holde, I trowe, it be nat to Bradmonde tolde!' 'Certaynly,' sayde kynge Iour, Line 2093 'I wyl haste me to that stoure, For to helpe to venge my broder In his ryght agaynst that other!' Than kynge Iour withe al his chyualry Forthe went vnto Surry, Line 2098 But his stywarde, syr Grassy, He left at home ful redely. Than cam togeder in that case Beuys, Iosian and Bonyface: Line 2102 'Nowe is tyme,' sayde Beuys, 'to go!' 'Nay,' sayde Boniface, 'ye shal nat so: The kynges stywarde, syr Grassy, Is made kepar of my lady; Line 2106 I knowe a grasse,' he sayde, 'I-wys, That of suche vertue is,

That who euer therof do drynke, It wyl make theyr iyen to wynke. This grasse shal make them slepe by myght Al a day and al a nyght: Line 2112 Had Grassy dronke this grasse in wyne, Than myght we go wyth counsel myn!' Whan Bonyface had done that thynge, Up they rose, wythout lesynge, On the morowe, wythouten mys, [O folio 37a] Iosian, Bonyface and Beuys, Line 2118 They purueyed them as they wolde, Bothe of syluer and of golde; Line 2120 They hyed them forthe on theyr way. Syr Grassy a-woke on the other day; Whan he wyst, the quene was gone Wyth the palmer, he made great mone. He made his men them to dyght, [myde O.] And gadred great power for to fyght. Than he rode forthe al by-dene Line 2127 After the palmer and the quene; Al Mambraunt after them droughe, Wepened and armed wel ynoughe;

On euery syde a great rout. Line 2131 They beset Beuys rounde about. Than sayde Beuys to Bonyface: 'Thou seest, we be in straunge case: Thou shalt wyth Iosian abyde here styl, Line 2135 Tyl I go fyght wyth them my fyl; They shal abye, if that I may, For I haue rested me many a day; Had ye neuer so gode gamynge, [euer O.] As ye shal se, whan we ar samynge!' 'Nay,' sayde Bonyface tho, Line 2141 'Forsothe, it shal nat be so, I shal brynge you in lesse dout: We ar beset rounde about; A lytel space besyde vs here Is a caue in a roche nere; Line 2146 Were we onys therin brought, [O folio 37b] For them al I care ryght nought!' To the caue nowe haue they thought, Grassy sought and fonde them nought,

And therfore he was ful wo; Line 2151 Therfore agayne home-warde dyd he go. In that caue they were al nyght Wythout mete or drynke, I you plyght; Iosian on the morowe hungred sore And vnto Beuys complayned therfore. Beuys sayde to Bonyface: Line 2157 'Kepe here Iosian in this place, And I wol on this hyl go, If I may any beste slo, Line 2160 That we may on the coles cast, For Iosyan may nat wel fast!' Forthe went Beuys in that stounde Wyth hym he led a gode grehounde.

Than, whan syr Beuys went them fro, Into the caue cam lyons two, Line 2166 Grennynge and rampynge wyth theyr fete, And bothe on Bonyface gan they lepe; His hors vnto hym he droughe And armed hym wel ynoughe; He gaue them batayle for to fyght, But al to lytel was his myght, For anone they hym slewe Line 2173 And hym and his hors al to-gnewe. Whan they had eten of that man They went bothe vnto Iosian Line 2176 [O folio 38a] And layde theyr hedes in hyr barme, But they wolde do hyr no harme, For it is the lyons kynde, I-wys, A kynges doughter, that mayden is, Hurt nor harme none to do; Therfore lay these lyons so. Line 2182 Whan Beuys cam from huntynge, In the caue, at the begynnynge, [begynnyge (!) O.] As he went in-warde for the nonys, He sawe a man gnawen al to the bones;

Into the caue than went he, Line 2187 To se, what case there myght be; Iosian sat in moche dout And two lyons hyr about. 'Gode syr,' sayde Iosian tho, Line 2191 'Come venge me of these lyons two, For ryght nowe haue they slayne Bonyface, my chamberlayne; The one lyon wyl I holde, Line 2195 Whyle ye make the other colde!' About the necke she toke the one, But Beuys bad hyr lat hym gone: 'I say, Iosian, let them ben! Line 2199 I se, thou art a mayden clene: What maystry is it, them to slo, In bondes whan thou holdest them so? Late them come to me both, Line 2203 Or ellys, forsothe, I wol be lothe!' She lete go the lyon, wythout mys. And bothe they assayled syr Beuys. [O folio 38b] Stronge and perylous was that fyght Bytwene the lyons and the knyght;

They gaue hym woundes longe & wyde And tare his armour on euery syde. Beuys loked on Iosian, Line 2211 And suche a confort toke he than,

That, thoughe the lyons were grym and lothe, Line 2213 At one stroke he slewe them both. For Bonyface ful wo was he, [O folio 39a] But whan he sawe, no bote wolde be, He toke vp Iosian in that tyde And on his way forth gan ryde. Line 2218 They had nat ryden but a whyle, Nat the mountenaunce of a myle, But they met wyth a geant Line 2221 Wyth ful sory semblant. This geant was bothe myghty & stronge And fully thrytty fote longe; [lenge O.] He was brysteled lyke a sowe, Line 2225 A fote he had bytwene eche browe,

His lyppes were great & hanged syde, His iyen were holowe, his mouth was wyde. Line 2228 Lothely he was to loke on than And lyker a deuyl than a man. His staf was a yonge oke, Harde and heuy was his stroke. Line 2232 Beuys wondred on hym ryght And hym enquyred, what he hyght, And if al the men of his cuntre Were as myghty and great as he. 'My name,' he sayde, 'is Ascaparde, Syr Grassy sent me hyder-warde, For to brynge you home agayne, And nowe I am very fayne, Line 2240 That I haue you here founde, For bothe togeder ye shal be bounde; Than shal I lede you to Mambraunt Wyth a ful sory semblaunt!' Line 2244 [O folio 39b] 'Yet,' sayde Beuys, 'thou mayst fayle: I shal fyrst sle the in batayle!' Of Arundel downe he lyght And toke hym to Iosian the bryght;

Than Beuys wyth a bolde hart Line 2249 Wyth Morglay assayled Ascaparde; Bytwene them two was great fyght, Syr Beuys was bothe nemble and wyght And start away from his dynt, Whan Ascaparde at hym dyd mynt. If his hart shulde haue brast, Line 2255 He coude no stroke on Beuys fast, For, had he hyt syr Beuys onys, He wolde haue broken al his bonys. [his his (!) O.] Beuys skypped here and thore Line 2259 And gaue hym woundes wyde and sore; Than Ascaparde was ful wo And smote at syr Beuys tho, He smote, to hyt syr Beuys crowne, His fote fayled and he fel downe, And or that he aryse myght, Line 2265 Beuys was redy wyth his swerde bryght, To haue smyten of his hede, But Iosyan dyd it forbede: Line 2268 'Syr,' she sayde, 'ye shal hym saue And late hym lyue and be your knaue!' 'Dame,' he sayde, 'he wyl vs betray!' 'I wyl be borowe,' she sayde, 'nay!' Ascaparde made Beuys homage Line 2273 And in that place becam his page. Than went they forthe al thre, [O folio 40a] Tyl they cam to the se; A dromonde fonde they redy thare, Into crystendome for to fare; Line 2278 There were Sarazyns great plente, That letted Beuys therin to be.

Whan Ascaparde harde of that, Anone he toke hym to his bat Line 2282 ¹ And droue them out wyth moche harme And bare Arundel vnder his arme; Beuys and Iosian to shyp he bare And drewe vp the sayle & made them fare. Line 2286 They sayled forth, soth to sayne, Unto the hauen of Coleyne. Beuys went into the londe, And sone a frende there he fonde: The bysshop of that towne, parcas, To syr Beuys besyb was. Line 2292 Syr Beuys gret wel the bysshop bolde, And, what he was, to hym he tolde. Than was the bysshop wel apayde: 'My dere cosyn, welcome!' he sayde; 'That I you se, I am ful fayne: Line 2297 Sothly, I wende, ye had ben slayne! Whens,' he sayde, 'is this lady shene?' Beuys sayde: 'Of hethenes a quene;

For hyr I suffred moche peyne, Line 2301 And she wolde become crysten fayne!' 'What is,' sayde he, 'this bad vysage?' 'Syr,' sayde Beuys, 'he is my page: I pray you crysten hym also, Line 2305 Thoughe he be bothe blacke and blo!' The bysshop crystened Iosian, That was as whyte as any swan; For Ascaparde was made a tonne, And whan he shulde therin be done, He lept out vpon the brenche Line 2311 And sayde: 'Churle, wylt thou me drenche? The deuyl of hel mot fetche the: [O folio 41a] I am to moche, crystened to be!' The folke had gode game and loughe, But the bysshop was wrothe ynoughe.

Beuys is nowe in Coleyne londe Thoroughe myght of Crystes honde; Line 2318 There he gate great renowne For the sleynge of a dragowne; For whan syr Launcelot du Lake Line 2321 Faught wyth the brennynge drake,

Guy of Warwycke, I vnderstonde, Slewe a dragon in Northumberlonde; But suche a dragon was neuer sene, As syr Beuys slewe, I wene. Line 2326 Beuys went to bed a nyght With moche ioy and torches bryght, And after hys fyrst slepynge He herde a ruful cryenge; Line 2330 The voyce sayde in his crye: 'Lorde Iesu, haue on me mercy! I rotte,' he sayde, 'bone by bone, My deth is comynge me vpon!' Line 2334 Beuys had therof great sorowe And asked men there on the morowe, He asked them, what was that crye, [aske O.] They answered and tolde hym why; They sayde, it was a noble knyght, That was stronge and bolde in fyght, And as he rode out of the towne, He met wyth a fel dragon, Line 2342 [O folio 41b] That hath venym vpon hym throwe, There lyeth the knyght al to-blowe;

And I shal tel you al the cas, Howe of the dragon the comynge was. In Calaber, as men tel, Line 2347 Were two dragons great and fel, These two dragons there dyd fyght Seuen yere bothe day and nyght, They destroyed both man and beste On euery syde, bothe west and este. There was a man in that londe, Line 2353 That was ful of goddys sonde; He prayed vnto god aboue, That he wolde for his moders loue Delyuer out by his holy grace Line 2357 These two dragons out of that place. Than these two dragons downe fel, They had no power there to dwel. Than flewe they to Tuskayne, Line 2361 Many men there haue they slayne, From Tuskayne vnto Lumbardye, There they dyd great velany. The one dragon, by goddys dome, Flewe vnto the court of Rome; Line 2366

Line 2366 He there rested his cursed bonys, In seuen yere he styreth nat onys; Men say, he is there yet, Line 2369 Enclosed wyth clerkes wyt. The other dragon, I vnderstonde, Flewe hyder to Coleyne londe; Wythin a clyue there lyeth he, [clyue] myle O.] [O folio 42a] But a myle from the se; Line 2374 In Coleyne londe al about They haue of hym great dout. That dragon was here this nyght And hath destroyed the foresayde knyght. Line 2378

Line 2378 'Lorde Iesu Cryst,' sayde Beuys tho, 'May no man that dragon slo?' Line 2380 'Nay,' they sayde, 'wythout fable, Al crystendome were nat able;

But if Myghel from heuen come downe, Shal no man sle that dragon!' Line 2384 Beuys called Ascaparde hym to And asked hym, what was best to do; He sayde: 'Wylt thou wyth me go And assay, that dragon for to slo? Parchaunce, if we wyth hym fyght, We shal hym sle wyth goddys myght!' 'I am redy,' sayde Ascaparde, 'I the hyght: Line 2391 Haue do and go we thyder ryght!' Beuys hym armed and forth gan ryde And Ascaparde by his syde. Line 2394 Whan they were out of the cyte And nere the place, where they shulde be, The dragon kest vp a yelle, That it wolde haue frayed the deuyl of hel. Line 2398 Ascaparde sayde wyth heuy chere: 'Herest thou, mayster, what I here?' 'Yes,' sayde Beuys, 'haue no dout, The dragon is nere here about; Line 2402

Line 2402 Boldly to hym shal we go, [O folio 42b] Line 2403 Wyth goddys grace we shal hym slo!' Beuys rode forth a fast pase, Where he thought the dragon was. 'Forsoth, syr,' sayde Ascaparde tho, 'I wyl agayne home-warde go, Line 2408 For I wolde not for al pany Se the deuyl, that made that crye!' 'What deuyl,' sayde Beuys, 'art thou so mad? Line 2411 I wende, no thynge myght make the adrad; For shame shalt thou aferde be Of any thynge, or thou it se?' 'Syr,' he sayde with heuy chere, Line 2415 'I wyl hym neyther se nor here!' 'Wel,' sayde Beuys, 'wylt thou so, I shal hym sle, or that I go!' Line 2418 Ascaparde ferther wolde nought, But Beuys rode forthe and sought, And whan the dragon, that foule is, Had a syght of syr Beuys, He cast vp a loude crye, As it had thundred in the skye; Line 2424 He tourned his bely agaynst the sonne, Whyche was as great as any tonne; His skales bryghter were than glasse And moche harder than any brasse; Bytwene his shulders and his tayle Was XL fote, wythouten fayle. Line 2430 He weltred out of his denne, Beuys pryked his stede then And to hym a spere he thrast, [O folio 43a] That al to sheuers it brast. Line 2434

Line 2434 Than dyd the dragon Beuys assayle And so sore smote hym wyth hys tayle, That to the grounde he hym cast And two of his rybbes he brast. Line 2438 Up stert Beuys wyth gode wyl And after ranne the dragon tyl; Than gode Morglay out he brayde And on the dragon fast he layde, But for no stroke, that he dyd smyte, Wolde nat Morglay on hym byte. The dragon was agreued sore Line 2445 And smote at Beuys more and more; There had he many a great wounde And often was felled to the grounde; What for wery and what for faynt, Syr Beuys was nerehande attaynt. Line 2450 The dragon sued on Beuys so harde, That, as he shulde haue fled bacwarde, There was a wel, so haue I wynne, And Beuys stumbled ryght therin; Than was Beuys aferde and wo, Line 2455 Lest the dragon wolde hym slo, Or that he myght away pas. Whan he in that wel was, Line 2458 Than was that wel of suche vertue Thoroughe the myght of Cryste Iesu, For som tyme dwelled in that londe A vyrgyn full of goddys sonde, Line 2462 That had ben bathed in that wel, [O folio 43b] That neuer after, as men tel, Myght venymous beste com therin, By the vertue of that vyrgyn, Line 2466 Nor nere it by seuen fote and more; Than was Beuys glad wythout sore. Whan Beuys sawe, the dragon fel Had no myght, to come nere that wel, Than was he glad, wythout fayle, Line 2471 And rested hym there for hys auayle.

Than of that water he dranke his fyl And than lept out wyth gode wyl, And wyth Morglay, his bryght bronde, He assayled the dragon, I vnderstonde. Upon the dragon he smote so fast, Where euer he hyt, the skales brast. The dragon was ataynt sore Line 2479 And cast a galon and more Out of his mouthe of venym stronge, And on Beuys he it flonge; It was so venymous, I-wys, Line 2483 That, whan it was on syr Beuys, Al his armour brake that stounde, And Beuys fel dede to the grounde; There was no lyfe in hym sene, But lay as dede vpon the grene. Line 2488 The dragon smote Beuys, wythout fayle, That he turned hym top ouer tayle, But therof toke he no kepe, He lay as dede man on slepe; Line 2492 He smote Beuys, as I you tel, [O folio 44a] That he tumbled into the wel; That was of great vertue that tyme, For it wolde suffer no venyme, Line 2496 Thoroughe vertue of that vyrgyn That somtyme was bathed therin. Whan Beuys was at the wellys grounde, The water made hym hole and sounde And quenched the venym away, Line 2501 That wel saued hym that day. Whan Beuys felt hym hole and lyght And wyst that wel of so great myght, Than was he a ioyful man Line 2505 And was as fresshe, as whan he began. Than kneled he downe, the sothe to say, To Iesu Cryste gan he pray, That he wolde sende hym myght, To sle the dragon in that fyght. Line 2510

Line 2510 Beuys blessyd hym & forthe rode, He lept forth wyth hart ful gode. Than to the dragon he hyed is, Line 2513 And also the dragon to syr Beuys; Longe and harde was the fyght Bytwene the dragon and the knyght, But whan syr Beuys was hurt sore, He went to the wel & wesshed hym thore; Line 2518 He was as hole and sounde than As he was, when he began. The dragon sawe, it myght nat auayle, Besyde that wel to holde batayle; He thought, he wolde by some wyle [O folio 44b] Of that place Beuys begyle; He wolde haue flowen than away, Line 2525 Out Beuys lept after wyth gode Morglay And hyt the dragon vnder the wynge, Ryght as he was fleynge. Line 2528 There was he tender wythout skale, So Beuys thought, to be his bale; He smote after, as I you say, Wyth his swerde, gode Morglay, Line 2532 That in vnto the hyltes it yode, Thoroughe hert, lyuer, bone and blode, That to the grounde the dragon fel. Than gladder was Beuys, than tunge coude tel. Line 2536 Under the skale al on hyght The dragons hede he smote of ryght, And stake it vpon his spere, Out vnethys he myght it bere. Line 2540 Than towarde Coleyne he went that tyde Wyth moche ioy, myrthe and pryde. Whan they of the cyte sawe Beuys Come wyth the dragons hede, I-wys, Al the bellys gan they rynge. Line 2545 Prestes & clerkes agayne hym dyd synge. They brought Beuys so into the towne Wyth fayre processyon & great renowne.

Than was Beuys in great honoure, Euery man had hym in fauour; Line 2550 In euery londe he praysed was And welcomed to euery place. Fayne was the bysshop tho, [O folio 45a] That syr Beuys had borne hym so.

Beuys went vpon a day Line 2555 To the bysshops chamber, where he lay, And sayde: 'Syr, what is your rede? I wolde go venge my faders dede Of that wycked felon, Line 2559 That slewe my fader wyth treason; If I myght fynde auauntage, To wyn agayne myn herytage: Line 2562 Syr, ye be my faders broder, And syr Sabere is the other; Of you two wolde I haue counsayle, For, certys, that thefe wyl I assayle!' 'Syr,' sayde the bysshop anon ryght, 'Syr Saber is a doughty knyght; For euery yere a day certayne Line 2569 He fyghteth thy stepfader agayne Wyth great baronage, For to wynne thyn herytage. Line 2572 An hundreth men shalt thou haue of me, At thy nede for to socour the. Therfore go thou to Sabere ryght, For he is in the yle of Wyght!'

'I thanke you,' sayde Beuys, 'verely, But late these men be sone redy!' Syr Beuys anon rode than Line 2579 And toke his leue at Iosyan; He sayde: 'My lady, I must go, To be auenged on my fo, Line 2582 For to wyn into my honde [O folio 45b] Myn herytage and my londe, And here styl shalt thou be, And Ascaparde shal byde wyth the. Ye shal haue, or I wende, Line 2587 Money ynoughe for to spende!' Iosyan sawe, it wolde be so, She kyssed hym and forth gan go, Forth went Beuys wyth his route Of hardy men hym about, Line 2592 That the bysshop hym gaue, So longe on the se they draue, Tyl they cam to a towne, Line 2595 But two myle from South-hampton.

Beuys sayde to his men tho: 'Is here any, that wyl go Unto syr Murdour of Almayne, Line 2599 And say, here is come a Brytayne, And doughty knyghtes, wythout dis|tauncee, The best of al the royalme of Fraunce, And say, we come into this londe, For we be done to vnderstande, Line 2604 That there shulde be great warre and fyght Bytwene hym and another knyght; And if he wol vs wyth hym holde, We wol defende hym as barons bolde, And if he wol nat do so, Line 2609 We wol to the other ga?' A knyght went forth on that message, That gentel was of his langage; Line 2612 Whan he cam to the castel gate, [O folio 46a] The porter lete hym in therat; Line 2614 Wnto syr Murdour was he lad, He tolde hym, as syr Beuys bad. [He] And O.]

Syr Murdour than was ful fayne, Line 2617 He rose vp and went hym agayne, And brought syr Beuys into the hal And ful fayre welcomed them al. Beuys was syr Murdours fere, Forsoth, that nyght at soupere; Line 2622 His owne moder, wythout lesynge, Made syr Beuys great festynge. Murdour asked hym, what he hyght; 'Iarrarde,' he sayde, 'syr, I you plyght!' 'Iarrarde,' he sayde, 'I-wys, Line 2627 This countes had I or thys, An Erle hyr had, or I hyr wed, He gate a chylde on hyr in bed. Line 2630 Whan the erle to dethe was brought, The boy anon wexed ryght nought; For his fader was of symple blode, The boy neuer drewe to gode. Line 2634 So whan the boy cam to age, He solde to me his heritage, He spent the syluer with moche blame And went out of this londe for shame. Nowe cometh his eame, an hardy knyght, Line 2639 That dwelleth in the yle of Wyght,

And chalangeth his heritage Line 2641 Wyth ful great baronage And oft tymes wyth his great rout [O folio 46b] Destroyeth our londe al about. Line 2644 This is the cause, Syr Iarrarde, That we warre togeder so harde.' Whan syr Murdour had al sayde, Beuys sate styl & was euyl apayde; He sayde: 'Lorde, whether shal I slo This fals traytour, or I go?' Line 2650 'Nay,' he sayde, 'and reason, why: It wolde turne me to velany, For men myght wene be reason, That I hym slewe by gyle and treason; It wolde turne me to cowardyse, If I slewe hym in this wyse; Line 2656 I wyl hym nat here assayle, But I shal hym sle in playne batayle.' Whan Beuys a whyle had sytten styl, 'Syr,' he sayde, 'wol ye here my skyl? I haue hyder company brought, But in armour be they nought; Line 2662 They myght none armour wyth them lede, But if it noyed them, as they yede; And fewe horses, I-wys, haue we, We lete for cariage of the se: Line 2666 Lene me horse & armour then, Bothe for me & al my men, Let vs haue shyppynge to, And we shal to that yle go; Line 2670

Line 2670 This nyght I wyl lyue and dye On hym, that is thyn ennemye, And so wythin a lytel whyle [O folio 47a] Ye shal here a quaynt gyle!' Line 2674 Syr Murdour dyd, as Beuys hym bede, And lent his men armour and stede; He ordeyned them shyppynge gode And than brought Beuys vnto the flode. Than sayled they forth ryght, Line 2679 Tyl they cam to the yle of Wyght. Sabere out of his castel lay And harde moche noyse & great aray, He sawe, a shyp to londe was pyght Wyth an hundred hedes wyth helmes bryght; Line 2684

Line 2684 He had great wonder, what they were, But Beuys displayed his baner there, [dyplayed (!) O.] For to make syr Sabere chere Line 2687 Of hys fader, syr Guyes, armere, For many a tyme there beforne Were those armes in batayle borne. Sabere knewe the conysaunt, Line 2691 And therfore made he gode semblaunt, He sayde: 'Certys, I vnderstande, That yonder is Beuys come to lande!' Sabere went thyder in haste, Line 2695 There as the shyp was made fast; He welcomed Beuys, I-wys, And eyther gan other kysse. He thanked god of his grace, Line 2699 That Beuys was come into that place. Than forth went Beuys and Sabere Wyth theyre men al in fere; Line 2702 Beuys dyd his eame to wete, [O folio 47b] Howe his stepfader and he dyd mete,

And Beuys asked forth wyth than, If that there were any man, Line 2706 That durst go as hote Unto Hampton in a bote 'And tel to syr Murdour ryght, That I am no frenche knyght, Line 2710 Nor he hyght nat syr Iarrarde, That made wyth hym that forwarde, But say, it was Beuys of renowne, The ryght heyre of South-hampton, And say, his countesse is my dame: The deuyl gyue them bothe shame! And say, I wyl auenged be Line 2717 Of that they dyd to my fader and me; And who so wyl this for me do, Wythout rewarde he shal nat go!' Up start a knyght wyth bolde vysage And vndertoke that same message; He armed hym also hot Line 2723 And was brought ouer in a bote. Whan he cam to the other syde, Unto the castel gan he ryde; Line 2726

Line 2726 He fonde syr Murdour at his soupere Wyth gode semblant and great chere. The knyght vpon his kne hym set, And curtesly syr Murdour he gret, He sayde: 'Syr Murdour, I the brynge Suche a certayne tydynge, Line 2732 [O folio 48a] That the knyght hyght nat Iarrarde, That made wyth the that forwarde, But he hyght Beuys of Hampton, He is thy ladyes owne sonne: Line 2736 I harde hym so to Sabere speke, His faders deth he wyl awreke And wyn agayne hys heritage Of them, that haue done hym outrage!' Whan syr Murdour herde that worde, He cast his knyfe ouer the borde, To haue hit the messangere, Line 2743 But he fayled, as ye may here, And smote his owne son in the brest, That he spake neuer wyth clerke nor preste. Line 2746

Line 2746 Than arose a noys and a crye, The messanger dyd hym thens hye, For it was nat gode, to byde there longe, Line 2749 Therfore he lept out them amonge. Than fayre and wel he gan hym dyght, Tyl he come to the yle of Wyght; He tolde syr Bèuys and syr Sabere, Howe syr Murdour sat at soupere, And his owne son for Ire he sloughe; Beuys therat had game and loughe, And gaue the messangere for his ty|dynge Line 2757 Syxty florens of rede golde shynynge. Late we of Beuys be styl than [O folio 48b] And speke we nowe of Iosyan, Line 2760 That in Coleyne dwelled styl; There she had nat al hyr wyl. Line 2762 There dwelled an erle, called Myle, In the londe of Coleyne that whyle; To Iosyan his loue he cast And wowed hyr wonder-fast, [wondr O.] Line 2766 But al his speche turned to nought, For he coude nat chaunge hyr thought.

The erle was wroth in his manere, For she made hym no better chere; Than in ire downe he hym set Line 2771 And to Iosian spake wordes gret: 'I wyl do wyth the my wyl, Wheder it lyke the wel or yl!' 'Syr,' sayde Iosyan: 'thy boste late be: I drede the nat, so mot I the, Line 2776 For if thou go to the harde, I affye me in Ascaparde!' 'Certys,' than thought the erle Myle: 'I shal Ascaparde begyle!' Line 2780 Whan he sawe, he myght nat spede, Up he rose and forthe he yede; He made a letter be wryten ryght, On this maner it was dyght, From Beuys, as the letter wolde, That Ascaparde come sholde Line 2786 Unto a castel, that stode in an yle; It was from Coleyne but a myle. [O folio 49a] Whan Ascaparde herde that sonde, He toke his great staf in his honde

And went forth with that messangere In great haste, tyl he cam there. Whan Ascaparde was within, Line 2793 The messangere was quaynt of gynne; Wythin he left Ascaparde And locked the gates after hym harde; Than rowed he to londe agayne Line 2797 And tolde syr Myle of that trayne. Than had erle Myle of no thynge drede, To Iosian agayne he yede; Line 2800 He sayde: 'Iosian, make no mone, For Ascaparde is fro the gone: In a castel within the se Locked fast, forsoth, is he!' Line 2804 Than was Iosian nat wel apayde, She called a messanger & to hym sayde: 'Go thou to shyp this same nyght And passe forthe to the yle of Wyght, And byd syr Beuys, for any thynge Come to me wythout lettyng, Line 2810 If he wyl haue me on lyue: Wherfore I pray the, go belyue; Thy rewarde I shal the pay, Spede the thyder wythout delay!' The messanger went on his way, There was no more to say. Line 2816 So Myles sone after than Cam agayne to Iosian [O folio 49b] And fyrst wolde haue lyne hyr by; 'I pray the, syr,' she sayde, 'mercy,

For I haue sworne by goddys payne, That I shal neuer be belayne, Thoughe I therfore shulde lese my lyfe, Tyl I be a wedded wyfe: Line 2824 If thou wylt me spouse & wed, I wyl go wyth the to bed!' 'Gladly, Iosyan!' than sayde he, 'To morowe shal we wedded be!' [be] de (!) O.] He kyssed hyr anon, as ryght is, And sende after barons & knyghtes, That were of his pryuyte, Line 2831 At his weddynge for to be, For he wolde wed hyr pryuely, In the mornynge erly. Line 2834 Erly on the mornynge he forgat nought, Bothe they were to the churche brought; The erle gan Iosian wed Both to borde and to bed. Line 2838 Whan the weddynge was al done, By than it was hye none; Erles and barons sone were set Line 2841 And ryche metes forthe were fet, Ther lacked none, verely, Of ryche metes and mynstrelsy. Whan it drewe towarde nyght, A ryche souper there was dyght, Line 2846

Line 2846 And after that, verament, Line 2847 The knyght and she to chamber went. [O folio 49**] Uppon her bedde where as she sat, The erle came to her with that, With barons a great company, Line 2851 With pimente and with spisery; Whan they had dronken the wyne, 'Syr,' sayd Iosian, 'fayre loue myne, Let no person herein be, Line 2855 This night to here our preuite, Neyther knight, mayden nor swayne; My selfe shalbe your chamberlayne!' He sayd: 'Lemman, it shalbe so!' Both man & maiden he made out go,

He shet the dore well and fast, Line 2861 And set hym downe at the last. There was a curtayne, as it was lawe, Before the bed it was drawe; Than on her gyrdel, withouten lesinge, Se made a knot rydyng, Line 2866 About his necke she drewe it thore And strangled him, withouten more. Than on a beme she hanged him hye, And let him ther fore his fole. Line 2870 The night passed in that wyse, The barons began for to ryse, Some on hunting & some to þe church, An workemen rose to worche. Line 2874

Line 2874 The halfe day passed, withouten fayle, The barons had of him maruayle. Some said: 'Let him be styll, Of Iosian he hath his will!' Line 2878 The mydday went, it drew to none, A baron spake then sone: 'I maruyle,' he sayd, 'how may this be? I wyll go to the chamber and se!' He smote the dore with his fot so fast, That all to peces he it brast; Line 2884 'Aryse,' he sayde, 'thou erle Myle, For thou hast slept a great whyle: Thy head aketh, wot I well, Thou hast nede of a caudell!' Line 2888 'Nay,' sayd Iosian, 'I vndertake, His head shall neuer more ake: I haue charmed him from that sore, That his head shall ake no more;

Nowe haue I quitte his weddinge, Yonder mayst thou se him hinge. He shall neuer woman spyll: Line 2895 Do with me what soeuer ye wyll!' All they made great sorowe; That other day on the morowe Se was dight, verament, In a tonne to be brente. Line 2900 Without the towne was set a stake, A great fyre gan they make. In a castel lay Ascaparte, Line 2903 And ouer þe wal loked thederwarte, And had great wonder, truely, What that fyre might signify. Line 2906 Than he thought him in his hert tho, That Iosian was brought in some wo. [O folio 49*a] Of the castel, that he was in loken, A turret he had al to-broken; He was so wo and so wode, That he lept into the flode, Line 2912

Line 2912 And fast by hym also hote Line 2913 Cam a fyssher wyth his bote. Than Ascaparde toke the bote in hande And rowed hym selfe to the londe; [vowed (!) O.] Towarde the folke fast gan he loke, Beuys cam after and hym ouertoke; He sayde: 'Thefe, where haste thou bene? Line 2919 Why kepest thou no better my quene?' 'Syr Beuys, lorde, mercy,' he sayde, 'The Erle Myle had me betrayde!' Towarde the fyre they hyed them blyue, The preste, that dyd Iosyan shryue, Crystys blessynge haue he amonge, For that he taryed hyr so longe! Whan the fyre was al redy, Line 2927 In hyr smocke she stode therby. Ryght as they shulde hyr brenne, On Arundel Beuys gan renne, Line 2930 And in his hande gode Morglay, But Ascaparde went by another way.

Than al, that Beuys about hyr founde, He slewe and felled to the grounde. There was neyther knyght nor swayne, That passed away that tyme vnslayne, And al made the fals erle Myle By his treason and his gyle. Line 2938 Beuys toke wyth hym than [O folio 49*b] Bothe Ascaparde and Iosian And went forth anone ryght, Line 2941 Tyl they cam to the ile of Wyght. Syr Sabere welcomed wyth gode hert Both Beuys, Iosyan and Ascaparde. Than Beuys and Sabere sende theyr sonde [O folio 50a] Wyde about in euery londe. Line 2946 After great chyualry Of stalworth knyghtes and hardy, That they myght fynde then Of euery londe the doughtyest men. They spared neyther syluer nor golde, For the best men haue they wolde. Beuys was curtes and fre Line 2953 To euery man in his degre; There cam erles and barons, I-wys, For to socour syr Beuys; Line 2956 There came knyghtes, squyers & pages, Echone had of hym gode wages

And ryche gyftes more and lesse, Eche man after his doughtynesse. Therfore eche man vnto hym sought, He toke and left, what hym best thought; Line 2962 Euer he chase hym of the beste, That he coude fynde eyther este or west. Syr Murdour, moche sorowe made he, Whan he sawe, Beuys had suche a meyne; Line 2966 The countesse sayde: 'Drede ye nought, Of gode counsel I am bethought: Ye shal sende, in certayne After the power of Almayne, Line 2970 Also ye shal sende your sonde After my fader into Skotlonde, He wyl come to you redely Wyth a ful great company, Line 2974 And we may haue many mo [O folio 50b] Out of Englonde and Wales also: Wherfore shulde ye drede then, Whyle ye may haue so many men? If Beuys se, you haue suche a rout, He wyl fle away for dout!' Line 2980 Syr Murdour dyd by hyr counsayle, The messanger went, wythout fayle. Than afterwarde, without lesynge, To Hampton cam both prynce & kynge;

Ther cam wyth the kynge of Skotlande The noumber of seuen thousande, There cam out of Almayne Line 2987 Wyth syr Moryce of Vyayne Syx thousande wyth helmes bryght And wel armed for to fyght, And syr Murdour had also Line 2991 Thre thousande hym selfe and mo. 'Nowe, lordynges,' sayd syr Murdour, 'That hyther be come me to socour, Oft ye have herde speke, parde, Line 2995 Of the stryfe bytwene Sabere and me. Nowe is come to helpe hym to fyght Syr Beuys of Hampton, a noble knyght; Wel I wende, he had ben dede: Line 2999 What is therfore your best rede? He threteneth me to be slayne And that he wyl wynne his londe agayne; Line 3002 A geant wyth hym hathe he brought, Erthely man semeth he nought, Neyther of flesshe nor of fel, [O folio 51a] For he is lyke the deuyl of hel; Men cal hym Ascaparde about, Line 3007 Of hym, forsoth, I haue great dout.

Lordynges,' he sayde, 'arme you wele Both in iren and in stele: Line 3010 Thoughe Ascaparde be neuer so starke, Many handes make lyght warke!' Whan they were al armed and dyght, They shypped to the ile of Wyght. Al the yle was bespred Line 3015 Wyth the power, that syr Murdour led. Syr Sabere loked out at a toure And sawe the oste of syr Murdour;

Then smartly downe gan he go, For to tel syr Beuys so; Line 3020 He sayde: 'Beuys, by my counsayle I trowe, it shulde vs best auayle, Within this castel to holde vs styl And to defende vs from al yl; Line 3024 For suche an oste as hath Murdour, Sawe I neuer in no stour!' 'Do way, Sabere,' sayde Beuys tho, 'For if they were as many mo, Line 3028 Agaynst vs shulde they haue no myght: They haue the wronge, and we the ryght. Haste you, lordynges,' Beuys gan crye, 'That ye were armed hastely, Line 3032 And ye shal haue, syr Sabere, Thre thousande vnder your banere, And as many shal I lede [O folio 51b] Line 3035 Of doughty men and gode at nede, For I wyl haue the forewarde.' And than he sayde to Ascaparde: 'Thou shalt byde behynde, truly, Wyth thre thousande of men hardy, And whan we haue medled a stounde And echone brought other to grounde, Whan the batayle is moste stronge, Hye he thyder and dwel nat longe, For thre thousande of fresshe men Gode dedys shal do then!' Line 3046 Than Beuys gan his horne blowe, That his men myght hym knowe;

By that blowynge knewe syr Murdour, That they gadred to that stour; He sayde: 'Lordynges, wythouten fayle, Line 3051 Nowe come oure ennemyes to batayle: Be ye hardy and stout also, For we be as many mo!' Two batayles gan they make, Line 3055 The kynge of Skotlonde the one gan take; Syr Murdour the other lad, Line 3057 Eyther of them X thousande had. The fyrste, that of the castel cam out, Was syr Beuys wyth his rout, Line 3060 And Sabere wyth his company Cam after ful boldly; Eyther oste gan other defye, Than medled they ful cruelly. Line 3064

Line 3064 Than syr Morys of Vyayne [O folio 52a] Fast rode syr Sabere agayne; Syr Sabere defended hym, I-wys, And suche a stroke he gaue Morys, [haue (!) O.] That quyte away gan he cleue, Line 3069 Fro the shulder, arme and sleue. [For (!) O.] Afore the preas went syr Beuys, On eche syde he felled them downe, I-wys; There myght none armoure agaynst hym stonde. Line 3073 That sawe the kynge of Skotlonde, He preased forth wyth his rout And beset syr Beuys rounde about; Than began Beuys to play Line 3077 And to get hym rowme wyth gode Morglay; Yet wolde he nat stynt so, Tyl he went the kynge vnto, And suche a stroke he hym lent, Line 3081 That his hors on the grounde went. But suche socour cam tho, That Beuys must thens go, But or he was horsed agayne, Line 3085 Many of his men had Beuys slayne; Beuys thoroughe the preas dyd ryde And them ouerthrewe on euery syde, He wolde nat stynt in that stour, Tyl he cam to syr Murdour; Line 3090 'Traytour,' he sayde wyth great enuye, 'Turne the nowe, I the defye!' Whan Murdour sawe, he was so bested, He tourned his backe and wolde haue fled, Line 3094 [O folio 52b] And wyth gode Morglay after smote he; He fayled of hym, & that was pyte, For by his backe the stroke fel downe And hyt vpon hys sadyl cropowne; Yet wyth his stroke in that stounde He smote his hors vnto the grounde,

But than cam hastely socour Line 3101 And horsed agayne syr Mordour. Than boldly dyd he abyde, The people were slayne on euery syde. Beuys rode forth on Arundel, Line 3105 On euery syde he dyd them fel, Some lay bledynge as a bore, Some were so hyt, that they spake no more, Line 3108 Of some the lyppes he dyd so pare, That men myght se theyre tethe bare, None went vnmarked away, That Beuys hyt wyth Morglay, Line 3112 For sore agreued was he, Where Beuys had one, Murdour had thre, But Beuys and Sabere bare them so, That agayne one they slewe two. Line 3116 Whan the thronge was moste harde, Than cam in Ascaparde, Al on fote, as I you swere, For there myght no hors hym bere; Wyth a great staffe in his honde Line 3121 He slewe al downe, that he fonde. Whan Ascaparde cam wyth hys rout, Than was syr Murdour in great dout, For he brought wyth hym then [O folio 53a] Thre thousande of fresshe men Line 3126 And felled downe on euery syde And slewe al that wolde abyde. Great pyte it was, certayne, So many men as there were slayne. Aferde thay were of Ascaparde, Line 3131 For he smote so sore and harde, That thre thousand of them dyd fle And drowned them selfe in the se. Beuys called Ascaparde hym tyl Line 3135 And sayde: 'Felawe, here my skyl: Loke, that thou take gode hede Of hym, that rydeth on the whyte stede, And bere hym alyue into the tour, For that same is syr Murdour!' Line 3140

Line 3140 'Yes, syr,' sayde Ascaparde tho, 'We shal hym shryue, or we go!' Ascaparde, wyth his staue Many one his deth he gaue Line 3144 Wyth great strength and moche payne, He cam to syr Murdour of Almayne, And euen on his horse as he sat there, Under his arme he gan hym bere. Than began Murdoures men to hye, To rescue hym, that he shulde nat dye. The kynge of Skotlande with his rout Beset Ascaparde rounde about; Line 3152 Than syr Beuys and syr Sabere Cam to helpe hym wyth theyre power And slewe al that wolde stande, [O folio 53b] The noumber of thre thousande, Line 3156 And, maugre if they had sworne, Murdour was to the castel borne. The kynge of Skotlande sore dyd mourne, Line 3159 Whan Murdour was to the castel borne And many of his men were cast to grounde, He tourned his backe in that stounde. Than they wolde no lenger abyde, But slewe them downe on euery syde. Syr Beuys and syr Sabere Line 3165 Enchased them wyth theyre power, And so fast folowed he, That many were dryuen into the se, And al that euer stode them agayne, Wythout mercy they were slayne; Some lacked theyr shankes fro the kne, Some theyr hedes quartered in thre, Some into the se dyd skyp; Line 3173 The kynge of Skotlonde toke a shyp And fled away forthe by the west, There as it hym pleased best. Line 3176

Line 3176 Beuys and Sabere tourned agayne Into the castel glad and fayne; Line 3178 Syr Beuys, wythout any let, Made a caudron on the fyre be set Ful of pytche and of brymstone: A wors deth was neuer none. Line 3182 Whan the caudron boyled harde, Murdour was cast in the myd-warde. That deth dyed he, sykerly, [O folio 54a] For the deth of gode syr Guy. Therof harde the countasse, Line 3187 That syr Murdour dede was; She stode aboue in a toure, So wo she was for syr Murdour, Line 3190 That she fel downe & brake hyr necke: I beshrewe hym, that therfore doth recke. Whan syr Beuys tydynges herde Of his moder, howe she fared, Line 3194 As sory was he for hyr, As he was for his stepfader.

Sone after syr Beuys Come to South-hampton is, Line 3198 To take possession of his londes, That had ben longe out of his hondes; The burgeyses, wyth moche pryde Agaynst syr Beuys gan they ryde And brought syr Beuys fayre and wel To Hampton to his owne castel. Line 3204 Of Hampton al the baronage Cam and dyd Beuys homage. Than was Beuys glad and fayne, That he had his ennemyes slayne. Than Beuys, the soth to sayne, Line 3209 Sende after the bysshop of Coleyne, That he wolde for any thynge Come and be at his weddynge. Whan the bysshop was thyder come, Two knyghtes had Iosian nome; Line 3214 Unto the churche they hyr led, [O folio 54b] The bysshop on the boke redde And to Beuys hyr wedded blyue Unto the endynge of hyr lyue. Line 3218

Line 3218 Nowe hath Beuys couered hys estate; Two chyldren by hyr he gate Line 3220 The fyrst nyght togeder in fere, As ye shal hereafter here. Saber counsayled hym thare, Line 3223 To wende to London to kynge Edgare, [Edare O.] For to make homage, as ryght wolde, For his londes to chalange and holde. Syr Beuys dyd after counsaylynge And went hym forthe before the kynge And profered, to do hym homage, As ryght was, for his heritage. Line 3230 Kynge Edgare asked hym, what he hyght And what he claymed for his ryght; 'Syr,' he sayde, 'my name is Beuys; Therldom of Hampton it is, Line 3234 After my faders deth syr Guy, That was slayne for his lady Wyth syr Murdoure of Almayne; But thanked be god, nowe is he slayne!'

The kynge sayde: 'Beuys, I holde me payed, Line 3239 I graunt to al, that thou hast sayde!' The kynge toke his marchal by the hande And sayde: 'Delyuer me thy wande, For Guy, his fader, was my marchal, And so syr Beuys, hys son, shal!' The yerde to Beuys he taketh [O folio 55a] Line 3245 And his marchal he hym maketh.

Beuys is nowe of great myght And loued both of kynge and knyght, Wyth euery knyght, squyer and barowne, Beuys was loued vp and downe, For largely wolde he spende Line 3251 And gyftes both gyue and sende Line 3252 To euery man after his estate; Had no man cause, hym to hate; So curteys was he and so hende, That euery man was his frende, Saue syr Bryan of Cornewayle, Line 3257 He hated Beuys, wythouten fayle, For those offyces had Beuys, That sometyme were hys. In somer about wytsontyde, Line 3261 Whan knyghtes moste on hors ryde, A cours they cryed on a day, Stedes and palfrayes to assay, What hors that best myght ren; Thre myle the cours was then. Line 3266 Who fyrst cam to the ende, sholde Haue twenty pounde of redy golde.

Syr Beuys was apayde wel, Line 3269 For moche he trusted in Arundel. On the morne, whan it was lyght, Theder cam bothe baron and knyght Wyth fayre stedes and moche pryde, That on that cours wolde ryde. Line 3274 Two knyghtes were stolen before, [O folio 55b] A large halfe myle and more, That none of theyre felawes yt wote; [yt] dyd (!) O.] But Beuys wyth his sporys his hors smote, Line 3278 On Arundel, so sayth the boke, In the myd way he them ouertoke. He had ryden the cours within a whyle, Or they thought, he had ryden a myle.

Nowe hath Beuys the golde wonne Thoroughe Arundel, that wel had ronne, Therfore wyth that & another del He made the castel of Arundel. Line 3286 They praysed the hors in that cas, For he so swyft and lusty was. The kynges sonne and his ayre Thought the hors both gode and fayre, Unto syr Beuys anon he yede Line 3291 And sayde: 'I pray the, gyue me thy stede!' Line 3292 'Nay,' sayde Beuys, 'nat for no golde; But aske me ellys what ye wolde, At thy wyl thou shalt it haue, But Arundel do thou nat craue: Line 3296 For any prayer, that man may pray, Shal I neuer gyue Arundel away!'

The kynges son sawe, it coude nat auayle, Line 3299 To aske the stede, wythout fayle; Wythout any more fable, He went into syr Beuys stable, For he wolde the hors vntye, And cam a lytel ouer-nye, Line 3304 And Arundel also hote [O folio 56a] Wyth his hynder fote he smote, That he al to-brake his brayne: Thus was the kynges son slayne. Line 3308 There was dole and great wepynge; Whan tydynges cam vnto the kynge; Than the kynge, verament, Line 3311 Made to be set his parlament And began to ordayne, That syr Beuys shulde be slayne Line 3314 And wyth wylde bestes be drawe; But his barons wythstode that lawe, They sayde: 'To sle Beuys, it were no skyl, But Arundel shal be at thy wyl, Line 3318 For he slewe thy son so, But nought to Beuys may we do!'

'Nay,' sayde Beuys, 'for no catel Wolde I let sle Arundel, Line 3322 For he is gode in euery were; Yet had I leuer Englonde forswere!' Than spake syr Bryan of Cornewayle: 'Syr, this is our counsayle, Line 3326 That ye do one of the two!' 'I assent,' sayde Beuys tho, 'Before you al I gyue here Myn herytage to syr Sabere!' Line 3330 Syr Beuys delyuered vp the wande And so forsware Englande; A fortnyght respyte had he, For to passe out of the cuntre; Line 3334 And afterwarde myght be founde, [O folio 56b] He shuld be take & fast be bounde. On thys maner they were al one, And to Hampton he rode anone, And al togeder tolde he thore Line 3339 Of his case, bothe lesse and more: 'It is no lenger but hens to morne, For here may we no lenger soiourne!' Beuys and Iosian made them redy And toke theyre leue for to ferry. Sabers sonne, that hyght syr Terry, Beuys toke wyth hym for company. Ascaparde, that fals thefe, Line 3347 For hym was Beuys in moche grefe; He thought: 'If I dwel here, wythout fayle, I gete nought ellys but great trauayle;

If that I myght, by Tarmagant, Brynge Iosian to Mambraunt, Line 3352 Ryght welcome shulde I be it tyl And haue I-nough of my wyl!' This Ascaparde, fals was he, Line 3355 For Beuys was fallen in pouerte: Whan a man in pouertye is fal, Fewe frendys meteth he wythal. Line 3358

Line 3358

[O folio 57a] Forth dyd Beuys and Iosian ryde, Tyl they cam to a forest syde, And Iosyan, that was so mylde, Line 3361 In that wode trauayled of chylde. Beuys and Terry downe gan lyght And wyth theyre swerdes a lodge they dyght Line 3364 And brought Iosian therin, For they coude no better gyn. Syr Beuys dyd hyr seruyce bede, For to helpe hyr at hyr nede; Line 3368 'Gramarcy, syr,' she sayde, 'nay,' For goddys loue go hens away, Go and sport you wyth Terry [O folio 57b] And late me worke and our lady: Shal neuer womans pryuete To man be shewed for me!' Line 3374 Beuys and Terry forth went there, For they wolde nat hyr peynes here,

But Ascaparde toke another way, Line 3377 On treason thought the thefe ay. After that Beuys was gone hyr fro, She was delyuered of chyldren two. Whan Ascaparde harde this cas, That Iosyan delyuered was, Line 3382 To the lodge went he there, Line 3383 And Iosyan away dyd he bere, There myght no prayer hyr borowe; I wonder, hyr hert brast nat for sorowe, For he sware by Tarmagant, He wolde hyr lede to Mambrant. Line 3388

Line 3388 Whan Beuys had longe taryed, Line 3389 Agayne to the lodge he hym hyed; In the lodge fonde he no mo, But yonge male chyldren two; He wyst nat, what to do nor say, Line 3393 Whan he sowe, Iosyan was away; 'Alas,' than sayde syr Beuys, 'Ascaparde hathe done treason, I-wys!' Syr Beuys fel downe in a traunce, But Terry dyd hym vp enhaunce. Whan Beuys sawe, no better wolde be, His ryche mantel than toke he Line 3400 [O folio 58a] And wrapped the two chyldren therin, For they were somdel of his kynne.

No lenger there wolde he abyde, But toke his chyldren and forthe gan ryde. Line 3404 A foster in the wode he met, And syr Beuys fayre hym gret: 'Felawe,' sayde he to hym than, 'Sawest thou ought of suche a man Lede a woman by any way?' 'Syr,' sayde the foster, 'nay!' Line 3410 'What maner of man art thou, bache|lere?' 'Syr,' he sayde, 'I am a foster!' 'Wylt thou,' sayde Beuys, 'so Cryst the shylde, Line 3413 Do crysten here an hethen chylde? But ryght nowe was it borne, Ful erly it hathe the moder lorne, And kepe it but this seuen yere, Line 3417 For X marke, and haue it here?' 'Gladly!' sayde the foster tho; He toke the chylde & the golde also.

He sayde: 'What shal I cal hym, syr knyght?' Line 3421 Beuys sayde: 'Guy, as my fader hyght; And whan he is of seuen yere, In eche londe do thou enquere After syr Beuys of Hamptowne: My name is so, by my crowne, Line 3426 And brynge the chylde than to me, And wel rewarded shalt thou be!' 'Gladly, syr,' sayde he, 'I-wys!' He went his way & Beuys his. [O folio 58b] Forthe they rode, so sayth the boke; Another man they ouertoke; Line 3432 They asked, what maner a man was he; He sayde: 'A fyssher of the se!' Than Beuys wyth glad semblaunt Line 3435 Made wyth hym the same couenaunt, That he shulde in the same maner His other son kepe seuen yere. Line 3438 The fyssher graunted as Beuys sayde; He toke the chylde and helde hym apayde. Line 3440 After hym selfe in that whyle He crystened the chylde Myle. Forth rode Beuys bi dale and downe, Tyl he cam to a castel towne; Line 3444

Line 3444 He toke his Inne as a curteys knyght, And vnto souper he hym dyght. Line 3446 Than at a wyndowe as he loked out, He sawe in the strete rounde about Stedes trapped fayre and bryght, Line 3449 Dukes and erles and many a knyght, Out at the wyndowes on euery syde Armes were hanged fayre and wyde. Herodes gan the armes escrye, Line 3453 And therof Beuys maruayled greatly; He asked his oste therof tydynge; 'Syr,' he sayde, 'harde you no thynge Of the great Iustynge, that shal be Tomorowe here in this cyte? Line 3458 The dukes doughter and his eyre, She is a mayden gode and fayre, Hyr fader is nowe nere dede, [O folio 59a] Line 3461 Therfore it is gyuen hyr to rede, A great iustynge for to crye, And he, that may haue the maystry, Shal thys mayden haue to wyfe Line 3465 And al hyr londe wythouten stryfe!

Than sayde Beuys to Terry: 'Shal we iust for that lady?' Line 3468 'Yes,' sayde Terry, 'god forbede ellys, If it be soth, that he vs tellys!' Beuys gaue that man for his tydynge Of grotes twenty shelynge. Line 3472 On the morowe, whan it was day clere, Than arose bothe knyght and squyer; Fayre tokens dyd they on them throwe, Wherby the lady shulde them knowe. Syr Beuys and syr Terry Line 3477 Armed them ful hastely; Syr Beuys bare of colour poymant (!) A rede lyon of golde rampant. Than forthe rode Terry and he Line 3481 Thyder, where the iustynge shuld be.

The fayre lady Helyanour Ouer the castel lay that houre, Line 3484 And al the iustynge she behelde, What knyght hym bare best in the felde. Than these knyghtes began to ryde, Eche at other on euery syde. Line 3488 The fyrst knyght, that Beuys rode agayne, Was themperours son of Almayne, And Beuys at hym bare so fast, [O folio 59b] That hors and man to grounde he cast. The erle Florens forth gan thrynge Agaynst Beuys wyth great hastynge; Beuys met hym in the felde Line 3495 And hyt hym in myddes of the shelde, That two londe brede and more, He cast hym from his hors thore. Than rode forth the duke Antoyne, That than was duke of Burgoyne; He was stronge and great of pryce, And thus he sayde to syr Beuys: Line 3502 'Turne the, knyght, and make defence, For I wol venge the erle Florence!' Than wolde Beuys no lenger abyde, But smote Arundel vnder the syde; So harde eyther to other droue, Line 3507 That theyr speres al to-roue. But Beuys so harde to hym thrast, That his shulder bone al to-brast; Therof he was agreued sore, For that day myght he iust nomore. Than rode forth syr Terry Line 3513 To the kynges broder of Hungry And gaue to hym suche a rebowne, That both he and his hors fel downe. Than cam the erle Hamaut And to Terry made a saute, Line 3518 And Terry hyt hym in the shelde, That he bare hym into the felde. There was no knyght, verely, [O folio 60a] That myght wythstande Beuys nor Terry, Line 3522 But al the knyghtes for great enuy Them two assayled cruelly, And ful narowe them sought, But Beuis of Hampton spared nought; The stywarde of that same londe Line 3527 Beuys cast downe in myddys of the sonde.

Than loughe the lady Elyanore Line 3529 For the boste, that he made before, And many Beuys bare thoroughout, That of theyr lyfe they stode in dout. They stynted neuer, tyl it was nyght, That they wanted the day lyght; Line 3534 Than they left of theyr Iustynge, And on the morowe they harde tyd|ynge, That syr Beuys of Hamptowne Had wonne the laude and the re|nowne. Line 3538 Dame Helyanour wolde nat blynne, Tyl Beuys was brought to hyr Inne; She sayde: 'Syr, it is gyuen me to counsayle, Thou shalt me wed, wythouten fayle, Eyther to other terme of lyfe.' Line 3543 'Nay,' sayde Beuys, 'I haue a wyfe,' And tolde, howe she was stolne hym fro. Line 3545 Than sayde the lady: 'Sythe it is so, Thou shalt al this seuen yere Be my lorde in clene manere, And if thou fynde hyr nat by than, I wyl the haue before any man; Line 3550 And if in that tyme ye fynde your wyfe, [O folio 60b] I wol none husbonde durynge my lyfe: And loke, Beuys, if I say skyl!' 'Dame,' sayde Beuys, 'I holde me thertyl.' Line 3554 Thus was Beuys hyr gouernour And led that londe in great honour. As Sabere slept on a nyght in bed, Hym thought, that Beuys was bested Wyth Ascaparde, that was his swayne That he had Beuys nerehande slayne.

Whan he awaked, his hert was colde, Line 3561 His dreme vnto his wyfe he tolde. 'Syr,' she sayde, 'as I wene, Beuys is brought in some tene; Line 3564 As I trowe, syr, by. my lyfe, He hath lost outher chylde or wyfe, By Ascaparde, that fals thefe, Line 3567 Beuys is brought vnto some grefe.' Than sayde Sabere: 'I shal seke that syre.' Twelue knyghtes he dyd atyre Line 3570 In palmers wede, by saynt Iohn, Wel armed euerychone; They were armed sure and wel Both in yren and in stele. Line 3574 Forthe they went, both more and lesse, Tyl they came to hethenesse.

Whan Iosian was nere at Mambraunt, Iesu Cryst he hyr warrant! Line 3578 She met wyth Sabere in the vylage, And sayde: 'Palmer,' in hyr langage, 'I pray you of socour and rede: [O folio 61a] But ye me helpe, I am but dede.' Line 3582 'Certys, Iosyan,' sayde Sabere, 'Me lyketh wel, that ye be here, For of you, madame, verament, I shal make Beuys a present.' Line 3586 Than agreued was Ascaparde, For they assayled hym ful harde; They hym beset on euery syde, Line 3589 But there wolde none his dynt abyde. Fro his stroke away they dyd shone And start agayne as knyghtes anone And gaue hym great strokes and sore, For anger he fomed lyke a bore. Line 3594 Than as he smote after a knyght, Syr Sabere ran to hym ful ryght, And wyth his swerde, wythout dout, He bare Ascaparde thoroughout, Line 3598 That he fel dede to the grounde; Glad was Iosyan that stounde. Syr Sabere toke Iosyan, That was as whyte as any swan, Line 3602 Hyr body, that was so fayre and gent, He anoynted wyth an oyntment And made hyr to seme yelowe & grene, That before was fayre and shene, Line 3606

Line 3606 That no man shulde take hyr hym fro, Therfore he discolowred hyr so; Line 3608

Line 3608 And after that Beuys they sought, But tydynges of hym harde they nought. Line 3610 That wol be founde, founde shal be: [O folio 61b] On a day they went thoroughe the cyte, They ledde Iosyan to hyr Inne, And than he went, some mete to wynne. Line 3614 Sabere went to the castel gate And met his son Terry therat, He prayed hym in the honour of the rode, That he wolde gyue hym some gode. Terry hym behelde blyue Line 3619 And sayde: 'Palmer, so mot I thryue, There shal no mete be the to dere, For thou art lyke my fader Sabere!' Saber sayde: 'By goddys grace, So thy moder sayde, I was.' Line 3624 Whan Terry sawe, that it was he, He ran to hym wyth hert fre;

He hym kyssed and asked his fader What caused hym to come thyder. Sabere sayde: 'Son, thou shalt se, What thynge I haue brought wyth me.' Forthe they went togeder in fere, Line 3631 Tyl they to theyr Inne cam nere; Than they bothe wyth gode entent Wasshed away the oyntement; Fayre and wel they hyr dyght Line 3635 And brought hyr to the castel ryght And toke hyr vnto Beuys in honde: He had neuer erste a gladder sonde. Than cam the fyssher & the fostere Wyth theyr chyldren fayre and clere, And for they helde Beuys couenaunt ryght, [O folio 62a] Line 3641 He made eyther of them a knyght, And than wedded syr Terry, Of that londe that fayre lady;

There was a ryche feste, I-wys, Line 3645 On euery syde ioy and blysse.

But nowe begynneth a newe tydynge Of kynge Iour and Ermyne kynge. Bytwene them batayle gan they take, And al was for Iosyans sake. Line 3650 A palmer tolde Beuys that tydynge, Therfore syr Beuys al hastynge Sent after great chyualry Of doughty knyghtes and hardy, Line 3654 That he had knowen beforne, And al they were to hym sworne. Than Beuys had gadred his company, He toke his leue at syr Terry, Line 3658 And Terry profered wyth hym to go; But Beuys sayde, he shulde nat so: 'Sabere, thy fader, shal go wyth me; If I nede, I shal sende for the.' Line 3662 Guy and Myles to hors were dyght Wyth stalworth swerdes for to fyght. Than Beuys wyth al his company Went forthe vnto Ermony; Line 3666

Line 3666 Of his comynge the kynge was blythe And asked hym mercy on hundreth sythe Line 3668 And sayde: 'If thou wylt forgyue me, I wyl be crystened for loue of the.' On that couenaunt Beuys gan hym kysse, [O folio 62b] Line 3671 Thus be they acorded, I-wys. Than anon with oute other dome [Than anon] om. O. oute] any add. O.] [M folio 178a] Beues send to the pope of Rome, [pope] erased in O.] Line 3674 That he shold send his clerkys good, And Sabere to the Bysshoppes yode, [And] om. O. to the B.] them prayed or they O.] That they myght with theire clergye [myght—clergye] wolde solempnly O.] Cryston the lond of Ermonye, Line 3678 For that the kynge graunted had; [that—gr.] al the kynges graunt they O.] The pope it hard and he was glad, [pope] pope of, intentionally destroyed in O. it—was] that herynge was ful O.] And he hath sent after his sawe [And—sent] He sent thyder O.] Clerkys, that wyse were of the lawe; [were wyse O. the] om. O.] They crystoned kyng Ermyn with her hondis [theyr hande O.] Line 3683 And than all the other of the londys. [than] om. O. other] people O. his lande O.] In meny a stid Beues dyd wyrke [stid] place O. dyd] gan O.] Abbeys, mynesters, and meny a kirke. [myn.] om. O. a] fayre add. O.] So was ffurste Armonye Line 3687 Thorouȝ Beues crystoned, sekerly. Kyng Yuore herd sone tythand, [Whan kynge Iour did vnderstonde O.] That Beues and Iosyan were in the land, [M folio 178b] [and—the] was come into that O.] Line 3690 A grett oste he gaderid thoo, [grett] he add. (!) M. gadred he O.] Fourty thousand and well moo; [and well] saraȝyns and O.] To Aremonye they went thanne [Unto O. went he O.] And be-gan to robbe and branne, [And] there add. O.] Line 3694 And Beues hard, that he was comyn, [And] Whan O.] Grett power he hath nomen [A great oste he had anone O.] And rode kynge Yuore ageyn Line 3697 With ten thousand men, sertayn; It was a ffeire sight to be-hold, [to be-h.] who so behelde O.] Line 3699 Whan both partyes were in the ffeld; [were] met O.] The ffeld shone wonder-bryght [wonder-br.] al on lyght O.] Of helmys and of basnettes light; [Of basenettes and helmes bryght O.] But sone after there was another, Eyther oste discried other; [Whan eyther O. defyed O.] Line 3704 As the romans seith, on bothe partyes [On both partyes, the romayns says, O.] They shott dartys with bows turkeys, [dartys] arowes O.]

Quarellis, alblasters, and caste stonys, There was a sight ffor the nonys, [3707 f.:

Quarels were shot on euery syde,Spere (!) men togeder dyd ryde,

O.] Line 3708 Of dartys and quarellis grett plente, [Of—quar.] Arowes were shot so O.] There myght none hoste well other see. [There—other] That one oste myght nat another O.

Wyth swerdes bryght, that wel gan byte,Eche man dyd other smyte.

add. O.] But whan they were comyn in same, [were comyn] hanled bothe O.] There was ernyste and litull game; [lit.] no O.] With swordys and fauchouns, that wold byte, Line 3713 Eche man on other faste gan smyte, [3713 f. om. O.] And Beues with Morglay sterid hym soo, [sterid] quyt O. soo] fo (!) O.] That all, he hitt, he cleve in two. [That all] What euer O. cleve] smote O.] The Sarȝins can Beues deffye And thyk aboute hym they hye, [thyk] cam O. hye they (!) M; redely O.] Line 3718 And on ych side than he louȝe, [And—he] Therwyth he was wel apayd & O.] [M folio 179a] And faste the Sarȝins there he slouȝe; [And—he] On euery syde he them downe O.] So meny slowe he in that ffeld in sight, [he slewe O. ffeld in s.] fyght O.] That to his steroppes they lay vp right. [styrop O.] He yode fforth, whan he lyste, [yode] rode O. he] st add. M, struck out. he l.] they hym left O.] Line 3723 And slowe meny bothe este and weste. [And there he slewe as many eft O.] Sabere is come, thouȝe they were wood, [is c.] his eame O. they] he O. wood] olde O.] He thare stonyed the Sarsons blood, [He shewed, that he was yonge and bold O.] He slouȝe be-fore hym by X and XII, [by] om. O.] Till he come to the kynge hym selfe, And in magree of Mahoun [in] om. O.] Line 3729 He hath bete kynge Yuore down. [He—Yu.] There bare he the kynge O.] Than the Sarȝins flew on hepe, [Than] om. O. flew] folowed O. on] an add. O.] To kynge Yuore sone they lepe [sone] gon O.] And with ffors horsud hym ageyn, [And] om. O. ffors] they add. O.] And all at onys on Sabere they leyn. [And] Than O. Sab.] hym O.] Beues sye Sabere in doute, [Whan B. O. Sab.] was add. O.] Line 3735 He presud fforthe amonge the route [fforthe] in O.] And socourid Sabere in that stoure, [soc. Sab.] hym rescued O. houre O.] Hym selfe yode to kynge Yuore [Hym s. y.] Than rode he O.] Line 3738 And led hym fforth all with ffors And be-takyth Sabere his cors [betoke O.] And led hym in to a toure; [And l.] He bad lede O. a] the O.] He presented Armyn with Yuore. [And present O. with] kynge add. O.] Sabere lad hym all quyk, Line 3743 The Sarȝins folowid hym than thik, [than] ful O.] But suche strokys gaue ham sir Bevoun, [delt syr Beuys O.] That kyng Yuore was lad to town [was—town] led thyder is O.]

For ought, that they myght done, [do myght O.] Line 3747 Whan they sye that, they fled sone, [that sawe O. sone] ryght O.] They wold there no lenger byde; [M folio 179b] [no lenger there abyde O.] Beues and his men can after ride, [after gan O.] He made after hem so hard chase, [He chased them so harde, certayne, O.] That ten thousand slayn he hase. [he had slayne O.] Line 3752 Many a knyght in the ffeld Myght men se dede vnder sheld, [Myght men se] Lay there O. vnder] theyr add. O.] And meny Sarȝins in that day [Sarȝ. in] a saraȝyne O.] With deth woundis went away; [deth] dedely O. fled O.] Stedis meny men myght see [Many stedes O.] With oute maisters awey fflee, [oute m.] dede men O. aw.] fast add. O.] Line 3758 And meny Sarȝins myȝt men haue herd [And—men] Men myght the saraȝyns O.] Curs Mahoun, ffor they so fferd. [Cursud (!) M. Curs Mahounde, they were so aferde O.] Whan sir Beues had made that chase, [sir] that O.] He comyth ageyn with grett solace, [cam O.] And as smertely sir Bevown [Than syr Beuys ryght anon O.] Line 3763 Bad caste kyng Yuore in presown. [Bad] Made O.] Kyng Yuore praid Beues thoo, [paid (!) M.] Line 3765 That he myȝt make raunsom and goo, And for his raunsom geve he wold [geve] haue O. sholde O.] Twenty somers of red gold [redy (!) O.] And an hunderid beddus of sylke, [And an] Wyth thre O.] Also white as eny mylke, [Also] And an hundred stedes as O. eny] om. O.] Line 3770 And an hunderid copus of gold ffyne [An O.] And also meny of mascelyne: [And also] Wyth as O.] 'All this wold I to raunsom geve, [wold—rauns.] tresour I wyl the O.] With that thou wilte let me lyve!' [With] If O.] Said Beues: 'Lett it heder bryng: [Said B.: 'L.] Beuys sayde: 'Do O.] I shall lett the goo, sir kyng; [I—goo] And I shal saue thy lyfe O.] Line 3776 So moche drede I not the, But me were lever thy tresoure than the!' [me were] that I had O.]

Than was kyng Yuore ffayne, [sent O.] [M folio 180a] There after he sendith his chamberlayn, And he brought his raunsom: [And he] The messangere O. his] the O.] Line 3781 So come kyng Yuore oute of preson, [So] Than O.]

Off kyng Yuore lett we be, [Nowe of O. late O.] And of kyng Ermyn now speke we, [now] om. O.] That shold passe oute of this liffe [this] his O.] And sent after Beues sonnes blyve, [And] He O. B. sonnes] his son O.] And there he toke Beues eldeste son [And—toke] Syr Guy was O.] And on his hede he sett the crowne; He made hym kynge of Armonye; And sone after hastely [And] Than O.] Line 3790 Dyd the kyng dye and made his end, [Dyed kynge Ermyne the hende O.] To hevyn mvste his soule wend. [mot O.] To Sir Beues come Sabere there [Unto O.] And toke his leve, home to ffare, [homewarde O.] Line 3794 For to Englond wold he blyve [Unto O.] To his child and to his wyffe. [chyldren O.]

Beues wold haue hym, verament, [wold h. h.] bad hym tary O.] Line 3797 Sabere wold nought, but forth went. [forth] home O.] Nowe is kyng Yuore in Mowmbraunte And sware be Mahound and Turma|gaunte, [swereth O.] Line 3800 That he wold hym wel a-vaunce, [he—wel] so O; wold hys eme (!) M.] That couth stele be eny chaunce [with] by O.] Good Arondell with som treason Fro sir Beues of Hampton; [From O.] Line 3804 'For, and Beues lackyd Arondell, [and B. l.] if he wanted O.] I trow, that men shold wyth hym dele!' [that] om. O. myght O. del] mel O.] There was a theffe, that hight Ribown, [Rabone O.] A queynt theffe and a felown, [queynt] stronge O. a] fals add. O.] Line 3808 And vnder-toke the maistery, [And] He O.] And went fforth in to Armonye; [M folio 180b] [in] om. O.] With his charmes and with his crafte Arondell ffro sir Beues he raught [Ar.—B.] From Beuys Ar. O.] Line 3812 And brought hym in to Mowmbraunt toure [And] He O. in] om. O.] And presentid hym to kyng Yuore. Than was the kyng well paid, [the k.] Iour O. apayde O.] That he ffro Beues was betrayed; [he ffro] om. O. was] so add. O.] Line 3816 Woo was Beues, the soth to tell, Whan he myssud Arondell. As Sabere slepud a nyght tide, Hym thought, he sye Beues ride, Line 3820 And Arondell to the erth I-caste, [to—I-c.] downe hym cast O.] And his rigge bone all to-braste. [That two of his rybbes he brast O.]

Whan he wakyd, he was afrayd, [awoke O. afrayde O; aferd M.] Line 3823 And to his wyffe he told and seid; 'Sir,' she said, 'ye haue do wronge, [haue] om. O.] Ye dwell fro Beues all to longe: [dw. fr.] byde from O.] Line 3826 By hym, that was of Mary borne, [was—borne] of myght is moste O.] I trow, he hathe that hors lorne!' [that] hys O. loste O.] Sir Sabere, ffor sir Beues sake Hors and spere gan he take [Hors a. s.] Staffe and skryp O.] Line 3830 And went hym forth with good sem|bland. [hym] om. O.] Tyll that he come to Mombraund; [that] om. O.] Theder he went, to asspye, [went] for add. O.] And lefte the lond of Ermony. Line 3834 Sir Sabere come by a revere, [Sir] om. O. a r.] so O; Arevere (!) M.] There they waterid theire destrere; [Theyre (!) M. destere (!) M. Men dyd theyre bestes water there O.] Saw Sabere, as he abode, [Saw. S.] He sawe O. he] there add. O.] On Arondell how Rabon rode; Line 3838

Line 3838 Now thought Sabere: 'Be hevyn kyng, [M folio 180c] [Now th.] Than sayde O.] Now haue I my metynge! [Now—my] Glad am I of this O.] Felowe,' he said, 'so god the rede, [the r.] me spede O.] This may well be callid a stede: Line 3842 He is well brestid, with oute doute: Good ffelowe, turne hym aboute!' [hym] the O.] As he turnyd the destrere, [And as O. destere M. the d.] hym there O.] Vp be-hynde lepe Sabere, [lepe] hym lept O.] Line 3846 He smote to deth the theffe Rabon With the end of his tronchon; He wold no lenger there abyde. Sarȝins to the court can ride [The s. O.] Line 3850 And the kyng can they tell, [And] Unto O.] How one was gone with Arondell. [gone with] forth on O.] Than rose the crye thorouȝ the Cite, All that euer there in myȝt be, [3853 f.:

Than made the kynge to crye,That they shuldé after hye.

O.] Line 3854 They ride after faste hyand, [rode O. hy.] in a bande O.] The nomber of thre thousand, And full narroo they hym be-sett. [they] om. O.] Iosyan stode in a turrett, Line 3858 All the folke be-held she well And one on hym ridyng, Arondell. [one—rid.] howe one cam rydynge on O.] In to the hall she hied her down [Unto O.] And said: 'Sir Beues, with oute the town [And] Syr, she O. sir B.] om. O.] Line 3862

Line 3862 Comyth one ridyng on youre stede, [vpon O.] And, certeyn, he is in moche drede, [And c.] Certys, she sayde O. moche] great O.] For he is be-sett all aboute [For] om. O.] With a wonderffull gret route!' [a w.] men of armes a O.] Line 3866 'Wold god,' said Beues, 'a while hym saue, [Wold] Gode O. a w. h.] hym helpe and O.] Hastely socoure he shold haue!' [Hast.—shold] And socour sone shal he O.] The ffurste on hors was sir Gye, [M folio 180d] [The—hors] Fyrst on horsbacke O.] And Myles, his broder, and sir Terry, [And] Syr O. broder] so O; hors (!) M.] And sir Beues, faste hyed he Line 3871 With all the knyghtes of that Cite. [that] the O.] They hyed ham faste in that stoure [He O. hym O. in] to O.] And brought Sabere good socoure; They slow the Sarȝins down right, [They] And O.] That none of hem scape myght. [them escape O.] Line 3876 Good game had Sabere to sene, How they lay on the grene. [lay] spranglynge add. O.] Tydinges come to kyng Yuore, Line 3879 That his men were slayn in stoure, [in] that add. O.]

He made send hastely After his broder of Surry [broder] the kynge add. O.] Line 3882 And told, how his men were dede; [And t.] He tolde hym O.] He askyd hym counsell and rede. [He] And O.] 'I shall the say,' quod kyng Bradwyne, [quod kyng] sayde O.] 'Thou arte hold a nobull Sarȝin, Line 3886 In payneme ne in Surry, I-wys, [pany nor O. Surry I.] hethenesse O.] Ys none the lyke of lose ne of price; [the lyke] so O; om. (!) M. of—price] in doughtynesse O.] There fore counsell I the so: [couns. I] I counsayle O.] Thou do the batell be-twene you two, [Thou] To O. be-tw.] Thereafter ham, struck out M.] And make redy thy ffauchon [And m.] Make thou O.] Line 3891 And make thy sacrafice to Mahoun, That he send the the ouer-hand! [the sende O.] And, ffor sothe, I vnderstond Line 3894 That thou shalte a conquerour be, [a conq.] so O; conquerid (!) M.] And we wyll all wend with the [wend] go O.] And stond with the in thy wyll, Line 3897 To socoure the in thy perell!' [3897 f.:

We shal be wyth the, wythout drede,And helpe the, if that thou haue nede!'

O.] [M folio 181a] Now said kyng Yuore: 'I assent!' And as smertely forth they went [And as] Than O.] Line 3900 And made Mahoun sacryfice With all his sarȝins, that were wise, And all they praid to Mahoun, [to Mah.] more and lesse O.] To saue the kyng fro sir Bevoun. [the] theyre O. Beuys O.] Line 3904 Whan the kyng had so done, He let arme hym also sone [also] ryght O.] And went hym forth to Armony [hym] om. O.] With ten thousand sarȝins hardy. [sarȝ.] men O.] Line 3908 Sone come to Beues tydinges then [come to] had O. tydynge O.] Of kyng Yuore and his men; He toke with hym his sonnes two, Sabere, Terry and other moo, [Sab.] and add. O.] Line 3912 And rode kyng Yuore ageyn. Whan Yuore sye Beues, he was ffayn, [Yu.] he O. was] ful add. O.]

He said: 'Beues, I vnderstond, [He] And O. I] thou shalt O.] Whill we be comen to the lond, [Why O. to the] into this O.] Furste thou ffechid awey my wyffe, [ffech. aw.] rauysshed O.] And thou haste refte my men theire liffe, [thou h.] sythen O.] Line 3918 Where fore I haue takyn counsell, [Therfore haue I O.] By-twene vs two to do the batell: [do the] holde O.] And thou sle me, by Turmagaunte, I geve the the lond of Mowmbraunte, [And] if add. O.] And yf that I the sle, ffor thye [that—sle] I sle the nal O.] Line 3923 I wold, thou graunte me Armony!' [wil O.] Beues graunted, as he had told, And vndertoke the Batell bold.

In to the place they can ride, [the] a O. gan they O.] Line 3927 [M folio 181b] Theyre speris they brake on euery side; [Closed wyth water on euery syde O.] They dressud theire speyrus and theire shildus; The folke lokyd on hem in the ffeldys, And to geders can they ride, Line 3931 Theire speris they brake on euery side; [3929—32 om. O.] They drew theire swordys hastely And smetyn to geders sekerly; [smote O. sek.] wyth gret enuye O.] Line 3934 Theire sheldys there haue they borne, [there—borne] were bryssed that they bare O.] Theyre helmys crasud and to-torne. [and to.] theyr browes tare O.] To geder they ridyn another way, [ridyn] went O.] Line 3937 And Beues hitt Yuore with Morglay, That halfe the helme he can pare: [the] his O. can] downe add. O.] Than myght men se his hede bare. [That men myght O. hede] al add. O.] A quarter oute of his sheld, [And a O. oute] om. O.] Hit fell down in to the ffeld; [That it O. to] om. O.] Line 3942 The hors be-gan down to dryve And fell to ground with oute lyve. [3943 f.:

That hors and man to the grounde fel,That stroke was wonderous of to tel.

O.] Vp lepe Yuore, and stode [lepe] lept kynge O.] And cried on Mahoun, as he were wood; Line 3946 He smote to Beues with his ffauchon, [He] And O.] And Beues of Arondell light adown, [And] Than O. lyghted downe O.] And right in Beues down lightyng Yuore smote hym, with oute lesyng, [hym smote O.] A-Bove sir Beues helme on hye, That the blood ranne by his eye, [That the crest downe gan flye O.] Line 3952 And he clave the helme in sonder; [And—helme] His helme ther wyth crased O.] Sir Beues knelid, and that was wonder; [Sir] om. O.]

Sir Beues was than agrevyd sore, [Sir] om. O.] And vp he lepe, with oute more, [And] Than O. lepe] stert O.] Line 3956 [M folio 182a] And clave hym down to the arsoun; Than was glad sir Bevoun. [3957 f.:

And gaue kynge Iour suche a rout,That he neuer rose, wythout dout.

O.] The sarzins were sory that stound, [The—sory] Wo were the sarazyns in O.] Whan they sye Yuore dede to ground, [they—to] that Iour fel dede to the O.] That he shold never after rise, [That he s.] He coude O. rise] nor go add. O.] There fore they were agrise. [fore] that add. M. agrise] ful sory and wo O.] Line 3962

Line 3962 That other peopull, for fere they fled, [Than his men wolde haue fled O.] But Gye and Myles ham with-sted [ham w.-s.] them dyd forbede O.] And slow ham, both more and lesse, [them O.] Or they myght ouer the water passe; [ouer] om. O.] And som were drenchid in myddus the flood, [And] om. O. drowned O. myd.] om. O.] Line 3967 There was none, that awey quyk yode. [There—awey] None of them al agayne O.] Sir Beues was of good purviaunce, He toke kyng Yuoris conysaunce [Iour O. conys.] so O; retynaunce M.] And made vppon hym to throwe, [made] dyd it O. to] om. O.] That no man shold hym fro Yuore knowe. [no man sh.] none myght O.] Line 3972 A grett powere there toke he [there] wyth hym O.] And went to Mombraunte, that Cite. Whan they, that were in the toure, [that were] with O.] Sye the comyng of kyng Yuore,

All were they glad and ffayn, [they were O.] Line 3977 They openyd the gatys hym ageyn, [They] And O.] And Beues in to the Cite gan ride [And] Than O.] With gret Ioy and moche pride, And thorouȝ that queyntyȝ and that gynne [And—and that] Thus by that subtyle O.] The riche Cite gan they wynne, [The] That O.] Line 3982 And made hem all come with glee [And] He O. them O. come w. g.] become his men O.] And do hym omage and ffewte, [And do] They dyd O. ffew.] then add. O.] And there distroyed the mawmentre [And—the] Than they cursed theyr O.] And be-levid in god and seynt Marye. [be-l. in] worshypped O. s. M.] our lady O.] And who that wold not do soo, Line 3987 Full sone there he dyd ham sloo. [F. s. th.] Smertly O. them O.] [M folio 182b] Now is Beues kyng in that lond, [in] of O.] That som tyme Yuore had in hond; [tyme] kynge add. O.] Iosyan, that ys bryght and shene, [that ys] bothe O.] Twyse there she hath be quene. [she hath] of hath she O.] Line 3992 With haukys they went to play, [haukys] thankys or thaukys M.] As it be-ffell on a day, [3993 f.:

Beuys and Iosian on a dayWyth hawkes and houndes went them to play.

O.] And as they come be a revere, [And] om. O.] Sone they mett a messingere, Line 3996 That sperid of ham after a knyght, [That—h.] He asked them O.] That his name sir Sabere hight; [That—Sab.] Named Sabere, as I you O.] And Sabere forth gan sprynge [And S.] Sabere anon O.] Line 3999 And said: 'Messingere, what tything?' The messingere said: 'Sir, oure kyng [The—Sir] Syr, he sayde, Edgare O.] Thorouȝ his fals stywardus counsellyng [fals] om. O.] Hath desirited Robert, thyn eyre!' [He hathe O. dysheryted O; desirud (!) M.] 'Certes,' quod Sabere, 'that is not ffeyre!' [sayde O.] Line 4004

Line 4004 He told Beues there anon so [told—anon] rode to Beuys and tolde hym O.] And askyd hym leve home to go. [home] for O.] Sir Beues answerid as hend: [Sir] om. O. as] a knyght add. O.] Line 4007 'Sabere, I shall with the wend, [I—the] he sayde, wyth the I shal O.] Iosyan, Mylis, and sir Gye, [Wyth Ios. O.] And thyne own son Terry!' [thyne own] my neuewe, thy O.] There of was sir Sabere glad; [There of] Than O.] Line 4011 For gret power with sir Beues he had; [sir B. he] hym syr Beuys O.] And so went they forth in to Englond [forth in] to O.] With men of armes ten thousand. They sayled right to Southampton, Sabere and Terry, and sir Bevoun, [4015 f.:

Sabere, Terry, and Beuys of renowneSayled forth to Southhamptowne.

O.] Saberis wiffe and Robert his ayre, [M folio 183a] They welcomyd them wonder-ffayre, [They] om. O. wonder] wel and O.] And Sabere sperid at hym tydinges; [Sabere wolde tydynges vnderstande. O.] 'Sir,' said Robert, 'all oure londis [lande O.] Hathe the kynge arested, samffayll, [arested] areste (!) M. The kynge hath arested by counsayle O.] Thorouȝe Brians counsell of Cornwayll, [Th. Br. c.] Of syr Bryan O.] And holdith hem thorouȝ his stywardes rede, [And—thorouȝ] He doth this by O. stywardes rede] so O; styward M.] Line 4023 For Arondell smote his son to dede!'

Tho said Beues: 'Be god an lyve, [Than O.] We wyll theder also blyve!' Line 4026 Beues rode theder with oute booste, [oute] lytel O.] To Pownteneth he brought his hoste, [To—brought] At Putneth he left O.] That is ffro London mylis thre; And there lefte Beues his meyne [And] om. O. B.] he O. company O.] And rode to London hym selfe, Line 4031 No mo with hym but knyghtes twelfe. He went hym forth to kyng Edgare [hym] om. O.] And askyd hym, why and in what manere He had disherited sir Sabere [disherite M.] Of his londys both good and ffeyre; [And his sonne, that was his heyre O.] I delyuerd hym myn heritage Line 4037 Here be-fore thy baronage. [thy] your O.] The kyng said to Beues as sone: [Beues as] hym ryght O.] 'Sir Beues, yf ought be mysdone, Hit shall be mendid in parlament [amended O.] By erlis and barouns assent!' [By] Wyth O. barouns] of our add. O.] Line 4042

Line 4042 All the knyghtes that there were, [were there O.] To Beues they made glad chere, [To] syr add. O. they] om. O. gode O.] Saue sir Bryane, foule mvst he fall! [Br.] that add. O. mot hym befal O.] He was the moste ffoo of all. [the] his O.] 'Sir,' said Brian to the kyng, [to] vnto O.] Line 4047 'Now is this a wonder-thyng, [M folio 183b] [Now is th.] Me thynketh, this is O.] That this for-banyshid swayn Ys come to Ynglond ageyn: [into O.] With skyll he shall be hang and drawe, [With—be] By ryght ye shulde hym O.] For he is a traytour ageyn the lawe!' [is—ageyn] hath done agaynst O.] The kyng wold haue grauntid Beues right, [gr.] pardoned O. right] om. O.] Line 4053 The fals styward said, he ne myght. [But the O. he ne m.] nay iwys O.] Beues rode forth wroth and wood [rode] went O. forth] bothe add. O.] And answerid nother yll ne good, [ne] nor O.] But toke his ynne in the town, [ynne in] leue into O.] Line 4057 And to his mete he sett hym down. [to] at O.] Sir Brian, fforth went he And made a crye thorouȝ the Cite,

That all, that myght armes bere [all] they add. O. armes myght O.] And ffight with sheld and spere, [And had myght harnays to were O.] Line 4062 That they shold aray them anon [aray] arme O.] And to take the kyngis ffone. [And] For O.] Than was all the gatis stokyn, [was] were O. stokyn] loken O.] Wyndows and durres all were brokyn, [brokyn] stoken O.] Cheynes I-drawe in yche strete, [i dr.] were drawen O. euery O.] Line 4067 To let sir Beues, that may ye wytte! [that—wytte] ye may wel wete O.] Whan sir Beues hard that treason, Vp he lepud as a lyon, [lep. as a] lept as wode as any O.]

And well armed he hym thoo [he] om. O.] And bad his knyghtes, that they shold go [kn. that they] men shulde O.] Line 4072 To Pownteneth be water away: [Putneth O.] 'And to my sonnes ye may say, [ye may] so ye O.] That they hye them be-lyve, [them] hyther O.] And they wyll se theire fader on lyve; [And] If O.] For whill I sitt here with oute, [sitt] fyght O.] Line 4077 Ye may go, wythe outen doute!' [May ye O. out O.] Beues lepe vp on Arondell, [lept O.] [M folio 184a] He had no lenger terme to dwell; [terme] leyser O.] The ffirste that he mett, sam ffayll, [sam] without O.] Was sir Brian of Cornwayll, Line 4082 And with hym a grett route, [And] He had O.] And be-sett Beues all aboute. [be-sett] syr add. O. all] rounde O.] To Beues said sir Brian: [To] Unto syr O. sir] om. O.] 'Turne the, as thou arte a man, Thou arte an old knyght of werre!' And to sir Beues he bare a spere; Line 4088 So hard he to sir Beues droffe, [he] om. O. Be.] he add. O.] The spere breke and Beues shott forthe. [That his spere brast & syr Beuys spere roue O.] Sir Beues hovid and be-held, [Than syr O. h. and] om. O.] Line 4091 How the styward had broke his sheld; 'Certes,' said Beues, 'I shall the smyte! [I sh. the] nowe wol I O.] Full leffe me were, this dede to quyte!' [Full—dede] I wyl assay that dynt O.]

Beues smote Arondell vnder the side, And with Morglay in that tyde [with] gode add. O.] He hitt sir Brian on the crown; Line 4097 To the sadull he cleve hym down. [That to O.] Than sterid hym Beues in that stound, [Than—B.] Beuys so styred hym O.] That two hunderid he fell to ground, [fell] kest O.] And rode forthe in to Bredstrete; [And r.] Than rode he O. to] om. O.] Meny Lumbardis he gan mete; [he gan] there gan he O.] Line 4102 They asayled Beues faste, [Beues] wonder add. O.] On yche side he them down caste. [euery O.] Sir Beues had bene in many lond, [many] so O; my M; a add. O.] And meny a batell hath had in hond, [hath] om. O.] Yet was he nevure so carefull a man, [caref.] wery O.] In no batell, as he was thanne. [as] so O; that M.] Line 4108

Line 4108 [M folio 184b] Sir Beues deffendid him well I-nouȝe, [him] so O; hem M.] Meny he ffellid and mony he sleweȝ; On yche side he them down slonge, [euery O. slonge] cast O.] He prekyd fforth amonge the thronge, [He] And O. the thr.] ryght fast O.] Tyll he come in to Chepe; [to] the add. O.] Line 4113 Than at the erste he be-gan to swete; [There fonde he many men on hepe O.] Than anon be-ganne the ffyght, [Than a.] There agayne O; he add. M. the] so O; to M.] That tyme be-twene the Cite and the knyght. [That t.] om. O.] Than said sir Beues hend and good To the folke, that there stode: [Unto O.] Line 4118 'I rede, that ye on-lok the yate [yate] gate O; yatis M.] And let me scape there oute ate, [That I may passe forthe therat O.] For, yf I were slayn here with in, Litull worshippe shall ye wynne!' [shulde O.] Line 4122 And all they gan ageyn hym crye: [And] Than O. agaynst O.] 'Yeld the, Beues, or thou shalte dye!' Tho fought Beues, as he were wood, And bathid Morglay in theire blood;

Sevyn hunderid men he fellid to ground, [Six O.] Line 4127 Yet had he nether wemme ne wound, [ne] nor O.] But moche of the blood of that man [of the] om. O.] For hete thorouȝe his body ran. [For h. th.] Thoroughe swete of O.] Tyll that it wexid derke nyght, [Tyll th.] Than O.] The folke were euer redy to fyght; [redy euer O.] Than be-gan Arondell, his stede, [his st.] in dede O.] Line 4133 To helpe sir Beues at his nede; [sir B.] his mayster O.] By twenty fote on euery side Durste no man that hors abyde. [that] his O.] So leste than that ffyght [And so lasted that cruel fyght O.] Line 4137 Be-twene ham all a gentill nyght. [Be—gent.] Al that longe somers O.] Sir Beues knyghtes, I vnderstond, [vnderstoīd (!) M.] [M folio 185a] To Pownteneth brought theire sond, [Putneth O; they add. O.] That Beues sonnes shold hye ham blyve, Yf they wold se theire ffader on lyve, [se] haue O.]

And Iosyan hard mynge Bevoun, [And] Whan O. mynge B.] they spake of Beuys O.] Line 4143 And in a sown there she fell down; [And] om. O. there] om. O. down] iwys O.] Sir Milis, her son, and sir Gye Toke her vp, certenly: 'Sonnes,' she said, 'what is youre rede? Line 4147 For, certes, youre fader Beues is dede! [certaynly O. Beues] om. O.] The beste rede, son, that I can, [son] om. O. I] we O.] Is, that we flee hens, yche man!' [Is] so O; om. M. euery O.] 'Nay,' said Myles, 'we will not soo! To oure fader wyll we goo [Unto O.] Line 4152 And bryng hym good socoure, Yf he be leving in that stoure; And yf that he slayn be, We shall distroye that Cite!' [shall] wol O. that] al the O.] 'As armes, lordinges!' can they crye, [As] On O.] 'Lyghtly that we were redy!' [Lyghtly] Sone O. ye O. were] al add. O.] Line 4158 Sir Gye be-strode a rabyt tyght, [a rabyght O; araby (!) M. tyght] om. O.] He was moche and no thinge light, [thinge] thyng add. M, struck out.]

Sir Beues with his own brond [br.] hand O.] Had wonne with in the holy lond, [Had—with] Wan hym O.] Line 4162 A nobull sword he gan hym take, [And a O. he g. h.] gan he O.] That was Launcelottes the Lake; [That] sometyme add. O. de] so O; the M.] In the hilte was a charbokyll-stone, A better sword was never none, That no man knew to this day, Line 4167 Saue Beues good sword Morglaye, [4165—68 om. O.] And Myles had Colbrandys brond, [Colbr. br.] Curtayne in his honde O.] That som tyme had Rouland; [had] longed to O.] His hors white, they callid hym Swalowe, [white—hym] was swyft as any O.] There myght no hors hym ffolowe. [M folio 185b] [myght no h.] was no hors that myght O.] Shippus toke they at that tyde [at] in O.] And ouer Temmus gan they ride And brought with hem to the Cite [And] They O. them O.] Ten thousand of knyghtis ffree, They come ynne at the water side Line 4177 With grett Ioy and moche pride. [grett] moche O. moche] great O.] At Ludgate gan they than arere, [gan th. th.] they gan O.] They slew all that they found there. [They] And O.]

Certes, lordinges, as I you say, [Certes l.] Certaynly O.] Be than spronge the light day, [light] of the add. O.] Line 4182 Sir Beues was wery in that ffyght, [Sir] om. O. was] so add. O.] That vnnethe he myght sitt vp-right. [myght he O.] A Lumbard dwellid so there in the town, [dellid (!) M. A—there] There dwelled a Lumbarde O.] He was a man of gret renown, [He was a] A doughty O.] He had gaderid a grett hoste, Line 4187 And forthe he rode with gret booste, [And rode forth O. gret] moche O.] And in his hond a good fauchoun, That was made of stele brown; And forthe he yede to sir Beues, [And] om. O. yede] pryked O.] Line 4191 He said: 'Wylte thou aske no trewis?' And anon with his fauchon [And a.] Than the Lumbarde O.] A grete stroke he gaue Bevoun, And Beues for ffeynt bere hym lowe [And] Than O. bere] layde O.] And leyned hym on his sadull bowe; [leyned h.] lened O.] That sye Beues son, sir Gye, Line 4197 And come prekyng with gret envye,

With his sword drawn in hond, [in] his add. O.] And to the Lumbard he send his sond; So hard on his hede he sett, [he] it add. O.] That thorouȝ helme and basnett, Line 4202 Man and hors that stound [hors] in add. O.] He smote thorouȝ to the ground. [thorouȝ] in sunder O.] [M folio 186a] The poynte on the pawment glente, That the ffyre there after sprente. [there] out O. sprente] went O.] Sir Beues, ffor the stroke he louȝe [ffor the] at that O. he] om. O.] Line 4207 And grett comfforte to hym drouȝe; [grett] gode O. hym] he add. O.] He thankyd god omnipotent, That hym helpe ffro hevyn sent, [ffro h.] had thyder O.] And Arondell for Ioye nyed right, He helpid than Beues to ffyght, [He] And O. than B.] Beuys for O.] Line 4212 And stoutly bare hym, that good man, And helpid well to ffyght thanne; [4213 f. om. O.] Sire Beues turnyd hym in that while [in] om. O.] And sye his other son, sir Myle, Come prekyng with gret route [rydynge O. with] a add. O.] Line 4217 And meny armed men hym aboute; [And meny] Of O.]

Thurfte he never after to aske leche, [Th. he n.] He ncded neuer O. aske] seke O.] That sir Mylis myght ouer-reche; Men myght here theire crownus crake, [here theirc] se O.] Whan Beues sonnes vengeaunce dyd take; [dyd] gan O.] Line 4222 So hard they can to geder mete, That the blood ran down in yche strete; [down] om. O. euery O.] So meny men there were dede, [was O.] That Temmus was as blood red, [Tem. was as] Chepesyde ran of O.] For there was slayn, I vnderstond, [were O.] Line 4227 The nomber of thrytty thousand Thorouȝ the fals stywardis rede. And yet was he the furste, was dede. [was d.] dede O.] Hit is sothe, with oute lesyng: Line 4231 Of falshede comyth never good ending. In euery strete men myght se [myght] he add. (!) M.] Lumbardys on hepys dede there lye, [Men lyenge in poynt to dye O.] Hedys and quarters lye in pecys [and—pecys] quartred wyth the thyes O.] And leggis cutt of by the knees, [And l.] Shankes O.] Line 4236 [M folio 186b] Hedus with helmys strayling aboute, Handys and armes cutt oute and oute, [4237 f.:

Handes and armes bothe cut out,Hedes trendlyngc al about.

O.] Dede bodyes quarterrid in thre: [in] the add. M, struck out.] That was grett pyte ffor to see. [That] It O.]

Whan Beues had his enemys distroyed, To Powntnethe ageyn he hyed, [Unto O. ag. he] he hym O.] Line 4242 And Iosyan was never so ffayn, [And] om. O.] As whan she sye Beues agayn. Beues toke Iosyan as blyve, [as bl.] ful sone O.] To Southampton can they dryve, [And to O. can th. d.] went anon O.] There had they wend, samffayll, [had—samf.] he had thought, wythout fayle O.] Line 4247 To byd the kyngis batayll. [To] haue add. O. kynge O.] Tythingis come to kyng Edgare Of all the ffyght, that was thare; [all the f.] the batayle O.] Than dyd kynge Edgare full right: [Than—Edg.] Kynge Edgare than O.] He send after erle, baroun, and knyght; [Sent for lordes and many a knyght O.] And tolde them, thorouȝ his fals sty|wardys rede [And tolde them] so O; om. M.] Line 4253 That all the folke be this dede: [That—be] Howe al his men were O.] 'I am now an old man And Beues moche of werre can, And he is comyn heder fro fferre [And—fro] Hider is he come from O.] Line 4257 With moche peopull, on me to werre, [moche p.] great power O.] Two sonnys with hym, he hath brought, [Two—hath] Wyth hym two sonnes hathe he O.] There fore, dere lordis, I haue in thought, [I] om. (!) M. dere—in] lordynges, I haue great O.]

Mylis shall my doughter take, [my d. t.] take my doughter to wyfe O.] For to swage all this debate; [this] so O; his M. deb.] stryfe O.] Line 4262 I wyll make sir Myles erle of Corn|wayll, [I w.] And O.] That sir Brian had in hond, samfayll!' [That was syr Bryans, wythouten fayle O.] All they cownsellid hym to do so; A messingere the kyng sent thoo To South-Hampton after Bevoun; [To syr Beuys of Hampton O.] Line 4267 He bad, he shold come to Londoun: [He—shold] Byddynge hym O.] 'I wyll that it be ordenyd so, [M folio 187a] To make a lynage be twene vs two: [lynage] loueday O.] Thy son shall wed my doughter free, [Thy] His O.] And Erle of Cornwayll shall he be!' Now ys Beues to London comyn, [to L. c.] come to London iwys O.] Line 4273 The kyngis doughter was sone nomyn [was s. n.] brought forthe is O.] And to the mynester durre I-led, [And] om. O. myn.] churche O. I|l.] was she led O.] Vnto sir Myles was she wed. [Vnto] And there O. was she] dyd hyr O.] The kyng gaue Myles in spousayll Line 4277 The Erle-dome of Cornwayll. There was myrth at theire spousyng, Turnament and grett Iustyng, But of all men there bare the gree Beues two sonnys and he; Line 4282 And whan the spousyng was at the end, Beues wold homward wend;

He toke his leve at the kyng And at all his seli shyppyng, He toke his leve at the hend, Line 4287 At erle, baroun, and at ffrend, And at his son, sir Myle; His way he toke in a while [4281—4290:

At the weddynge in that manereThe kynge and Beuys sat ful nere.Whan Beuys wolde home wende,He toke his leue of the kynge so hende,And at the lordes in that whyle,And also at his sonne, syr Myle.

O.] And be-toke his son to Sabere, For he shold hym teche and lere. [For] That O.] Line 4292 Now is Beues went and sir Gye [is B. went] gone is Beuys O.] With Iosyan and sir Terry, And Beues lefte hym in his own lond [And] om. O. hym] them O his] theyr O.] And be-toke hem to god all-weldand. [hem] them al O. all-w.] in honde O.] In to Mombraunt Beues gan fare [In] Than O.] Line 4297 And sevyn yere he levid thare; [lyued he O.] Than waxid Iosyan seke and lay, And so dyd Beues, as I you say. [so d. B.] Beuys also O.] Bysshoppus and ffrerus come be-lyve, [come] thyder add. O.] Beues and Iosyan gan they shryve. [M folio 187b] [gan they] for to O.]

Whan Beues and Iosyan the good [the good] wyth gode entent O.] Line 4303 Hath receyvyd goddus flesh and blood, [Had O. goddus—blood] the sacrament O.] Eyther to oþure trewly turnyd in haste, [Eyther] tourned add. O. trewly—haste] wythout boste. O.] And both in armes yeld vp the gaste. [in a. yeld] they yelded O.] Moche sorow than made sir Gye, [than] om. O.] Line 4307 There was no bote not for thye, [not f. th.] for that, truly O.] For all shall we dye, I-wys, [we shal O.] Whan that Crystus wyll it ys. [it] om. O.] Syr Guy, to the stable went he, Arundel, his hors, to se; Line 4312 Whan he cam there, fonde he no rede, The stede lay in the stable dede. Syr Guy maruayled, the sothe to say, For al they dyed vpon a day. [4311—4316. So O; om. M.] Than sir Gye, he lett make [Than—lctt] Syr Gye dyd ordayne and O.] For Beves and Iosyans sake [For] syr add. O.] Line 4318 An house of religyon, [An h.] A place O. rel.] of pryce O.] To syng for Beues and Iosyan. [Iosyan and Beuys O.] He towmbed ham to geder in ffere, [ham] them O.] Kyng and quene as they were; Iesu Criste in trenite Line 4323 On both theire soulus haue mercy! [On both] Of O.] And thus endith Beues of Hampton, [Southhamptowne O.] That was kyng of grett renown: [That w. k.] Kynge and knyght O.] All that hath herd this talkyng, [All] they add. O. haue O.] Iesu them graunt good ending, [graunt them O.] Line 4328 He bryng hem all to hevyn blis, [He—all] And brynge vs O.] That euer shall laste and never mys,

To that blis bryng vs he, That ffor vs died vppon a tree! [vppon a] on the rode O.] [Here endyth a good tale of Beues of Hamtoun, that Good Verriour.] [Beues] beus (!) M. Here—Verr.] om. O.] Line 4332

Amen.