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 ...

Lystenyth now, y schalle yow telle, [The letters of this line are as large in MS. as they use to be at the beginning of a poem.] [folio 231b:1] As y fynde in parchement spelle, Line 10788 Of syr Harrowde, þe gode baron, That lyeth in Awfryke in pryson. Porely he ys besemydde, That lyfe hym vnneþe ys beleuedde; Line 10792 For lytull he etyth and lasse drynketh: There ys none, [none seems to be a mistake for moche or ynowe or the like.] þat hym forthynketh; And bemoonyth sore hys lordys sone, For whome he ys there in prysone. Line 10796 There he weneþ anon ryght to dye And not to skape be no weye And bemoonyth hys gret sorowe Bothe on euyn and on morowe, Line 10800 Hys ryches and his feyrehedde, Hys grete byrthe and hys stalworþehedde. ¶ The geyler harde hym, þere he stode, And hys moonyng vndurȝode Line 10804

Line 10804 Of hys strenkyth and of hys myght. To þe admerall he came tho ryght. 'Syr, wot ye not,' seyde he, 'What prysoner in yowre pryson haue ye? Line 10808 Of soche oon haue y not harde, aplyght, Of soche pryce nor of soche myght.' Then seyde the admyrall: [that y anon wytt struck out after admyrall in the same line.] 'That y anon wyt schall. Line 10812 Brynge hym,' he seyde, 'before me, And y schall wytt, what ys hee. Of soche a man y haue grete nede, Yf y myght tryste hym and hys dede.' Line 10816 ¶ The geyler forþe went anon: To the gayle he ys gone. Harrowde vp he drewe anon, That was full megur and a febull mon: Line 10820 Hys berde was whyte ouergrowen wyth here; For grete mysese he suffurde there. Ther ys no man, þat hym knowe myght Nodur be semblant nor be syght: Line 10824 Noght hys modur, þat hym bere, [folio 231b:2] Kowde not haue knowyn hym þere. Gret he was, mekyll and longe: Well he semydde myghty and stronge. Line 10828 Before þe admerall he hym ledyth: Then of hys lyfe well sore he dredyþ. ¶ Then seyde the admerall (Of ryches he hath no pere egall) Line 10832 And spake to Harrowde, þe gode baron, And askyd of hym mony a reson, Who he was and of what londe And yf he batell durste take on hande, Line 10836 As he was hymselfe knowe, When he was in pryson lowe,

Þat odur folke [k in folke altered from d in MS.] hym here myght, Bothe be day and be nyght; Line 10840 And yf he myght of hym be sekure Odur in batell or in bekur And to serue hym trewlye. And he wolde wyth holde hym blyþelye Line 10844 And armes hym geue gode, aplyght, To mayntene hys warres in all ryȝt. ¶ Then seyde Harrowde, þat nobull man: 'Syr, y schall telle the, as y can. Line 10848 Harrowde y hyȝt, þe Englysche knyȝt. In me ys nodur mayn nor myght: Yf my strenkyþ were ageyne comen, That me in pryson was benomen, Line 10852 And þou me fowndest gode armewre, [MS. armowre.] That were boþe gode, mete and sewre, In me myghtyst þou wele affye, Be hym, þat borne was of Marye.' Line 10856 The admerall answeryd Harrawde, [MS. hawde.] A gentyll knyght and no rybawde: 'Thou schalt haue harnes sekur ynogh And all, that þou haste nede too. Line 10860 Syth þou were in Ynglonde bore, Sey me the sothe, wyth [wythowte?] othe yswore, [folio 232a:1] Yf þou knewe oght of Gye, That y haue harde so moche preysye.' Line 10864 ¶ 'Be god,' quod Harrowde, 'y knewe hym well: Hys knyght y was and ȝyt y wyll.' 'For soþe, y wolde,' quod the admerall, 'That y hym had geuyn þe halfen dell Line 10868 Of all my londys brode and wyde, Wyth þat he stode the besyde: Mekull he myght helpe me To maynten my warres, y telle þe.' Line 10872

Line 10872 He forþe clepyþ hys chaumberleyne, That was a gode knyght and no sweyne: In feyre cloþys he bad [bad omitted in MS.] hym schredde and dyȝt And harnes grayþe feyre and bryght. Line 10876 ¶ The admerall to Harrowde spekyth. 'Syr,' he seyde, 'my herte in two brekyth: The kynge Argus full of boste Ageyne me werryþ, well þou woste, Line 10880 That of all my grete realme [Perhaps we ought to read reawme.] He haþ me lefte but þys cyte, þat y in am. And that ys thorowe a yonglynge, A knyght vncowthe of newe dubbyng, Line 10884 That hath my londe ferre [First e in ferre uncertain in MS.] brent and stroyede And me well swythe sore anoyede For my folke, þat he hath slawe And þorow hym broȝt fro lyfe dawe. Line 10888 And yf thou myght wyth anythynge Hym confownde or to dethe brynge, Be Mahownde and Termagawnte, Y schall the to honowre avawnte.' Line 10892 Harrowde answeryd, þat nobull man: 'Syr,' he seyde, 'y schall, yf y can. Jesu, seynt Maryes sone, Me to helpe [The abbreviation for and blotted out after helpe in MS.] vnto strenkyþ come.' Line 10896 ¶ Ther come a messengere swyþe bolde: To þe admerall grete heuynes he tolde, That þe kyngys constabull Argus Prowde and sterne and cureus, [folio 232a:2] Line 10900 Oon of hys castels hath besett And hys men slayne wythowten lett: 'Ther ys not oon on lyue scapyd.' Then þe admerall gret dole makyd. Line 10904 Anon he comawndyd hys constabull,

A stalworth knyght, wythowten fabull, That he were armyd swythe anon And all hys men euerychone. Line 10908 And he so dud well hastelye Swythe well and ryghtlye. Harrowde hys gode hors bestryte [MS. hors dud bestryte. See the note.] Line 10911 Wyth a spere in hys hande, þat sharply wolde byte, And wendyd owte of that cyte And ouyrgoyth all that cuntre, And comen in a lytull stownde, There þey haue þe castell fownde, Line 10916 Well straunge assayled and besett: Many oon þere was well euelly grett. Helmes [MS. He liues.] men sye boþe bryȝt and schene, And stedys nye togedur ȝedyn. Line 10920 Yn yron was mony a knyght On hors back redy for to fyght. Eydur odur can assaylye And eydur smote odur wyth envye Line 10924 Harrowde a sarsyn smote, That dedde he felle anon fote hote: A nodur and the thrydde also All dedde he fellyd to grounde tho. Line 10928 Dedde felle all, þat hys handys raght: Well to smyte ne spared he noght. Dede þey lay in the feldys wyde. Harrowde was preysed on euery syde: Line 10932 All they sayde, hyt [hyt altered from hys in MS.] was a fende, That þe deuell had thedur sende. ¶ The kyngys own stewarde, A stalworthe knyght and no cowarde Line 10936 (Ther was neuer an hardyar sarsyn Nor more seruyd Mahownde and Apolyn), [folio 232b:1]

Harrowde he gretyd and hys folkes euerychon, And to Harrowde he come anon Line 10940 And wyth hys swyrde so bytturly smote, That þorowowt Harrowdes shelde hyt bote. Sythen þey drewe þer swyrdys kene And smote togedur wyth grete tene. Line 10944 The constabull ys ouyr ygoo: Of Harrowdes folkes he wrekyd hym þo. Harrowde mony of hys men dud lese, But he cowmfortyd þem neuer þe lese: Line 10948 Than þe constabull þey ouyrcomen And almoste hym there had nomen, But aweywarde he flewe well hastelye, And Harrowde hym folowed stronglye. Line 10952 The constabull goyth awey fleynge And be hys flanke þe blode downe rennynge. Harrowde hym folowed vpon a rabyte, And he euyr fleyng and dyscowmfyte, Line 10956 And Harrowde hym ouyrtakyth And hys helme on hys hedde he crakyth. Grete strokys togedur þey dud smyte Wyth ther swyrdys, þat well cowde byte. Line 10960 Harrowde hym nome in that fyght, And agayn he ledde hym anon ryght. ¶ Toward hys felows he can dryue And prysoners he ladde moo, þen fyve, Line 10964 And so all, þat þey wolde haue, þey had þo And to the cyte be they goo; And a knyght hardy and bolde To the admerall hath tolde, Line 10968 That Harrowde was so gode a knyght: 'So gode was neuer sene in fyght. And þe constabull he hath ynome And hys men yslawe and ouercome.' Line 10972 ¶ Harrowde come forthe anon ryght, Before þe admerall dud he lyght.

The constabull he [he omitted in MS.] ȝalde hym hastelye, [folio 232b:2] And he toke hym well gladlye. Line 10976 'Harrowde,' seyde þe admyrall anon, 'Thou haste dyscomfett my foon. My lefe frende, y grawnt the The maystry to haue of þys cuntre. Line 10980 I make þe my constabull: Thou þe ne holde hyt for no fabull.' ¶ Of Harrowde men haue moche dowte Boþe wythynne þe cyte and wythowte. Line 10984 Harrowde not longe þere abydyþ, But fro þem soon he rydyth Thorow þe londe and þat [cyte blotted out after þat in MS.] cuntre: Castels and cytees conquered hee, Line 10988 That þe admerall had forgone: He conqueryd them euerychone. The kynge he doyþ grete harme, aplyȝt: Hys men he slewe downe ryght. Line 10992 ¶ When þe kynge harde thys, That þe constabull takyn ys And hys men slayne in þe felde also And hys barons dyscowmfyt boþe too, Line 10996 He ys wroþe þerfore and well sorye And wyth angur wele can aske in hye, Why hyt ys and wherefore, That hys men be thus forlore. Line 11000 Then answeryd to hym a knyght: 'Syr, y shall telle þe anon ryght. To the admyrall ys ycome A swyþe moche myȝty grome, Line 11004 An olde hore knyȝt and a belde: Soche a nodur come neuer in felde. In all þys londe þer ys not soche a knyȝt, Were he neuer so well ydyȝt, Line 11008 That hys stroke myȝt adrye,

But he schulde hyt sore abye.' ¶ Þe kynge þerof had moche wondur (He þoȝt, hys herte wolde breke in sondur), Line 11012 And comawndyd þere anon ryghtys [folio 233a:1] To assemble an c thousand knyȝtys Wyth strenkyþ to take þe admyrall, 'And hys fowle hed of smyte y schall. Line 11016 Fro þens depart wyll y noght, Or y hym haue to dethe broght And that olde churle hye honge: Hys rewle lastyth a lytull to longe.' Line 11020 ¶ Hys oost he can togedur bede And vpon þe admyrall strongly he yede And dystroyed hys castels and hys cytees: That Harrowde wanne, ageyne he les. [MS. lesys.] Line 11024 ¶ The admyrall hys folke can bede, Lytull and mykell in all hys lede, And Harowde to hym came þo ryghtys, That was þe beste of all þe knyghtys. Line 11028 There archers anon he dyght And graythed them all redy to fyght. Sythen þey smetyn to [gedur sone blotted out after to in MS.] þer foon And woundys made þorow flesche and boon. Line 11032 Harde þey smetyn on odur syde And redyn and prekyd be þe feldys wyde. Grete harme þey dud þe kynge there And slewe hys men, þat stalworthe were. Line 11036 Stronglye hym wrathed þo þe kynge And to hys folke he made chalynge. [callynge?] Hyt was feyre day and ferre fro nyght: Many oon was dradde in that fyght. Line 11040 Wyth sorow many dyed there Of the knyghtys, þat well cowde were. ¶ The admyrall in that stownde

Fellyd ys downe to the grownde Line 11044 And many of hys men hath he lore: Well swyþe wo he ys therfore. Hys knyghtys all tohewen bee And þorow þe felde faste can flee, Line 11048 But they turned soone ageyne And assayled þe kynge vpon a grene, And he hym defendyd, as a man: [folio 233a:2] All, þat he smote, felle downe þan. Line 11052 ¶ Harrowde that can aspye And to hym soone drewe nye. Betwene hym and hys men he wendyþ And harde strokys to hym he sendyþ. Line 11056 But þe steward soone come can For to helpe hys lorde than, And þorow strenkyþ and þorow myȝt Harrowde wanne þe steward ryght, Line 11060 And aftur þat he gate an hors And to þe admyrall swyþe goys And horsyd hym full myghtylye In mavgre of þose, þat stode hym by. Line 11064 Of many he made þe hedde of to fleyn Of þem, þat stode hym agayne. The kynge he assayled and hys men And ouyrþrewe þem in þe fenne. Line 11068 The kynge was well wroþe wythall, When he sye hys men to grounde falle. Thorow them that ylke day He demyd to fayle of hys pray. Line 11072 He þoght, þe warse went on hys syde. There he wolde no lenger abyde: Homewarde fleyng faste he goyth [geth: seth?] And wenyth, that no man hyt ne seyth. [geth: seth?] Line 11076 ¶ And, when Harrowde þat aspyed, That the kynge ageynwarde flyede,

Harrowde hym folowed faste, Whyll þat þe stede wolde laste. Line 11080 He had hym take or ellys ynome Or in batell haue be [haue be I suppose must be omitted.] ouercome, But þat þer come a yonglynge: Of all þe todur he myght be kynge. Line 11084 When [MS. Then.] he sawe þe kynge fleande And Harrowde [Harrowde written over the kynge struck out.] aftur hym dryuande, Then he [he omitted in MS.] þe kynge soone to socowre ȝode And seyde to Harrowde, as he rode: Line 11088 'Thou olde and forhoryd man, [Before this a whole line seems to be erased in MS.] [folio 233b:1] Well lytull wytt ys the an, That þou folowest owre kynge, That y loue ouyr all thynge. Line 11092 Thou schalt abye, or thou goo, For þou haste wroȝt vs moche woo. That gode stede, þat ys thyne, Y hope to god, he schall be myne.' Line 11096 He smote at Harrowde soone anon And sende hym strokys gode won, And to the todur hym well smote Wyth a swyrde, þat well bote, Line 11100 That bothe þey felle of þer stedys. And syþen þer swerdys þey drewe, wythowte dredys: Grete strokys þey smyten there Vpon the helmys, that trysty were. Line 11104 They hewe þe helme wyth golde enclosed And the brymme small ymaylydde. Togedur þey smete wyth swyrdys bryght: Eydur odur to sloo they dud þer myght. Line 11108 ¶ Harrowde hym drewe soone besyde; For he wolde no lenger abyde. 'Knyght,' he seyde, 'gode and hende,

Telle me, or þou hens wende, Line 11112 So almyghty god saue the, Where were þou borne and in what cuntre, And do wyselye and ȝelde the rathe, That y do the no more scathe. Line 11116 Swyþe yonge þou art, so þynketh me: Grete harme hyt were, and y slewe þe.' ¶ And he answeryd anon ryght: 'So helpe me god and hys myght, Line 11120 Thou schalt not wytt, who y am, For me nor for no nodur man. Arste y schall þy hedde of smyte, Allþogh þou holde of me so lyte, Line 11124 But yf thou before telle mee, Of whens þou art and of what cuntre; [folio 233b:2] For soche a cuntre þou name myȝt, Þat þou schalt go quyte fro þys fyȝt. Line 11128 Thou art olde and whyte yblowe: Thy myght ys slakyd syn, y trowe. Me þynkyþ, hyt were a lytull maystry For [F in For altered from T in MS.] to cawse the to dye.' Line 11132 ¶ Harrowde answeryd: 'y telle þe, Soche be þe men of my cuntre: When þey be well strekyn in elde, Then þey waxe stronge and belde. Line 11136 Or y depart now fro the, Yonge ynogh þou schalt fynde me.' ¶ Anon togedur þey smetyn faste: Nodur of odur was agaste. Line 11140 Smarte strokys togedur þey geuyn, [No rhyme. Perhaps two lines are wanting. See the note.] That the vales all todynnon. [No rhyme. Perhaps two lines are wanting. See the note.] Men myght kenne on euery syde The blode owt of þer bodyes glyde. Line 11144

Line 11144 ¶ Tho Harrowde seyde: 'syr knyght, Abyde now a lytull wyght And stynte in pees a lytull þrowe, Yf y þe myght bettur knowe. Line 11148 For soþe y telle þe now ryght, That y haue be in mony a fyght And mony an harde stowre ouercomen And many a knyȝt in batell nomen. Line 11152 Yf þou were of me ware, How y am preysed wyde whare, Thou woldyst noþyng schame þe Thy name for to telle me. Line 11156 I beseke the, syr knyght, For hys loue, þat þys worlde haþ dyȝt, That þou thy name telle me, Where þou were borne and in what cuntre, Line 11160 And here y my trowthe plyght, Y schall the telle anon ryght, Of whens y am and what men clepe me And where y was borne and in what cuntre.' Line 11164 ¶ Wyth that he wythdrewe hym there [folio 234a:1] Wyth sterne semblant and harde chere: 'Knyght,' he seyde, 'þou art well wyse, Wyght, hardy and of mekyll pryce. Line 11168 Thorow strenkyth y wolde not þe telle: Arste y wolde myselfe let qwelle; But, for þou in loue besechyst me Thyn askynge y schall telle the. Line 11172 I was borne yn Ynglonde Yn Warwyk, as y vndurstonde. Syr Gye my fadur was: A bettur knyght neuyr nas. Line 11176 When he owte of þat londe wente, A knyght he louyd veramente: Hys name was Harrowde of Arderne. Wyth hym y was þe werre to lerne: Line 11180

Line 11180 He me forþe bredde and louyd me myche [MS. moche.] And kepyd me well worschypfullyche. And marchandys [y in marchandys all but gone in consequence of a worm|hole.] me awey ladde (Therfore Harrowde moche sorowe made) Line 11184 And broght me into thys londe And gafe me to þe kynge in honde. Hys doghtur swyþe me forþe bredde In hur bowre and well me fedde. Line 11188 The kynge dubbyd me a knyght: So bad hys doghtur, þat swete wyght, And holpe me to thys stownde, That y mett wyth þe on þys grownde.' Line 11192 ¶ Whan Harrowde ouerharde thys Of Reynbowrne, how hyt ys Hys owne kynde lordes sone, For whome mekyll sorow he haþ ouercome: Line 11196 He forsoke hys swyrde and hys schylde And toward heuyn hys handys vp helde And seyde: 'lorde, þat all thynge wroght And mannys sowle fro helle boght, Line 11200 Looued thou be of thys day, That y my lordys sone see may.' ¶ For yoye he wepyd and wrothe hys hande, On fote he myght no lenger stande: Line 11204 In swownyng he felle þere to grownde [folio 234a:2] That sawe Reynbowrne þat ylke stownde. Betwene hys armes areryd hym hee: Of hym he toke grete pyte. Line 11208 Harrowde vpon hys fete hym dyght: Reynbowrne had wondur of þat syght. 'Syr knyght, mercye,' quod he; 'Who thou art, telle hyt me.' Line 11212 Soone answeryd Harrowde þe knyght,

That wyth Reynbowrn had holdyn þe fyght: 'Some tyme well þou knewe me In Wallyngforde, my chefe cyte.' Line 11216 ¶ When Reynbowrn þus hym harde speke, For dole hyt wolde hys herte breke. At hys fete he felle to grounde And seyde: 'Harrowde, allas þys stownde! Line 11220 Haue mercy on me, yf thou wylt: All to mekyll ys my gylte.' What for pyte and what for yoye, Bothe in swowne felle they, Line 11224 And aftur lyght vpon þer stedys [steden: yeden?] And toward the cyte boþe þey yede. [steden: yeden?] Then þe admyrall þey tolde þare Of ther acorde and of ther fare, Line 11228 And he hym worschypped well swyþe; For hym he was bothe glad and blyþe, That the kynge ys ouercome And hys men slayne and ynome. Line 11232 ¶ They askyd lycence for to goo Into þe cuntre, þey came fro. The admerall preyed þem to dwelle stylle, But þat was noþynge of þer wylle. Line 11236 But, when he sawe, þat þey wolde wende, He offurde þem, as man full hende, Golde and syluyr grete plente To lede wyth þem into þer cuntre. Line 11240 Schyp þey fownde þere redy dyght: They went theryn that ylke nyght. So longe þey wente saylande, That comyn þey were vpon þe lande. [folio 234b:1] Line 11244 All that day þey haue gone, But castell nor cyte fonde þey non, Tyll hyt was at the euyn tyde. They sye a castell nye besyde: Line 11248

Line 11248 Hyt was all wastyd wyth warre and fyȝt. To þe ȝate þey came full ryght. ¶ Then quod Harrowde to þe portere: 'Speke wyth me, for seynt Rychere. Line 11252 Who ys lorde of thys cuntre? We aske harbowre for charyte. To morne ȝerly, when hyt ys day, We wyll wende forthe owre way.' Line 11256 The porter seyde: 'be thys day, Of my lorde can y not say, But in þe halle ys my lady Full sorowfull and full drery: Line 11260 For hur lorde, that ys forlorne, Sche mornyth boþe euyn and morne, But to my lady wyll y goo And telle hur of yow twoo.' Line 11264 ¶ The porter went into þe halle: Before þe lady he can down falle. 'Madame,' he seyde, 'here wythowt Stonde ii knyghtys bolde and stowte. Line 11268 That oon ys yonge, þat othur ys olde: They seme bothe curtes and bolde. They be men of farre cuntre, By ther array as semyth me, Line 11272 And boþe þey be of vncowthe lande And þey beseche þe, y vndurstande, Of harbowre for thys nyght For the loue of god almyght, Line 11276 And ȝerly at morowe ryse þey wyll And no lenger abyde they nylle.' ¶ And þe lady comawndyd þem in to come And preyde to Cryste of heuyn, godys sone, Line 11280 That sche þat day byde myght [folio 234b:2] Of hur lorde to haue a syght. The porter ȝede ageyne anon And swyþe he let þem in goon. Line 11284

Line 11284 At þe halle dore þey dud lyght, The two gode knyghtys of grete myȝt. Serjawntys lepyn [MS. Syr James Epyen.] anon ryght, Wyth grete wylle þer harnes dud dyȝt Line 11288 And toke þer lawncys and þer sheldys [sperys before sheldys first altered to shelys, but after|wards struck out.] And leyde þem vpon þe teldes. The lady grett them feyre anon And vnarmyd þem swythe soon: Line 11292 ¶ To mete she ladde þem fayre ydyght And to soper set þem anon ryght. Of seruyse they had grete plente; And, when þey had ete and dronke in hye, Line 11296 Harrowde askyd of þe lady thys, What hur lordys name ys. And sche answeryd: 'y schall þe telle, Not oon worde lye y nylle: Line 11300 De la Mowntayn syr Amys. Now ther ys none of more pryce. A steward ther was in Almayn, That made mony a wyckyd bargeyn. Line 11304 Stewarde he was wyth the emperowre: God geue hym mysauentowre. Hys lordys traytour prouyd he was, For whom we be in sorowfull case; Line 11308 For Gye of Warwyk we louyd well, And my lorde hym recetted in hys castelle For the dewkys dethe Oton, A thefe, a traytowre, a false felon; Line 11312 And syþen we flewe owte of þat lande And in þys cuntre we were of stande. Thys cuntre ys full of eluys: [MS. eluysche.] The mekyll Ardern yclepyd hyt ys. Line 11316 An eluysch knyȝt longyth þertoo:

Moche sorow he hath vs doo. [folio 235a:1] Wyth hym oones faght my lorde And many a dynte gafe hym wyth hys sworde. [MS. swyrde.] Line 11320 To many men he dud owtrage, To yoman, grome, squyer and page. He hente my lorde at a tyde And gafe hym strokys full vnryde. Line 11324 Noþyng myȝt depart hys hawberk wele, Swyrde nor spere ne knyfe of stele. He chasyd my lorde halfe a day: Thorowowt þe wode he flewe away. Line 11328 There he hath made a queynt gynne: A man, þat comyth onys therynne, But yf hyt were þorow godys grace, Comyth he neuer owt of that place. Line 11332 Thorow trechery of þat knyght My lorde had full mekyll vnryght. Sethyn harde y neuer of hym tyþande Nor neuyr schall, y vndurstande.' Line 11336 ¶ 'Lorde,' seyde Harrowde, 'hyght he Amys, Of þe Mowntayn þe gode marchys? He was my frende and my felawe: To hym wolde y full ferre drawe. Line 11340 A, my dere soone Reynbowrne, How he louyd thy fadur Gyown, And so syr Gye louyd hym dere; For he had ofte to hym mystere. Line 11344 We schall hym helpe, yf me may spede: To owre socowre he hath grete nede.' Reynbowrn answeryd: 'þorow godys grace Yn þat forest now wyll y chace. Line 11348 I schall neuer stynte nor blynne, Madame, or y thy lorde wynne.' The lady seyde: 'for seynt Mary, Ne be þou not to folehardy. Line 11352

Line 11352 Ȝyf þou passe wythynne that gynne, Ther schall neuer man ageyn þe wynne.' ¶ Full feyre were ther beddys dyght: [folio 235a:2] They lay and slepyd all þat nyght. Line 11356 They arose soon in the mornynge And dyȝt þem wythowte dwellynge. When Reynbowrn was all redy dyght And armyd well to hys ryght, Line 11360 Hys gode stede he bystrode And owt of þe castell he þen rode. 'Harrowde,' he seyde, 'þou schalt dwelle here And make the lady full gode chere. Line 11364 I schall here holde, þat y hur behyght, And brynge hur lorde þorow godys myght.' Syr Harrowde wolde wyth hym haue goon, But he wolde haue neuyr oon. Line 11368 Syr Harrowde was in drede of hym sore: To Jesu Cryste he betoke hym thore. ¶ Reynbowrn went forthe and Harrowde he lefte þare: To the foreste he can fare. Line 11372 Euyr he speryd the ryght way, And men hym taght, how hyt lay: He knewe þe markys of that place. Then he was in a parels case. Line 11376 Well longe he rode forthe, y say, Tyll hyt was none of that day: Wyth that he sawe hym besyde An hylle wyth ȝatys feyre and wyde. Line 11380 Tho he blessyd hym wyth hys ryȝt honde And into the hylle he wonde. The ȝatys closyd, when he in wente: Full sore he drade hym to be schente. Line 11384 Hyt was darke: syght had he none, Well halfe a myle tyll he had gone. Then he sawe a lyght full clere And he beganne to make gode chere. Line 11388

Line 11388 ¶ He sawe a watur depe and brode: Thedurwarde full faste he rode. Beȝonde þe watur he sawe a grene: A feyrer had neuer kynge nor quene. [folio 235b:1] Line 11392 All maner flowrys grewe there, That of any vertews were. Ther was in þat herber grene All spycys, that myght bene. Line 11396 Wythynne þer stode a palays bryght: A feyrer had neuer kynge nor knyȝt. The postys were of fyne corall And þe sparrys of cydre medylde wythall. Line 11400 Of fyne corall were the stonys Medulde wyth metall for þe nonys. Some were of safewrs and some of saradyn And some were emrodys fyne. Line 11404 Hyt was closyd, that ylke palays, Wythynne þe wallys wyth saradyns. [Corrupt. See note.] Hyt was bataylyd longe and wyde Wyth flowrys coruyn on euery syde. Line 11408 All were þe wallys of marbull fre. Before þe ȝatys there stode a tree: Theryn were fowlys nyght and day, That songyn mony a mery lay. Line 11412 The nobull array of þat ylke halle Y haue no tyme to telle yow all; For, yf y schulde hyt yow telle, All to longe y schulde here dwelle. Line 11416 ¶ Raynbowrn all awondurd was Ouyr that watur for to passe. He prouyd þe watur wyth hys spere, Yf þat hys hors myȝt hym ouer bere. Line 11420 But he nyghed no maner grownde: He was full drery in that stownde. But tyll hymselfe he can say,

That he schulde neuer wende away, Line 11424 Tyll he wyste, yf that he myght, What was þat yoye and that lyght. ¶ He blessyd hym wyth hys ryght honde And syþen into þe watur he wonde. [folio 235b:2] Line 11428 That watur hym closyd all wythynne Fro the fote vp to the chynne. He felle depe, or he myght ryse, Thretty fote of longe assyse. Line 11432 God he cryed mercy thare. The stede was gode, þat hym bare, And also connyng and well lyght And lawncyd vp wyth full grete myȝt Line 11436 And fastenyd hys fete vpon þe londe þan, And Raynbowrn was a yoyfull man And þankyd god heuyn kynge, That he wolde hym owt of parell brynge. Line 11440 ¶ To þe paleys he hym dyght: Before þe halle downe he lyght. Syþen he went into þe halle And fownde no man, þat wolde hym calle. Line 11444 Fro chaumbur to chaumbur he can fare: Mony a mervell he fonde thare. He come into a chaumbur of stone: Therynne he fonde a knyȝt allone. Line 11448 He hym gret on feyre manere: Awondurd he was, what he dud þere. 'Syr knyght,' he seyde, 'for seynt Martyn, Ys all þys feyre paleys thyn? Line 11452 Or what man ys lorde here? Whethur ys he farre or nere? Wyth hym wolde y aqweyntud bee. And also, syr knyght, for charyte, Line 11456 Telle me þy name, my frende so dere, And why þou lyest on þys manere.' ¶ And he answeryd: 'y hyght Amys.

I was some tyme a knyȝt of pryse. Line 11460 Hedur y come thorow trechery: Therfore y þus in person lye. Of all þys ys myn nothynge, Y the telle, wythowte lesynge; Line 11464 But he, that ys lorde here, [folio 236a:1] He ys full felle on all manere. He come owte of elves londe. All thys ys hys in thys londe: Line 11468 The palays and thys foreste wyde All ys hys on euery syde. Soche vertue hath þys palays, Men myȝt leve þeryn allways, Line 11472 Nor he schulde neuyr older bee, Then when he comyþ to þys cuntre.' ¶ Tho seyde Raynbowrn: 'art þou Amys, The gode knyȝt of so mekyll pryce? Line 11476 Thorowowte þe forest y haue þe soȝt And hedur y am in parell broght. But, now y haue þe fownde here, Thou schalt go wyth me, be seynt Rychere. Line 11480 I schall þe lede to thy wyfe: Sche ys full trewe [t in trewe all but gone in consequence of a worm-hole.] in hur lyfe.' Amys answeryd: 'for my loue, let bee. Moche wondur y haue of the, Line 11484 How and on what manere Thou were so hardy to come here. Ther come neuer man in þys hylle Thorow qweyntys nor þorow grylle, Line 11488 But yf the lorde hym hedur broght: But þorow hys leue come þou noght. How myghtyst þou me fro parell brynge And mayste not þyselfe for noþynge? Line 11492 Yf thou ledde me now away, For oght, þat euyr þou do may,

Or we were paste a furlonge, We schulde be slayne wyth peynys stronge; Line 11496 For he, that ys lorde here, He ys full felle, be seynt Rychere. Yf he were fro hens a thousande myle, He wolde wete wythynne a whyle Line 11500 All, that euyr we [MS. he.] wolde haue done, And be here at vs full soone.' [folio 236a:2] ¶ Reynbowrn seyde: 'drede þat noght. We schall do well, as y haue þoght. Line 11504 Ryse vp, for the trynyte, And come forthe boldely wyth me. Be god of heuen and seynt Mary, Yf any man be so hardy Line 11508 To holde vs here ageyn owre wylle, I schall wyth hym play full ylle: Wyth my swyrde, þat well can byte, I schall hym full sore smyte.' Line 11512 ¶ Then quod Amys: 'let be þy fare. Hyt ys not worþe to speke no mare. Wyth no strenkyþ of þyn arme Wyth þy wepyn þou schalt hym not harme. Line 11516 But take þys swerde, þat hangyth here Besyde me on thys pyllere: Wyth that swyrde þou schalt hym tane, Yf euyr thou schalt hym slane.' Line 11520 ¶ Then he drewe owte þat swyrde bryght: Thereþorow þen was all þat chaumbur lyȝt. In he put hyt agayne: Of that swyrde he was full fayne. Line 11524 To Amys he wente forthe than And toke hym vp, as a man. Bothe vpon þat stede þey strode And full faste forþe þey rode. Line 11528 ¶ As he can faste forwarde ryde,

They sye a knyght þem besyde, A feyre knyght faste prekande Well armyd wyth a spere in hys hande. Line 11532 'Syr knyȝt,' he seyde, 'abyde a throwe. Me þynkyþ, þou doyst ageyn þe lawe. How were þou now so folehardye To passe the watur so boldelye Line 11536 And come into my palays here My preson to breke on þys manere? Thus dud neuer man ere [folio 236b:1] Wythowt my leue, or y here where. Line 11540 Bothe schulle ye dwelle wyth me: Ye schall neuyr delyuyrd bee. Here schall ye leue yowre hedys baþe, Y yow plyght here, full rathe.' Line 11544 ¶ Amys starte forthe full lyght. Syr Raynbowrn can to hym dyȝt: The elvysch knyȝt smote hym full sare Wyth that swyrde, that he bare, Line 11548 And he to hym wyth all hys myght. There beganne a grete fyght. Hawberke and schylde he smote in twoo, Hys helme of stele he dud alsoo. Line 11552 Raynbowrn began to þynke than On hys fadur Gye, the nobull man. He smote as faste, as he myght drye, The eluysch knyȝt on þe helme so hye. Line 11556 He bowyd yn a fote the panne: The elvysch knyȝt to þe grownde yede þan. The swyrde owt of hys hande he reuydde And schulde haue smetyn of hys heuydde, [MS. hedde.] Line 11560 But then he began to crye: 'Syr Reynbowrn, for godys mercy! Well y wote, thou art full ryght Gyes sone, the nobull knyght. Line 11564

Line 11564 Sle me not, and on that couenande Y schall the ȝelde all my lande And all, þat be in my prysown, And all þe gode in my bandown; Line 11568 And feyre and well y schall þe brynge Owte of the hylle wythowte lettynge.' Tho seyde Reynbowrn: 'be seynt Myghelle, Of thy tresowre kepe y no delle, Line 11572 But delyuer þe prysoners echoon, For god,' he seyde, 'ryght anoon.' Into þe palays he went thare And delyuyrde lesse and mare: Line 11576 Wythowte peny or farthynge [folio 236b:2] He dud them forthe brynge. Owt of þe wode into a playne He broȝt þem all and went agayne. Line 11580