(12)
Thys feder bare me beyonde the see,
To gete me name in vncouth lande.
To robbe and slee, had I deynte,
Ne spared I neyther for no bande.
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Of holy churche toke I no yeme,
Bokes to take, ne vestement.
There myght nothyng so moche me queme
As robbe, or se an abbey brente.
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With streyngth I gate me grete aray,
Precious clothes, golde, and fee.
I thought full lytell on that day,
Parce michi, domine!
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(13)
When Nabugodonozor, ferse in fyght,
Ierusalem had thought to wynne,
And so he dyd with mayne and myght,
And brent the temples that were theryn,
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And all the golde that he there founde,
He toke with hym, and home gan ryde,
Hym thought there shuld nothyng withstonde;
Hys hert was sette so hygh in pryde,
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Tyll the kyng of myghtes moste
Brought hym there that lowest was,
And caught hym from hys ryall hoste,
And drofe hym to a wyldernesse.
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And there he lyuyd with herbe and rote,
Walkyng euer on foot and on honde,
Tyll cryste of mercy dede hym bote,
And hys pryson oute of bonde.
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Than sayde thys kyng these wordys y-wys:
'All thyng be, lorde, at thy pouste;
Mercy I crye, I haue do mys;
Parce michi, domine!'
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(14)
Whyle I had my streyngth at wyll,
ffull many a man I dyd vnreste.
They that wold nat myne heste fulfyll,
My knyfe was redy to hys breste.
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