The romance of Guy of Warwick. The second or 15th-century version. Edited from the paper ms. Ff. 2. 38. in the University Library, Cambridge, by Dr. Julius Zupitza ...

But, when hyt wyste þe sowdan, Þat hys sone so was slane, [MS. slayne.] Line 7552 He was, y trowe, a sory syre, Full of tene and of yre And beryed hys sone rychelye, And þoght to venge hym hastelye. Line 7556 He sente hys sonde to the kynge, As man, þat louyd hym nothynge, [folio 209b:2] And bad hym come hastelye And defende hym of felonye Line 7560 And brynge hys sone wyth hym, Fabowre, That slewe Sowdan, as a traytour.

'Yf he wyll not do that couenande, Bydde hym flee forþe of hys lande, Line 7564 Or ellys soche jugement suffur þere, As in courte ordeygned were.' ¶ The kynge dyght hym full ȝare: To the sowdan dud he fare, Line 7568 And wyth hym Faber, þe hende knyght, Before the sowdan came ryght. He askyd hym and that anon, How he had hys sone slone: Line 7572 Yf he myght hyt not defende, That dede he schulde derely amende. He broght forthe a sarsyne: A fowler dranke neuyr wyne. Line 7576 Comyn he ys fro the lande of Ynde, A stronger man may no man fynde. He ys black, as any pyck, And also felle, as a lyon in his swyck; Line 7580 Hys breste brode, hys body grete: He ys more, then a nete. Ther were not þre in all þat lande, That durste stande a stroke of hys hande. Line 7584 He ys two fote and more Hyer, then any, that was þore. Yf þe kynge durste wyth hym fyght And hym defende wyth all hys myght, Line 7588 That Sowdan [MS. the Sowdan.] was neuer dedde Thorow hym nor hys sonnes redde, And hym vnto dethe brynge, He schulde passe quyte [quyte omitted in MS., but cf. 1. 7600, and the Caius MS., p. 160, He shuld go quyte of all thynge.] in all thynge. Line 7592 ¶ Triamore [MS. Tamore.] had drede stronge Of that sarsyn, þat was so longe. Neuer þe lesse before them all

The sarsyn there he dud becalle Line 7596 And seyde, that [MS. the; but the Caius MS., p. 161, has that.] Sowdan was neuer dedde [folio 210a:1] Thorow hym nor hys sonnes redde, And, yf he myght hym to deþe brynge, That he schulde passe quyte in all þynge. Line 7600 A xii monyth þe trewse was tane And thretty dayes, tyll he was gane. Soche a man in hys cuntre Neuyr was nor neuyr schall bee. Line 7604 Yf he durste not hymselfe fyght, He schulde fynde anodur knyght. ¶ To Alysawnder the kynge ys went And to hys barons he hath sente Line 7608 And made crye thorow the lande, Yf they had ony man fande, [Perhaps corrupt. See the note.] That durste for hym þat batell craue; And halfe hys londe he schulde haue. Line 7612 He myȝt neuer fynde none so wyght, That durste agenste þat gyawnt fyght. ¶ He toke me owte of hys pryson And askyd me thys reson, Line 7616 Yf y knewe any knyght, That durste agenste þe gyawnt fyght. A ryche man he wolde hym make And do hym honour for hys sake Line 7620 And geue hym golde grete plente And halfe hys londe euyrmore free. I knewe none, y seyde to thame (For to lye me þoght hyt schame), Line 7624 In no cuntre nor in no lande, That durste þat batell take on hande, But yf hyt were Gye, the knyght, That, all men seyde, was so wyght. Line 7628 'And y myght fynde Gye or Harrawte,

They wolde do hyt, wythowte defaute: Then myght þou be seker, sawns fayle, To haue the vyctorye of that batayle.' Line 7632 ¶ When the kynge stode me bye And herde me speke of syr Gye, Hys hande he leyde vpon me. 'But y haue helpe,' he seyde, 'of the, [folio 210a:2] Line 7636 I schall neuer of man leueande Haue helpe, y vndurstande. Yf y myght haue Gye, That ys knyght so hardye! Line 7640 Into Ynglonde schalt þou fare For to loke, yf Gye be thare. Yf he may not fowndyn bee, Loke, Harrowde thou brynge wyth þe; Line 7644 And y schall delyuer þe owt of pryson And all thy sonnes wythowte rawnsome. Thou schalt haue for thy seruyse, Yf thou wylt be ware and wyse Line 7648 And of tonge be trewe and holde, Fyftene somers chargyd wyth golde.' Sythen y sware on all manere For to be trewe messengere; Line 7652 And, yf þat y of þem fonde none, I schulde come ageyne allone: Y schall be hangyd on a galowe tre, Wyt ye wele, y am sore. Line 7656 ¶ I went into Almayne, Fro Fraunce vnto Hyespayne, [MS. hye spayne.] Sythen to Pole and Burgoyne, Into Sysyll and Cesoyne [MS. Cesyone.] Line 7660 And sythen into Ynglonde (And askyd euery man, þat y fonde) To Warwyk, hys cyte, There he was wonte lorde for to bee. Line 7664

Line 7664 I harde neuer man speke wyth mowthe, That anythynge telle cowthe Of Harrowde odur of syr Gye: Therfore a sory man am y. Line 7668 Gyes men tolde me on a day, For sothe, syr, as y the say, That Gye was in exsyle wente: In holy weyes was hys entente. Line 7672 And Harrowde aftur hym ys gone For to seke hym, be seynt Iohan. Longe dwellyd y there noght And many landys syth haue y soght. [folio 210b:1] Line 7676 I myght neuer fynde no wyght That cowde telle me of that knyght. ¶ Now come y hedur thys ylke day And restyd me be the way. Line 7680 Hyt ys xii monythys and mo, [MS. more.] Syth y the kynge wente fro. [MS. fore.] And now y wende to hym agayne, Well y wote, for to be slayne: Line 7684 For the dethe wyll y not flee (I haue the tolde, how hyt wyll be); For y haue my trowthe plyght, That y schall come ageyne ryght. Line 7688 Then, y wott, y schall be slone And my sonnes euerychone. Of my lyfe yeue y noght, But for my sonnes ys all my thoght. Line 7692 They were knyghtys bolde and wyght And well defendyd þem in euery fyght. Yf they [MS. y.] myght leue and olde [MS. bolde.] bee, They [

MS. I. Cf. Caius MS. p. 164:

Yf they myght leve and old men bee,They myght much helpe crystiante.

] myght moche helpe crystyante. Line 7696

Line 7696 Now to hym wyll y fare And take my dethe ryght thare.' ¶ Wyth that he swownyd before Gye, And therfore he was sorye. Line 7700 Gye had sorow and moche care, For he sawe the erle so fare. 'Leue pylgryme,' seyde Gye, 'That for thy sonnes art sorye Line 7704 And Gye and Harrowde boþe haste soght In far londys and fonde þem noght, Yf thou haue dole, hyt ys no ferlye, When þou mayste þem nowhere aspye: Line 7708 Thorow þem þou wenyst delyuerd to be Owte of pryson and thy sonnes fre. Some tyme y was in my lande Holdyn doghty of my hande. Line 7712 For the loue of god allmyght, That he me gaue soche myght, And for syr Gye and Harrowdes sake [folio 210b:2] That batell for þy loue wyll y take, Line 7716 And þorow þe grace of heuyn kynge The and þy sonnes owt of prison brynge.' ¶ When erle Joonas sawe Gye, That he was bolde and hardye Line 7720 To do that batell, yf he myght, And wyth þe gyawnte for to fyght, He avysed hym full wele Fro þe hedde downewarde euery dele. Line 7724 Hys body, he þoght, was feyre and longe And wele ymade to be stronge: Hys bones were bare of flesche. He semyd all of wyldurnesse: Line 7728 Hys berde was longe, [Perhaps we ought to add and after longe.] fowle farande. He lokyd vp steype starande. 'Syr,' he seyde, 'for thy reson

Haue thou goddys beneson. Line 7732 Thou knowest not þat sarsyne, That ys so wyckyd and so kene: Had he ones lokyd vpon the Wyth hys eyen, wytterle, Line 7736 He wolde the agaste make, That þou schuldyst the batayle [MS. hym, but Caius MS., p. 165: That thow shuldyst the bateyle forsake.] forsake.' ¶ Then seyde Gye: 'þerof drede þe noght. God ys myȝtfull, þat ys my thoght. Line 7740 Many haue prouyde to do skathe And wyth þer eyen lokyd wrathe: [

MS. rathe; but Caius MS., p. 165:

And wyth hys eyen lokyd wrathe.] Fro þem flewe y neuer in no batayle. My harte schall not therfore fayle. Line 7744 Yf þou thynke, y febull bee, God ys soche of poste, That he may geue me grace and myght To slee þe gyawnt in þe fyght.' Line 7748 'Syr,' seyde þe pylgryme, 'gramercye! God, that borne was of Marye, Ȝylde hyt the, or þou be dedde.' For yoye he swownyd in þat stedde. Line 7752 ¶ Tho seyde Gye: [

Gye omitted in MS. Cf. the Caius MS., p. 166:

'My frende,' quod Gye, 'so haue i hele.] 'as haue y hele, Let vs go forthe, we schall fare wele.' [folio 211a:1] To Alysawnder þey can þem dyght: Before þe kynge þey came full ryght. Line 7756 When the kynge Joonas sawe, Full soone þere he dud hym knowe. 'Jonas,' seyde the kynge than, 'Where ys Gye, that nobull man, Line 7760 And Harrowde, þat þou haste soght? Haste þou any of them broght?'

'Syr,' he seyde, 'y schall the saye: I wyll not lye, be thys day. Line 7764 Y haue bene in many a cuntre: Harrowde nor Gye y myȝt not see. I was farre in many a londe And askyd euery man, þat y fonde. Line 7768 They seyde, he was in exsyle wente, Therfore the londe was nye schente; And seyde, Harrowde had take þe way To seke Gye nyght and day. Line 7772 But y haue broght a nobull knyght, In armes þat ys bolde and wyght: For yow he schall do thys batayle Thorowe helpe of god and not fayle. Line 7776 He wyll defende þe full ryght And wyth þe gyawnt wyll he fyght.' ¶ Tho seyde þe kynge to erle Joonas: 'Loke, þou lye not in thys case. Line 7780 Yf y be betrayed thorow the, Hongyd hye schalt thou bee, And þy sonnes euerychone Wyth þe the same wey schall gone.' Line 7784 'I grawnte,' quod Joonas, 'that ye saye. God vs helpe, that beste maye.' ¶ The kynge clepyd soon Gyown And tolde hym there all hys reson. Line 7788 'Pylgryme,' he seyde, 'what ys þy name?' And he hym tolde, but not þe same. 'Frende,' seyde tho the kynge, 'Telle me wythowte lesynge, [folio 211a:2] Line 7792 Where haste þou bene and in what lande? Was þer þere no corne growande?' [

Perhaps corrupt. Cf. Caius MS., p. 167:

Was there no brede ne corne growande?] 'Syr,' quod he, 'syth y was knyght, [

Here the MS. is evidently corrupt; giving a single line instead of three. Cf. Caius MS., p. 167:

'Sir,' he seyd, 'in EnglondeWas i borne and moste dwellande:Sethen that i was dubbyd knyȝte,I haue bene in meny fyght.'

]

I haue bene in mony a fyght.' Line 7796 ¶ 'Art þou Englysche,' seyde the kynge, 'Me oght to hate þe ouer all thynge. Knewe thou oght syr Gyowne And wyth hym Harrawde, þat bolde baron? Line 7800 Yf that þey be nowe leueande, They be full bolde and stronge of hande. I oght to hate Gye wyth yre: He slewe my fadur, Clynant of Tyre, Line 7804 And my neme wyth hys hande And þe sowdan at mete syttande. I sawe hym smyte of hys hedde, And wyth strenckyth awey hyt ledde. Line 7808 Awey he pryckyd at the laste, All we chacyd hym full faste. The deuell hym saued: we slewe hym not þan, But he slewe of vs many a man. Line 7812 Lorde geue, that he were here: Then schulde y make gladde chere. Yf he wolde fyght for me, All forgeuyn schulde hyt bee.' Line 7816 ¶ Tho Gye answeryd curteslye: 'Well,' quod he, 'knowe y syr Gye And Harrowde also, so mote y goo: I knowe þem wele bothe twoo. Line 7820 Yf ye had owder Harrowde or Gye, Ye myght be sekur of vyctorye.' ¶ 'Telle me,' seyde the kynge than, 'Why art thou so lene a man? Line 7824 Vnkynde men thou seruest aye, When þou partyste so pore awaye; Odur hyt ys for thy folye, That þou fareste so porelye.' Line 7828

Line 7828 'Hyt may,' quod he, 'full wele befalle, [folio 211b:1] My state knowe ye not ȝyt all. I was some tyme in gode [

MS. goddys. Cf. Caius MS., p. 168:

For soth, i was in good servyse.] seruyse: My lorde me louyd in all wyse. Line 7832 For hym y had grete honowre Of kynge, prynce and maydyns in bowre. But ones y dud an hastenesse: Therfore y loste boþe more and lesse. Line 7836 Sythen y went fro my cuntre.' [After this five lines have been omitted in the MS., at the end of the fifth of which there was another cuntre. Line 7839 has been added after this omission. See the note.] ¶ Then to hym spake þe kynge free: 'Telle me þe soþe, so mote þou the. Wylt þou take þe batell for me? Line 7840 Or ellys y schall gete a nodur. Telle me þe sothe, lefe brodur.' And Gye seyde: 'þerfore come y hedur, Joonas and y now togedur. Line 7844 Thorow þe helpe of þe trynyte The batell y schall take for the And slo þe gyawnt wyth my hande, Yf ye wyll graunt me þys couenande, Line 7848 That Joonas and hys sonnes echone Fro pryson be delyuyrde anon.' ¶ Then seyde the kynge: 'y þe grawnte. Mahownde þe helpe and Termagawnte.' Line 7852 'Nay,' seyde Gye, 'but [

MS. be. Cf. the Caius MS., p. 169:

'Nay,' quod Gye, 'but Mary is sonne.] Mary sone, That for vs on a rode was done: He may me helpe for hys mercye. Syr kynge, y sey, that ys no lye, Line 7856 But that Mahownde haþ no poste To helpe nodur the nor me.' ¶ Then seyde þe kynge: 'my frende dere,

I schall make þe a couenande here. Line 7860 Yf þou may the gyawnt sloo And brynge me owte of thys woo, Thy god for the loue of the Schall haue also þe loue of me. Line 7864 The crysten men, that y haue tane, Schall be delyuyrde euery man. [folio 211b:2] Ther schall be none in heþynnes, Man nor woman, more nor lesse, Line 7868 That ys of crystyante, But they schall delyuyrde bee. For þe and for þy goddys sake I schall in thys londe make, Line 7872 That crysten men schall wende Thorow þys londe feyre and hende, And, yf any be so hardye To do þem schame and vylenye, Line 7876 Be he neuer so grete nor so stowte, He schall dye, wythowte dowte.' 'Syr,' seyde Gye, 'gramercye! Thys ys a feyre gyfte for me.' Line 7880 ¶ The kyng bad, he schulde baþed be, 'And geue hym robes grete plente: Loke, þat he wante noght.' But Gye had of þat no thoght. Line 7884 'Syr kynge,' he seyde, 'of þat be stylle Hyt ys nothynge at my wylle Ryche robes for to haue: I am but a pore knaue. Line 7888 Mete and drynke geue me my fylle, And þen y haue all my wylle.' The kynge bad, þat he schulde haue, What some euer he wolde craue. Line 7892 ¶ When þe tyme was comen sone, That þe batell schulde be done, The kynge was full rychely dyght

And wyth hym all hys baronage wyȝt: Line 7896 To þe sowdan wolde he fare. Swyþe he wente and came full ȝare. Gye wente armed and wele ydyght, As felle to a gentyll knyght. Line 7900 On hym he had an hawberke: Hyt was made of ryche warke. In farre londe hyt was wroght And to þe kynge in present broght. Line 7904 When hyt came to Jerusalem, Hyt was bryght, as sonne beme. [folio 212a:1] A thefe hyt stale sythen wyth honde And broght hyt vnto hethyn londe. Line 7908 The aunceturs of kynge Tryamowre Boght hyt wyth moche honowre. Hyt was of grete tresorye And in þat nede was geuyn to Gye. Line 7912 Thretty wyntur was gone and more, That hyt came in no felde ȝore. Hyt was so clere and so bryght, That all þe halle schone of þe lyght. Line 7916 ¶ He had an helme of olde warke And on euery syde stones starke. He, that on hys hedde hyt bare, Schulde not be vencowsde in no warre. Line 7920 Hyt was Alysawndurs, þe kynge: He wanne hyt in hys fyghtynge. When he slewe kynge Pore, [MS. fawre. See the note.] He wanne hyt and moche more. Line 7924 He bare a swyrde in hys hande: Ector hyt oght, y vndurstande. There were Gregyows many a wonne, Or he hyt gate, that were slone. Line 7928 He had also a nobull targe: Hyt was bothe bryght and large.

Ther was noþyng, þat myȝt hyt dere, Knyfe, swyrde, axe nor spere. Line 7932 ¶ When he was dyght, syr Gye, Of hym all men had farlye. Echeon askyd, what he myght bee, Fro whens he came and fro what cuntre, Line 7936 That schulde for the kynge fyght. They sawe neuer so semelye a knyght. ¶ Then seyde the kynge to þe sowdan: 'Herkyn me, syr, and that anon Line 7940 Now y am comen to the here To defende me on all manere Of that wyckyd felonye, That was put on me vntrewlye, [folio 212a:2] Line 7944 Thorow þe knyght, þat stondyth here, That Sowdan, thy sone dere, Thorow my sone was neuer dedde Nodur þorow my cowncell nor my redde.' Line 7948 The sowdan seyde: 'syn þou haste hym broght, Hyt schall soone be sene, so ys my thoght. ¶ Brynge forthe,' he seyde, 'the gyawnt,' A paynym, that hyght Amerawnt. Line 7952 He was armed nobullye: Euery man of hym had farlye. Hys body was boþe grete and longe: He semed to be owtrageus stronge. [A word blotted out before stronge in MS.] Line 7956 But, when Gye sye that sarsyn, That was so myghty and so kene, 'Be Cryste,' he seyde vnto þe kynge þan, 'Ȝondur ys þe deuell and no man. Line 7960 Who schulde hym a stroke stande? He wolde hym felle wyth hys hande. ¶ Forthe þey wente to that batayle Hastelye, wythowte fayle, Line 7964 To an yle besyde the see,

There the batayle schulde bee. When þey came þere, as þey shulde fyght, They lepe on þer stedys full ryght. Line 7968 Soone þey smote togedur faste, Whyll þer sperys wolde laste. Soone þer sperys dud glyde Abowte þer hedys in pecys wyde. Line 7972 Soone þey drewe þer swyrdys of stele And faght togedur faste and wele. ¶ Amerawnt drewe hys swyrde owte: Hyt was scharpe all abowte. Line 7976 Hyt was Arcules swyrde þe wyght: He hyt bare in euery fyght And þerwyth slewe many a man. Amerawnt hyt in warre wanne. Line 7980 Hyt was put in the watur of helle; For hyt was boþe scharpe and felle. [folio 212b:1] God of heuyn thynke on Gye; For he came to hym full hastelye. Line 7984 ¶ Togedur soone dud they smyte Wyth brondys, þat full wele cowde byte. Wyth grete wrath starte Amerawnt Wyth hys strenkyth Gye sayleant. Line 7988 He smote hym on the helme bryght, That was made of stele ryght, That þe flowrys felle all abowte, And hys schelde he smote þorowowte, Line 7992 That was neuyr peyred are In stryfe nor in warre, but thare. Thorow þe sadull he smote also The gode stede euyn in twoo. Line 7996 The swyrde felle downe þore Into þe erthe two fote and more. Gye was at þe grownde anon; Hys gode stede þere was slone. Line 8000 ¶ 'Lorde,' quod Gye, 'god almyght,

That made boþe þe day and nyght, Schelde me fro schame thys day, As þat þou of all beste may. Line 8004 Kepe me, for thy holy grace, That y be not slayne in thys place.' On hys fote he starte vp ryght, As a nobull doghty knyght. Line 8008 He toke hys bronde wyth envye And smote to þe gyawnt hardelye. On þe helme the stroke glode: Besyde þe gyawnt downe hyt rode. Line 8012 Hys hors neck he smote in two: The gyawnt to þe grownde felle þo. Vp he starte wythowte lettynge, But he playned hym nothynge. Line 8016 He smote Gye wyth hys myght And he hym kepte, as a nobull knyȝt. Then þey faght faste thare: Ther wolde nodur odur spare. [folio 212b:2] Line 8020 They faght togedur wyth grete yre: Of þer helmes sprange þe fyre. Ther strokys breke styffe scheldys, That þe mayles flewe to þe feldys. Line 8024 ¶ Amerawnt haþ hym bethoght, That in many a stowre he had foght, But neuer are before that day Was he so stadde in no jurnaye. Line 8028 Therfore hys armes he lyfte vp ryght And smote Gye wyth all hys myght: Gye was bothe stronge and lyght And kept hym, [MS. hyt.] as a nobull knyght. Line 8032 Then they faght so faste thare, That nodur of þem wolde odur spare. He smote Gye on the hedde tho, That the perlys dud downe goo, Line 8036

Line 8036 At the drawyng of that bronde That Gye on hys kneys felle to grounde. ¶ Vp he starte, as a man, But hyt greuyd hym sore than. Line 8040 Greuyd was Gye sore: 'Lorde Cryste,' he seyde, 'thy nore. Neuyr in batayle nor in no fyght Knelyd y are for dynte of knyght.' Line 8044 He lyfte vp tho hys hande And smote vnto Amerawnde In the helme, that clere was, That golde felle downe a gode pase; Line 8048 The mayles he smote also in twoo. Then was Amerawnt full woo, That nothynge helped the mayle, But all tobrake hys ventayle. Line 8052 He hyt hys flesche: þe blode downe ranne. Hys necke he made lyke no man. Hys targe, þat was golde belokyn, Hyt was all tofruschyd and brokyn. Line 8056 To þe bokull, þat was golde begone, He made hys bronde to go anon. Sythen he brayde ageyne soo, [folio 213a:1] To þe grownde þat he dud goo Line 8060 On kneys and on handys also, As he had had no frendys tho. Amerawnt dud, as a gode knyght: He lyfte hys swyrde anon ryght. Line 8064 Gye sore there he smote: So eydur odur, wele y wote. Of ther helmes flewe the fyre: So faste they faght wyth grete yre. Line 8068 Betwene þem was so grete fyght, That no man þe bettur knowe myght. So stronge batayle was neuer made: Of þem, þat hyt sye, hyt was so sayde. Line 8072

Line 8072 ¶ Hyt was in somer, the wedur was hote: The story so tellyth, wele y wote. On þe morne aftur mydsomyr day, As we in boke telle yow may, Line 8076 Was the batell of the barons, That frescher were, þen any lyons. Amerawnt drewe hym ageyne And helde hys hedde, as men seyne. Line 8080 What for blode, þat he had leuyd, And what for yre, þat he was greuyd, Thurste he had euellye: But yf he dranke, he muste dye. Line 8084 'Telle thou me, syr knyght,' quod he, 'Of whens þou art and of what cuntre. Art thou Gye of Warwyke, That, men sey, ther ys none lyke? Line 8088 I wolde fayne fyght wyth hym, For he hath slayne mony of my kynne. Hys hedde y schulde smyte of here: He schulde neuyr moo men dere. Line 8092 Of vs he slewe twenty thousande Wyth hys dyntes [Perhaps Wyth the dyntes?] of hys hande. Yf that y had hym ones slayne And syr Harrowde, þat ys hys swayne, Line 8096 Two the beste then slayne had y: [folio 213a:2] Then myght y be full yolye.' ¶ 'Now þe deuell,' quod Gye, 'þe honge: Dud he the euyr any wronge, Line 8100 That thou wolde hys hed of smyte? Of synne þou art gretly to wyte.' He seyde: 'nay,' wyth moche vnwynne, 'But he hath mysdone to my kynne. Line 8104 ¶ Crysten man, vndurstande me: The wedur ys hote, as þou may see. For the lordys loue, þat þou leuyste ynne,

And as he may [g blotted out after may in MS.] forgeue þe þy synne, Line 8108 Geue me leue to go stylle To drynke of water but my fylle. Thurste y haue vndurgone: My herte wyll breste and that anon Line 8112 Yf y for thurste ouyrcomen ware, Thou schuldyst be preysed neuer þe mare, But schame therof þou schuldyst haue, And thou warne me, that y craue, Line 8116 Y prey the for goddys sone, That made boþe þe sonne and mone And geue the grace well to spede In euery place and euery nede. Line 8120 And, yf thurste vpon the falle, Ȝeue þe leue to drynke y schall.' Then seyde Gye: 'y grawnte the To drynke ynogh in safete, Line 8124 So that efte þou geue me leue For to drynke, yf þurste me greue.' ¶ But, when þat he the leue hadde, He was neuer before so gladde. Line 8128 He ranne to þe watur, wythowte fayle, And vnlasyd hys ventayle, There as he was moste hate: For to drynke ynogh he thrate. Line 8132 'Knyȝt,' seyde þe gyawnt, 'ȝelde þe to me: Thy endynge day thou haste ysee. Euyll y haue begyled the, [folio 213b:1] When þou to drynke leue gaue me. Line 8136 I am freschar, then y was are: Thou schalt dye, wythowten care. My custome ys soche, y the say: Fyght y neuer so moche on a day, Line 8140 And y myght haue ony space My mouthe to wete wyth ony gras,

Sythen anon geue y no tale To fyght, where that euer y schale.' Line 8144 Then seyde Gye: 'noþyng drede y þe. [Line 8145 after 8146 in MS.] That þynge getyst þou not of me.' ¶ Togedur they streke, as ye may herke, And on þe helmes strokes they marke. Line 8148 Nother flewe a strawe brede: In þat tyme no dethe they drede. Togedur þey smeten to make þem tame: On ther bodyes þey dud schame. Line 8152 In pecys scheuyrde þey þer scheldus: They schente þer vysage wyth þer swyrdus. Amerawnt greuyd tho full hote And on the hedde Gye he smote. Line 8156 The pomell, þat on þe helme was, In sonder was smyten into þe place. The dynte felle on Gyes schoulder: Hys hawberke he smote þere in sonder. Line 8160 Wyth that he brake an hole wyde And woundyd Gye in the syde. In the ȝorthe a fote he smote: Of that men spake, wele y wote. Line 8164 Of that dynte Gye wondur hadde, That euer he myght set ony so sadde. Gye hym to ȝelde had grete desyre And Amerawnt he smote wyth grete yre: Line 8168 Wythynne the schelde a fote and more Hys swyrde hyt and bote sore. Sythen ageyn he hyt droghe, As a man, that was wery ynogh. Line 8172 ¶ Then seyde Gye to Amerawnt thore: [folio 213b:2] 'To the y telle wythowten more: Soche a thurste ys me befalle, But yf y drynke, y dye wythalle. Line 8176 Therfore, Amerawnt, y prey to the,

Of me þou woldyst haue pyte. Now that boone thou quyte me, That þou are behyghtest me, Line 8180 That y to drynke leue schulde haue, At what tyme y wolde hyt craue.' Amerawnt seyde: 'was þat þy thoght? Leeue to drynke getyste þou noght.' Line 8184 To that sarsyn answeryd Gye: 'Of me thou haue some mercye. Yf y for thurste dedde bee, For cowardyse men wolde wyte the. Line 8188 Wylt þou suffur, þat y drynke nowe (For hyt were gretly for my prowe), Then,' seyde Gye, 'we may fyght same, To wytt, who schall haue harme or game.' Line 8192 ¶ The gyawnt seyde: 'thou art smarte: I wyll not the holde for no cowarte. Y wolde not for þys cyte wyth þe gylte towre, But y myght stroye kynge Tryamowre. Line 8196 When y haue thy hedde of schorne And þe slayne the kynge beforne, Hys landys y nede not for to craue; For the beste of them y schall haue. Line 8200 The sowdan hath a doghtur dere: In all þys worlde y knowe not hur pere. Y loue hur well, so dothe sche me: The sowdan þynkyth to geue hur me. Line 8204 Ȝelde the,' he seyde, 'vnto me And of thy harnes vnlace the, And thy lyfe y schall saue soo: And, yf thou wylt not, y schall þe sloo.' Line 8208 ¶ Gye answeryd then wyth grete yre; 'Y wyll not ȝyt, leue syre. Hyt ys not þe custome of my londe. Arste wyll y be drawyn wyth horsys stronge, [folio 214a:1] Line 8212 Then euyr y schulde in soche a nede

Ȝelde me vnto soche a quede.' ¶ Then seyde Amerawnt: 'sey me now, Where were þou borne and what hyght þou? Line 8216 To let the drynke haue y thoght; For why þy name þou layne noght. Thou makeste men to clepe the, I trowe, not so, os hyt schulde bee. Line 8220 Yf þou on þe that name bare, Thou schuldyst be knowyn wyde whare. ¶ Gye answeryd: 'thou schalt here; Loke, thou ley hyt to thyn ere. Line 8224 Gye of Warwyk clepyd am y, Borne in Ynglonde, wytterlye. I fyght for Tryamowre the kynge The to take ouer all thynge Line 8228 And to delyuyr hym of fame stronge, That ys put on hym wyth wronge.' ¶ But, when Amerawnt vnduryode, That Gye there before hym stode, Line 8232 That so moche preysed was, Of hym had he wonder in þat place. He seyde: 'Gye, welcome mote þou bee. Ouyr all thynge desyred y the. Line 8236 Now wot y well, that sothe hyt ys, That men haue spokyn of þe or þys. But so, or y go, y schall the dere, That þy hed fro [fro altered from foo in MS.] þe body y wyll schere, Line 8240 And present hyt to my lemmon: Hyt schall be so, be seynt Mahowne. Now þat y am seker of Gye, Yf men wolde geue me all Hungurrye, Line 8244 To drynke y wolde not geue þe leue: Thou myghtest me sore aftur greue.' ¶ 'Lorde,' quod Gye, 'what schall y done? Leeue to drynke haue y noone.' Line 8248

Line 8248 Syþen he hath beþoght hym there [folio 214a:2] To lepe into the ryvere. Thedurwarde ys he gone: Drynke he muste or dye anone. Line 8252 Amerawnt folowed wyth hys swyrde: Gye was then sore aferde. Of the watur he was fayne. But god hym helpe, he ys but slayne. Line 8256 Now ys Gye bestadde sore, In þe water to þe gyrdull and more. Into þe watur hys hedde he threste To þe schoulders, or he wolde reste, Line 8260 And Amerawnt smote hym soo, That in þe water he knelyd thoo: The colde water abowte hym ranne. Gye start vp then, as a man. Line 8264 Then seyde Gye, that all myght here: 'Thou haste me hyt on ylle manere. Thou haste me baptysed, hyt ys þy schame. But ȝyt þou haste not chaunged my name.' Line 8268 ¶ Forthe of the water he came, y wote, And Amerawnt full soone he smote. Eyther hath other bethoght, How þey myght to grownde be broght. Line 8272 Of acorde was not speke: Eyther of odur wolde be awreke. 'A, felle fende,' seyde syr Gye, 'Thankyd be god full hastelye. Line 8276 Thorow þe water at þe brymme I was well holpyn soone þerynne. Yn þe affye y me no more, Traytoure,' he seyde, 'be goddys ore.' Line 8280 ¶ Then they togedur rathe Smote, as men, þat were wrathe. Fro the morne to the nyght, And at euyn were sterrys bryght, Line 8284

Line 8284 So haue þey foghtyn all that day, That no man þe bettur knowe may. [folio 214b:1] At a dynte, that Gye caste, Amerawnt to smyte he hyed faste. Line 8288 Of he smote hys ryght arme: Into þe felde hyt flewe full warme. When Amerawnt was smetyn soo, He was greuyd, as y troo. Line 8292 Vp he nome hys grete bronde And helde hyt faste in hys honde And assayled Gyowne, As he were a lyone, Line 8296 That had fasted xiiii nyght. But Gye defendyd hym, as a knyght: Fro Amerawnt he noþyng drowe, And Amerawnt was hote ynowe. Line 8300 Thorow þe blode, þat fro hym ranne, The dyntys lessud of that man. At a dynte, that Gye smote (Amerawnt felyd hyt full hote), Line 8304 The lyfte arme wyth þe schoulder boon, Hyt yede of and that anon. So nye Gye dud he gone, That almoste he felle hym vpon. Line 8308 Gye smote to hym faste And to þe grounde þe gyawnt caste. Hys ventayle he vnlasyd, y wote, And hys hedde of soone he smote. Line 8312 ¶ Wyth the boot he came passynge And caste hyt to Tryamowre þe kynge. The sowdan þere hym quyte made And all, that euyr he there hadd. Line 8316 To Alysawndur he went, þe ryche towne, And wyth hym broght he syr Gyowne And sythen he sende aftur erle Joonas, And he came to hym a gode pase. Line 8320

Line 8320 He kyssyd hym there full soone And hys sonnes euerychone And wythowte any respyte [folio 214b:2] Of pryson he made þem þere quyte. Line 8324 'Erle,' seyde tho the kynge, 'Thou schalt be my darlynge.' ¶ The kynge seyde: 'lorde, þat þe wroght, Geue, hyt were in thy thoght Line 8328 To dwelle stylle here wyth me. Golde and syluyr y wolde geue the: I wolde geue parte of my londe To cese hyt now into þy honde.' Line 8332 Gye seyde: 'hyt ys not in my thoght: To dwelle wyth þe kepe y noght.' ¶ The erle at þe kynge toke hys leue And prayed hym, þat he wolde hym not greue. Line 8336 To Jerusalem, the gode towne, The erle Joonas þoght to gone. But he at Gyes partynge Wolde wytt of hym some tythynge Line 8340 And, as they wente on þer waye, At þer partynge þe erle can say: 'Telle me, syr, for seynt Symonde, What ys þy name, in þys stownde, Line 8344 That makyste vs to clepe the Other weyes, then hyt schulde bee. I prey the, now we be same, Telle to me thy ryght name. Line 8348 I prey þe for þe loue of þe trynyte, Thy ryght name þou layne not fro me. ¶ Then seyde Gye to hym in haste: 'Erle Joonas, be Jesu Cryste, Line 8352 Loke, that þou layne hyt wole. Yf þou me bewrye, hyt ys dole. Gye of Warwyk ys my name. Yf þou me bewrye, þou mayste me shame. Line 8356

Line 8356 For the toke y the fyght And slewe þe gyawnt be goddys myght.' ¶ But, when he harde verelye, That hyt was syr Gye, Line 8360 To Gyes fete dud he falle, [folio 215a:1] And Gye toke hym vp þerwythall. 'Syr,' seyde þe erle, 'for goddys mercye, That thou goyst thus, say me, whye, Line 8364 And þou art so doghty and stronge: God made neuer a bettur schorte nor longe. The erledame of Durras y geue the, And many a man schall serue the, Line 8368 And y myselfe become thy man And my sonnes euerychone: All we schall be trewe to the And swere on boke to serue the. Line 8372 We schall noþynge chalenge fro þe Of honowre nor of dygnyte. Thou haste wonne hyt wyth þy hande, Thogh hyt were bettur, þen any lande; Line 8376 For, yf thou thyselfe ne were, We had be dedde and leyde on bere.' ¶ 'Erle Joonas,' tho seyde Gye, 'I thanke the moche and gramercye. Line 8380 To dere thou haddyst hyred me, Yf y thy landys toke fro the. Wende whome on þy way nowe: Goddys blessynge haue thou. Line 8384 I wyll home to myn own lande (Y haue so thoght, y [ye shall?] vndurstande) And neuyr efte see the more.' Wyth þat they kyssed and leue toke þore. Line 8388 To Durras þe erle wente agayne, As man, þat was nothynge fayne. ¶ Now goyth Gye god thankende [MS. thankande.]

For the honowre, god had hym sende. Line 8392 The londe he haþe thorow gone And soght the halowse euerychone. He sogernede wythynne þat londe nobell And sythen he went to Constantyne þe nobell. Line 8396