The Petworth ms. of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[Tale.]

Liþes and listneþ and harkneþ a-riȝt [¶ þe tale of yonge Gamelyne] And ȝe shul here of a doughty knyȝt Sir Iohn of boundes was his name He coude of Norture and of mochel game Line 4 Thre sones þe knyght had and wiþ his body he wan The eldest was a moche schrewe and sone bygan His breþer loued wel her fader and of him were agast Þe eldest deserued his faders curs and had it atte last Line 8 Þe good knyght his fadere lyued so yore Þat deþ was commen to hym . and handled hym ful sore Þe Good knyght cared sore . sik þer he lay How his children shuld lyuen after his day Line 12 He had ben wide where . but non husbonde he was Al þe londe þat he had it was purchas/ ffayn he wold it were dressed among hem alle That eche of hem had his parte as it myȝt falle Line 16 þoo sente he in to contrey after wise knyȝtes To helpen delen his londes; and dressen hem to riȝtes He sent hem word by letters; þei shul hie blyve Yf þei wolk speke wiþ hym; whilst he was a lyve Line 20

Line 20 Whan þe knyȝtes harden sik þat he lay Had þei no rest neiþer: nyȝt ne day Til þei come to hym; þer he lay stille On his deþes bedde/ to abide goddys wille Line 24 Than seide þe good knyght seke þer he lay [folio 62b] Lordes I ȝou warne for soþ wiþ-out nay I may no lenger lyuen here in þis stounde fsor þorgh goddis wille; deþ droueþ me to grounde Line 28 þer nas noon of hem alle; þat herd hym ariȝt þat þei ne had routh; of þat ilke knyȝt And seide sir for goddes loue; dismay ȝou nouȝt God may don boote of bale; þat is now ywrouȝt Line 32 þan speke þe good knyȝt; sik þer he lay Boote of bale god may sende; I wote it is no nay But I bisecche ȝo^u knyȝtes for þe loue of me Goþ and dresseþ my londes; among my sones þre Line 36 And for þe loue of god deleþ not amys And forgeteþ not Gamelyne; my ȝong sonne þat is/ Takeþ hede to þat oon as wel as to þat oþere Seelde ȝe seen eny hier . helpen his broþere Line 40 þoo lete þei þe knyght lyen; þat was not in hele And wenten into counsell his londes forto dele Forto delen hem alle to on; þat was her þouȝt And for Gamelyn was ȝongest he shuld haue nouȝt Line 44 All þe londe þat þer was; þei dalten it in two And lete Gamelyne þe ȝonge; without londe goo And eche of hem seide to other ful loude His breþeren myȝt ȝeue him londe whan he good cowde Line 48 And whan þei had deled þe londe at her wille þei commen to þe knyght . þer he lay stille And tolde him anoon; how þei had wrouȝt And þe knyght þere he laye liked it riȝt nouȝt Line 52 ¶ Than seide þe knyȝt; be seint Martyne For al þat ȝe han done; ȝit is the londe myne fsor goddis loue neighbours . stondeþ alle stille And I wil delen my londe; after myn owne wille Line 56

Line 56 Iohn myne eldest sone; shal haue plowes fyve þat was my faders heritage; whan he was alyve And my myddelest sone .v. plowes of londe þat I halpe forto gete with my riȝt honde Line 60 And al myn oþere purchace of londes and ledes [folio 63a] þat I biqueþe Gamelyn . and al my good stedes And I biseche ȝou good men þat lawe conne of londe For Gamelynes loue; þat my quest stonde Line 64 Thus dalt þe knyȝt . his londe by his day Riȝt on his deþ bed sik þer he lay And sone afterward he lay stoon stille And deide whan tyme come; as it was cristes wille Line 68 Anoon as he was dede and vnder gras graue Sone þ^e elder broþer; giled þe ȝonge knaue He toke into his honde his londe and his lede And Gamelyne him seluen to cloþe and to fede Line 72 He cloþed him and fedde him/ euell and eke wrothe And lete his londes forfare; and his houses boþe His Parkes and his wodes; and did no þing welle And siþen he it abouȝt on his owne felle Line 76 So longe was Gamelyne in his broþers halle ffor þe strengest of good will þei douted hym alle Þer was noon þer-Inne neiþer ȝonge ne olde Þat wold wrethe Gamelyn. were he neuer so bolde Line 80 Gamelyne stood on a day; in his broþeres ȝerde And byganne wiþ his hond/ to handel his berde He þouȝt on his landes þat lay vnsowe And his fare okes þat doune were ydrawe Line 84 His Parkes were broken/ and his deer reued Of alle his good stedes/ noon was hym byleued His hous were vnhilled/ and ful euell diȝt Tho þouȝt Gamelyne/ it went not ariȝt Line 88 ¶ Afterward come his broþer walking þare And seide to Gamelyn. is our mete ȝare Tho wrathed him Gamelyn/ and swore by goddys boke Þow shalt go bake þi self/ I wil not be þi coke Line 92

Line 92 What broþer Gamelyne howe answerst þou nowe þou spekest neuere such a word as þou dost nowe By feiþe seide Gamelyn; now me þenkeþ nede Of al þe harmes þat I haue; I toke neuere ȝit hede. Line 96 My parkes bene broken; and my dere reued [folio 63b] Of myn armes ne my stedes; nouȝt is byleued All þat my fader me byquaþe; al goþ to shame And þerfor haue þou goddes curs; broþere be þi name Line 100 þan spake his broþer þat rape was and rees Stond stille Gadlynge and holde þi pees Thou shalt be fayn to haue; þi mete and þi wede What spekest þow gadeling . of londe or of lede Line 104 Than seide Gamelyn; þe child so ȝing Cristes curs mote he haue; þat me clepeth Gadelinge I am no wors Gadeling; ne no wors wiȝt But born of a lady and gete of a knyȝt Line 108 Ne dorst he not to Gamelyn neuere a foot goo But cleped to hym his men; and seide to hem þoo/ Goþ and beteþ þis boye and reueþ hym his witte And lat him lerne anoþer tyme; to answer me bette Line 112 Than seide þe Child ȝonge Gamelyn Cristes curs mote þou haue; broþer art þou myn And if I shal algates be beten anōn Cristes curs mote þou haue; but þou be þat on Line 116 And anon his broþer in þat grete hete Made his men to fette staues Gamelyn to bete Whan euery of hem had a staf ynommen Gamelyn was werre . whan he segh hem commen Line 120 Whan Gamelyne segh hem commen. he loked ouer all And was ware of a pestel; stode vnder þe wall Gamelyn was liȝt and þider gan he lepe And droof alle his broþeres men riȝt sone on an hepe Line 124 And loked as a wilde lyon. and leide on good wone And whan his broþer segh þat; he byganne to gon He fley vp into a loft; and shette þe door fast þus Gamelyn wiþ his pestel. made hem al a-gast Line 128

Line 128 Some for Gamelyns loue. and some for eye Alle þei droughen hem to halues whan he gan to pleye ¶ What nowe seide Gamelyn; euel mote ȝe the Wil ȝe bygynne contecte; and so sone flee Line 132 Gamelyn souȝt his broþer; whider he was flowe [folio 64a] And seghe where he loked out a wyndowe Broþere seide Gamelyn. come a litel nere And I wil teche þe a play at þe bokelere Line 136 His broþere him ansuerde. and seide by seint Richere þe while þat pestel is in þine honde. I wil come no nere Broþer I wil make þi pees; I swer by cristes oore Cast away þe pestel. and wreþe þe no more Line 140 I most nede seide Gamelyn wreþ me at onys ffor þou wold make þi men. to breke my bonys Ne had I hadde mayn and myȝt in myn armes To han hem fro me . þei wold haue don me harmes Line 144 Gamelyn seide his broþer be þou not wroth Forto sene þe han harme. me were riȝt loth I ne did it not broþer but for a fondinge ffor to loken wher þou art stronge and art so ȝenge Line 148 Come a doune þan to me and graunt me my bone Of oon þing I wil þe axe and we shal sauȝt sone Doune þan come his broþer þat fikel was and felle And was swiþ sore a-feerd of þe pestelle Line 152 He seide broþer Gamelyn axe me þi bone And loke þou me blame but I it graunte sone Þan seide Gamelyn broþer I-wys And we shul be at on. þou most graunte me this Line 156 All þat my fader me by-quaþ. whilst he was alyue Þow most do me it haue. if we shul not strive Þat shalt þou haue Gamelyn I swere bi cristes oore. Al þat þi fadere þe by-quaþe. þough þou wold haue more Thy londe þat lith ley. wel it shal be sawe Line 161 And þine houses reised vp þat bene leide ful lawe Thus seide þe knyght . to gamelyn wiþ mouþe And þouȝt on falsnes as he wel couþe Line 164

Line 164 þe knyȝt þouȝt on treson. and gamelyn anon And wente and kissed his broþer and whan þei were at on Alas yonge Gamelyn no þing he ne wist Wiþ such fals treson . his broþer him kist Line 168 Lyþeneth and listeneþ and holdeþ ȝour tonge [folio 64b] And ȝe shul here talking of Gamelyn þe ȝonge ¶ Ther was þere bisiden cride a wrastelinge And þerfore þer was sette a ramme and a ringe Line 172 And Gamelyn was in wille to wende þerto/ fforto preuen his myȝt what he coude doo Broþere seide Gamelyn by seint Richere þow most lene me to nyȝt a litel coursere Line 176 That is fresshe fro þe spore on for to ride I most on an erand a litel here beside By god seide his broþer/ of stedes in my stalle Goo and chese þe the best spare non of hem alle Line 180 Of stedes and of coursers þat stoden hem byside And telle me good broþer whider þou wilt ride Here beside broþer is cried a wrastelinge And þerfore shal be sette a ram and a ringe Line 184 Moche worchip it were broþere to vs alle Might I þe ram and þe ring bring home to þis halle A stede ther was sadeled smertly an skete Gamelyn did a peire spores fast on his fete Line 188 He sette his foote in þe stirop þe stede he bistrode And towardes þe wrasteling þe yong childe rode ¶ Whan Gemelyn þe ȝonge was riden out atte gate þe fals knyȝt his broþer loked it after þate Line 192 And bysouȝt Ihesu crist þat is heuene kinge He myght breke his necke in þe wrestelinge As sone as Gamelyn come þer þe place was He light doune of his stede and stood on þe gras Line 196 And þer he herde a frankeleyn weiloway singe And by-gonne bitterly his hondes for to wringe Good man seide Gamelyn; whi mast þou þis fare Is þer no man þat may. ȝou helpen out of care Line 200

Line 200 Allas seide þis frankeleyn þat euere was I bore ffor twey stalworþ sones; I wene þat I haue lore A champion is in þe place. þat haþ wrouȝt me sorowe ffor he haþ sclayn my two sones. but ȝif god hem borowe I wil ȝeue x. li. by Ihesu crist and more [folio 65a] Wiþ þe nones I fonde a man wold handel hym sore Good man seide Gamelyn wilt þou wele don Holde my hors þe whiles my man; drowe of my shon Line 208 And helpe my man to kepe/ my cloþes and my stede And I wil to place gon . to loke if I may spede By god seide þe ffrankeleyn it shal be don I wil my self be þi man to drowe of þi shon Line 212 And wende þou into place Ihesu crist þe spede And drede not of þi cloþes. ne of þi good stede Bare-foot and vngirt. Gamelyn Inne came Alle þat were in þe place . hede of him name Line 216 Howe he durst auenture him to don his myȝt þat was so doghty a champiōn in wrasteling and in fiȝt Vp stert þe Champion rapely anōn And toward yong Gamelyn byganne to gōn Line 220 And seide who is þi fadere and who is þi sire ffor sothe þou art a grete fool þat thou come hire Gamelyn answerd þe Champion þo Thowe knewe wel my fadere while he myȝt goo Line 224 þe whiles he was alyue by seynt Martyn Sir Iohn of Boundes was his name and I am Gamelyn ¶ ffelawe seide þe Champiōn so mote I þrive I knewe wel þi fadere þe whiles he was alyue Line 228 And þi silf Gamelyn I wil þat þou it here While þou were a ȝong boy. a moch shrewe þou were Than seide Gamelyn and swore by cristes ore Now I am older wexe þou shalt finde me a more Line 232 By god seide þe Champion welcome mote þou be Come þow onys in my honde . þou shalt neuere the It was wel wiþ-in þe nyȝt and þe mone shone Whan Gamelyn and þe Champion to-gider gon gone Line 236

Line 236 The Champion cast turnes to Gamelyn þat was prest And Gamelyn stode and bad hym done his best Than seide Gamelyn to þe Champioun Þowe art fast aboute to bringe me adoun Line 240 Now I haue proued mony turnes of þine [folio 65b] Thow most he seide oon or ij. of myne Gamelyn to þe Champion ȝede smertely anōn Of alle þe turnes þat he couþe he shewed hym but on And cast him on þe lift side. þat þre ribbes to-brake Line 245 And þerto his owne arme þat ȝaf a grete crake Than seide Gamelyn smertly anōn Shal it bihold for a cast or ellis for nōn Line 248 By god seide þe Champion whedere it bee He þat commeþ ones in þi honde shal he neuere the ¶ Than seide þe frankeley þat had þe sones þere Blessed be þou Gamelyn þat euere þou bore were Line 252 The ffrankleyn seide to þe Champion on hym stode hym non eye This is ȝonge Gamelyn þat tauȝt/ þe þis pleye Aȝein answerd þe Chamþion. þat likeþ no þing wel He is alþer maister and his pley is riȝt fell Line 256 Siþen y wrasteled first it is goon ȝore But I was neuer in my lif handeled so sore Gamelyn stode in þe place anon wiþ-out serk And seide ȝif þer be moo lat hem come to werk Line 260 The Champion þat pyned hym to worch sore It semeþ by his countenaunce þat he wil no more Gamelyin in þe place stood stille as stone ffor to abide wrastelinge but þer come nonē Line 264 Þer was noon wiþ gamelyn þat wold wrastel more ffor he handeled the Champion so wonderly sore Two gentile men þat ȝemed þe place Come to Gamelyin god ȝeue hym good grace Line 268 And seide to hym do on · þi hosen and þi shoone ffor soþ at þis tyme þis fare is done And þan seide Gamelyn so mot I wel fare I haue not ȝete haluendele sold my ware Line 272

Line 272 þoo seide þe Champion; so broke I my swere He is a fool þat þerof bieþ þou selleþ it so dere Tho saide þe ffrankeleyn þat was in moch care ffelawe he saide whi lackest þou þis ware Line 276 By sante Iame of Gales þat mony man haþ souȝt [folio 66a] Ȝit is it to good chepe þat þow hast bouȝt Thoo þat wardeynes were of þat wrasteling Come and brouȝt Gamelyn þe Ramme and þe rynge Line 280 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And Gamelyn biþouȝt him it was a faire þinge And went wiþ moche Ioye home in þe mornynge Line 284 ¶ His broþer see wher he came; wiþ þe grete route And bad shitt þe gate and hold hym wiþ oute The Porter of his lord was soor a gaast And stert anoon to þe gate and lokked it fast Line 288 ¶ Now lithenes and listneþ boþ ȝonge and olde And ȝe shul here gamen of Gamelyn þe bolde Gamelyn come to þe gate for to haue come Inne And it was shett fast wiþ a strong pynne Line 292 Þan seide Gamelyn Porter vndo þe ȝate ffor good mennys sones stonden þer-ate þan answerd þe porter and swore by goddys berde Þow ne shalt Gamelyn come into þis ȝerde Line 296 Thow lixt seide Gamelyn/ so broke I my chyne He smote þe wikett wiþ his foote and breke awaie þ^e pynne The Porter seie þoo/ it myȝt no better be He sette foote on erth and bygan to flee Line 300 By my feye seide Gamelyn þat travaile is ylore ffor I am of fote as light as þou. if þou haddest it swore Gamelyn ouertoke þe porter. and his tene wrake And girt him in þe nek þat þe boon to-brake Line 304 And toke hym by þat oon arme/ and threwe hym in a welle vij^c. fadme it was depe/ as I haue herd telle ¶ Whan Gamelyn þe yonge þus had plaied his playe Alle þat in þe yerde were. drowen hem awaye Line 308

Line 308 Þei dredden him ful sore for werk þat he wrouȝt And for þe faire company þat he þider brouȝt Gamelyn ȝede to þe gate/ and lete it vp wide He lete Inne all. þat gon wold or ride Line 312 And seide ȝe be welcome wiþ out eny greue ffor we wil be maisters here and axe no man leue Ȝusterday I left/ seide ȝonge Gamelyn [folio 66b] In my broþers seler/ v. tonne of wyn Line 316 I wil not þis company partyn a-twynne And ȝe wil done after me/ while sope is þer-Inne And if my broþer gruche or make foule chere Eiþer for spence of mete and drink/ þat we spende here I am oure Catour and bere our alþer purs Line 321 He shal haue for his grucching seint Maries curs My broþer is a Nigon; I swere be cristes oore And we wil spende largely/ þat he haþ spared yore Line 324 And who þat make grucchinge þat we here dwelle He shal to þe porter in to þe drowe-welle .Vij. dayes and vij. nyȝtes Gamelyn helde his feest Wiþ moche solace/ was þer noon cheest Line 328 In a litel torret his broþer lay steke And see hem waast his good and dorst no word speke Erly on a mornynge on þe viij. day The Gestes come to Gamelyn and wolde gon her way Line 332 Lordes seide Gamelyn wil ȝe so hie Al þe wyne is not ȝit dronke; so brouke I myn ye Gamelyn in his hert/ was ful woo Whan his gestes toke her leue. fro hym forto go Line 336 He wolde þei had dwelled lenger. and þei seide nay But bytaught Gamelyn. god and good day Thus made Gamelyn his feest. and brouȝt wel to ende And aftere his gestes. toke leue to wende Line 340 ¶ Lythen and listen and holde ȝour tunge And ȝe shal here Game of Gamelyn þe ȝonge Harkeneth lordingges and listeneþ ariȝt Whan alle gestis were goon how gamelyn was diȝt Line 344

Line 344 Alle þe while þat Gamelyn heeld his Mangerye His broþere þouȝt on hym be wroke/ with his trecherye Whan Gamylyns gestes were riden and gon Gamelyn stood anon allone/ frend had he non Line 348 Tho aftere felle sone/ with-in a litel stounde Gamelyn was taken/ and ful hard ybounde fforþ Come þe fals knynght; out of þe Solere [folio 67a] To Gamelyn his broþer/ he ȝede ful nere Line 352 And saide to Gamelyn/ who made þe so bold For to stroien þe stoor of myn household Broþer seide Gamelyn wreþ þe riȝt nought ffor it is many day gon siþ it was bouȝt Line 356 ffor broþer þou hast had by seint Richere Of xv. plowes of londe. þis xvj. ȝere And of alle þe beestes þou hast forþ bredde That my fader me byquath on his deþes bedde Line 360 Of al þis xvj. ȝere I ȝeue þe þe prowe ffor þe mete and þe drink þat we han spended nowe Than seide þe fals knyȝt. euel mote he þee Herken broþere Gamelyn what I wil ȝeue þe Line 364 ffor of my body broþer; here geten haue I none I wil make þe myn heire I s ere by seint Iohn Parfay seide Gamelyn; and if it so be And þou thenk as þou seist; god ȝeeld it þe Line 368 No þinge wist Gamelyn of his broþer gile Therfore he hym bygiled in a litel while Gamelyn seide. oon þing I þe telle þoo þou þrewe my porter in þe drowe-welle Line 372 I swore in þat wreþe and in þat grete moote þat þou shuldest be bounde boþe honde and fote . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 376 This most be fulfilled; my men to dote ffor to holden myn avowe as I þe bihote ¶ Broþer seide Gamelyn as mote I þee Þou shalt not be forswore for þe loue of me Line 380

Line 380 Tho maden þei Gamelyn to sitte and not stonde To þei had hym bounde boþ fote and honde þe fals knyght his broþer. of Gamelyn was a-gast And sent efter fetters to fetter hym fast Line 384 His broþer made lesingges on him þer he stode And tolde hem þat commen Inne þat Gamelyn was wode Gamelyn stode to a post. bounden in þe hall Þoo þat commen Inne. loked on hym all Line 388 Euer stode Gamelyn euen vp-riȝt [folio 67b] But mete and drink had ne noun. neiþer day ne nyȝt Than seide Gamelyn/ brother be myn hals Nowe haue I aspied þou art a party fals Line 392 Had I wist þe Treson þat hast yfounde I wold haue ȝeue strokes or I had be bounde Gamelyn stode bounde stille as eny stone Tho daies and two nyȝtes mete had he none Line 396 Than seide Gamelyn; þat stood ybound stronge Adam Spencer me þenkeþ I fast to longe Adam Spencere now I biseche þe ffor þe moche loue my fadere loued þe Line 400 If þou may come to þe keys/ lese me out of bonde And I wil part wiþ þe of my free londe Than seide Adam þat was þe spencere I haue serued þi broþer þis xvj ȝere Line 404 Ȝif I lete þe gone out of his boure He wold saye afterwardes I were a tratour Adam seide Gamelyn so brouke I myn hals Thow shalt finde þi broþer at þe last fals Line 408 Therfore broþer Adam lose me out of bondes And I will parte wiþ þe of my free londes Vp such forward seide Adam ywis I wil do þerto al þat in me is Line 412 Adam seide Gamelyn as mote I þe I wil holde þe Conaunte and þou wil me [fre] Anoon as Adams lord to bed was gon Adam toke þe kayes and lete Gamelyn out anon Line 416

Line 416 He vnlocked Gamelyn boþ hondes and fete In hope of auauncement þat he hym byhete Than seide Gamelyn þonked be goddis sonde Nowe I am lose boþ fote and honde Line 420 Had I nowe eten and dronken ariȝt Þer is noon in þis hous shuld bynde me þis nyȝt Adam toke Gamelyn as stille as eny stone And ladde him into þe spence raply anone Line 424 And sette him to sopere riȝt in a privey styde [folio 68a] He bad hym do gladly and so he dide Anoon as Gamelyn had eten wel and fyne And þerto y-dronken wel of þe rede wyne Line 428 Adam seide Gamelyn what is nowe þi rede Or I go to my broþer and Gerd of his his hede Gamelyn seide Adam it shal not be so I can teche þe a rede þat is worþ þe twoo/ Line 432 I wote wel forsoþ þat þis is no nay/ We shul haue a Mangerye riȝt on sonday Abbotes and Priours mony here shul be And oþer men of holy chirch as I telle þe Line 436 Þou shal stonde vp by þe post as þou were bounde fast And I shal leue hem vnloke þat away þou may hem cast Whan þat þei han eten and wasshen her handes þow shalt biseche hem alle to bringe þe out of bondes Line 440 And if þei willen borowe þe þat were good game þan were þou out of prison and [I] out of blame And if ecche of hem saye to vs nay I shal do anoþer I swere by þis day Line 444 Þow shalt haue a good staf and I wil haue anoþere And cristes curs haf þat on þat failleþ þat oþere Ȝe for god seide Gamelyn I say it for me If I faille on my side evel mot I þee Line 448 If we shul algate assoille hem of her synne Warne me brother/ Adam whan we shul bygynne Gamelyn seid Adam by seint charite I wil warne þe biforn whan it shal be Line 452

Line 452 Whan I winke on þe. loke forto gone And caste away þi fetters and come to me anon Adam seide Gamelyn blessed be þi bonys Þat is a good counseile ȝeuen for þe nonys Line 456 Ȝif þei warne me þe to bring out of bondes I wil sette good strokes riȝt on here lendes Whan þe Sonday was commen and folk to þe feest ffaire þei were welcomed. boþ leest and mest Line 460 And euer as þei at þe haldore come Inne [folio 68b] They casten her yen/ on ȝonge Gamelyn The fals knyȝt his broþer ful of trecherye Al þe gettes þat þer were at þe mangerye Line 464 Of Gamelyn his broþer he tolde hem wiþ mouþe Al þe harme and þe shame þat he telle couþe Whan þei were yserued of messes ij. or thre Þan seide Gamelyn howe serue ȝe me Line 468 It is not wel serued by god þat all made Þat I sitte fastinge and oþer men make glade The fals knyȝt his broþer þer as he stode Told to all þe gestes þat Gamelyn was wode Line 472 And Gamelyn stode stille and answerd nouȝt But Adames wordes he helde in his þouȝt Thoo Gamelyn gan speke doolfully wiþ-all To þe grete lordes þat seten in þe hall Line 476 ¶ Lordes he seide for cristes passion Helpe to bringe Gamelyn out of prison Þan seide an Abbot sorowe on his cheke He shal haue cristes curs and seint Maries eke Line 480 That þe out of prison beggeþ or borowe And euer worþ him wel þat doþ þe moche sorowe After þat Abbot þan speke anoþere I wold þine hede were of þough þou were my broþere Line 484 All þat þe borowe foule mot hem falle Thus þei seiden alle þat were in þe halle ¶ Than seide a Priour/ euel mote he preue It is grete sorowe and care boy þat þou art alyue Line 488

Line 488 Ow seide Gamelyn so brouke I my bone Now haue I spied þat frendes haue I non Cursed mote he worþ. boþ flessh and blood Þat euer doþ Priour or Abbot eny good Line 492 Adam þe Spencere toke vp þe cloth And loked on Gamelyn and segh þat he was wroþe Adam on the Pantry litel he þouȝt And two good staues to þe halle door he brouȝt Line 496 Adam loked on Gamelyn and he was warre anon [folio 69a] And cast away þe fetters and bygan to gon Whan he come to Adam he toke þat on staf And bygan to worch and good strokes ȝaf Line 500 Gamelyn come into þe halle and þe Spencer boþe And loked hem aboute as þei hadden be wroþe Gamelyn spreyneþ holy watere wiþ an oken spire That some þat stode vpriȝt felle in þe fire Line 504 þer was no lewe man þat in þe halle stode þat wolde do Gamelyn eny þing but good But stoden bisides and lete hem boþ wirch ffor þei had no rewþe of men of holy chirch Line 508 Abbot or Priour monk or chanoun That Gamelyn ouertoke. anon þei ȝeden doun Ther was noon of alle þat with his staf mette Þat he ne made hem ouer-þrowe to quyte hem his dette Gamelyn seide Adam for seint charite Line 513 Pay good lyuere for þe loue of me And I wil kepe þe door so euere here I masse Er þei bene assoilled þer shal non passe Line 516 Doute þe not seide Gamelyn whil we ben in fere Kepe þowe wel þe door and I wil wirche here Bystere þe good adam and lete non fle And we shul telle largely how mony þat þer be Line 520 Gamelyn seide Adam do hem but goode Þei bene men of holy church drowe of hem no blode Saue wel þe crownes. and do hem no harmes But breke boþ her Iogges/ and siþen her armes Line 524

Line 524 Thus Gamelyn and Adam wrouȝt ryȝt fast And pleide wiþ þe monkes and made hem agast Þidere þei come ridinge Ioly wiþ swaynes And home aȝein þei were ladde in cartes and waynes Line 528 Tho þei hadden al ydo. þan seide a grey frere Allas Sir abbot what did we nowe here Whan þat we commen hidere it was a cold rede Vs had be bet haue be at home. with water and brede Line 532 While Gamelyn made orders of monke and frere [folio 69b] Euere stood his broþer and made foule chere Gamelyn vp wiþ his staf þat he wel knewe And girt hym in þe nek þat he ouer thrwe Line 536 A litel aboue þe Girdel þe Rigge-boon he brast And sette him in þe fetters þer he sat arst Sitte þer broþer seide Gamelyn fforto colen þi body/ as I did myn Line 540 As swith as þei had wroken hem on her foon Þei asked water and wasshen anon What some for her loue and some for her Awe All þe seruauntes serued hem on þe best lawe Line 544 þe Sherreue was þennes but .v. myle And all was tolde him in a lytel while Howe Gamelyn and Adam had ydo a sorye rees Bounden and wounded men aȝeinst þe kingges pees/ Line 548 Tho bygan sone strif for to wake And þe shereff about Gamelyn forto take ¶ Now liþen and listen so god ȝeue ȝou good fyne And ye shul here good game of yonge Gamelyne Line 552 xxiijj^ti ȝonge men þat helde hem ful bold Come to þe shiref and seide þat þei wold Gamelyn and Adam fette by her fay The Sheref ȝaue hem leue soþ for to say Line 556 Thei hiden fast wold þei not lynne To þei come to þe gate þere Gamelyn was Inne Thei knocked on þe gate þe porter was nyȝe And loked out att an hool as man þat was scleȝe Line 560

Line 560 þe Porter had bihold hem a litel while He loued wel Gamelyn and was dradde of gyle And lete þe wikett stonde ful stille And asked hem wiþ out what was her wille Line 564 ffor all þe grete company/ speke but oōn Vndo þe gate porter and lat vs in gon Þan seide þe Porter so brouke I my chyn Ȝe shul saie ȝoure erand er ȝe come Inne Line 568 Sey to Gamelyn and Adam/ if þeire wil be [folio 70a] We wil speke wiþ hem two wordes or þre ffelawe seide þe Porter stonde þer stille And I wil wende to Gamelyn to wete his wille Line 572 Inne went þe porter to Gamelyn anōn And saide sir I warne ȝou here ben commen ȝour foon The Shireues men bene at þe gate fforto take ȝou boþ ȝe shul not scape Line 576 Porter seide Gamelyn so mote I þe I wil alowe þi wordes whan I my tyme se Go ageyn to þe gate and dwelle wiþ hem a while And þou shalt se riȝt sone porter a gile Line 580 Adam seide gamelyn hast þe to gon We han foo-men mony and frendes neuere on It bene þe shireues men þat hider bene commen þei ben swore to-gidere þat we shal be nomen Line 584 Gamelyn seide Adam hye þe riȝt blyve And if I faile þe þis day euel mot I þrive And we shul so welcome þe shyreues men þat some of hem shal make her beddes in þe fenne Line 588 At a postern gate Gamelyn out went And a good Cartstaf in his hondes hent Adam hent sone anoþer grete staff ffor to helpen Gamelyne and good strokes ȝaf Line 592 Adam felled tweyn and Gamelyn þre þe oþer sette fete on erþe and bygan to flee What seide Adam so euere here I masse I haue riȝt good wyne drynk er ȝe passe Line 596

Line 596 Nay by god seide þei þi drink is not goode It wolde make a mannys brayn to lyen on his hode Gamelyn stode stille and loked hym aboute And seide þe Shyref commeþ wiþ a grete route Line 600 Adam seide Gamelyn what bene nowe þi redes Here commeþ þe sheref and wil haue our hedes Adam seide to Gamelyn my rede is now þis Abide we no lenger lest we fare amys Line 604 I rede we to wode gon/ er we be founde [folio 70b] Better is þer louse þan in þe toune bounde Adam toke by þe honde yonge Gamelyn And euery of hem dronke a drauȝt of wyn Line 608 And after token he cours and wenten her way T[h]o fonde þe Shyrreue nyst but non aye ¶ The Shirreue liȝt/ doune and went into halle And fonde þe lord fetred fast wiþ alle Line 612 The Schirreue vnfetred hym riȝt sone anon And sent aftere a leche to hele his rigge-bon Lat we nowe þe fals knyȝt lye in his care And talke we of Gamelyn. and of his fare Line 616 Gamelyn into þe wode stalked stille And Adam Spensere liked riȝt ille Adam swore to Gamelyn by seint Richere Nowe I see it is mery to be a spencere Line 620 Ȝit leuer me were kayes to bere Þan walken in þis wilde wode my cloþes to tere Adam seide Gamelyn dismay þe riȝt nouȝt Mony good mannys child in care is brouȝt Line 624 As þei stode talkinge boþen in fere Adam herd talking of men. and riȝt nygh hem þei were Tho Gamelyn vnder wode loked ariȝt vij^xx. of ȝonge men he seye wel ydiȝt Line 628 Alle satte at þe mete compas about Adam seide Gamelyn now haue I no dout Aftere bale commeþ bote þorgh goddis myȝt Me þink of mete and drynk I haue a siȝt Line 632

Line 632 Adam loked þoo vnder wode bough And whan he segh mete was glad ynogh ffor he hoped to god to haue his dele And he was sore alonged after a mele Line 636 As he seide þat worde þe mayster outlawe Saugh Adam and gamelyn vnder þe wode shawe Ȝonge men seide þe maistere by þe good rode I am ware of gestes. god sende vs goode Line 640 Ȝone ben twoo ȝonge men wel ydight [folio 71a] And paraventure þer ben mo who so loked riȝt A-riseþ vp ȝonge men and fette hem to me It is good þat we weten what men þei be Line 644 Vp þer sterten .vij. from þe dynere And metten wiþ Gamelyn and Adam Spencer Whan þei were nyghe hem þan seide þat oon Ȝeeldeþ vp ȝonge men ȝour bowes and ȝour floon Line 648 Þan seide Gamelyn þat ȝong was/ of// elde Moche sorowe mote þei haue þat to ȝou hem ȝelde I Curs noon oþere but right my silue þoo ȝe fette to ȝou .v. þan be ȝe twelue Line 652 Whan þei hard by his word þat myȝt was in his arme Ther was noon of hem þat wold do hym harme But seide to Gamelyn myldely and stille Comeþ a-fore our Maister and seiþ to hym ȝour wille Line 656 Ȝonge men seide Gamelyn be ȝour lewte What man is ȝour maister þat ȝe wiþ be Alle þei answerd wiþ out lesing Our maister is crowned of outlawe king Line 660 Adam seide Gamelyn go we in cristes name He may neiþer mete ne drink warne vs for shame If þat he be hende and come of gentil blood He wil ȝeue vs mete and drink and do us som gode Line 664 By seint Iame seide Adam what harme þat I gete I wil auenture me þat I had mete Gamelyn and Adam went forth in fere And þei grette þe Maister þat þei fond þere Line 668

Line 668 Than seide þe Maister king of outlawes What seche ȝe ȝonge men vnder þe wode shawes Gamelyn answerd þe king with his croun He most nedes walk in feeld þat may not in toun Line 672 Sire we walk not here no harme to doo But ȝif we mete a dere to shete þerto As men þat bene hungry and mow no mete fynde And ben hard bystad vnder wode lynde Line 676 Of Gamelyns wordes / þ^e maister had reuþe [folio 71b] And seide ȝe shul haue ynow haue god my treuth He bad hem sitte doun forto take rest And bad hem ete and drink and þat of þe best Line 680 As þei eten and dronken wel and fyne þan seide on to anoþer. þis is Gamelyn þo was þe Maistere outlawe into counseile nome And tolde howe it was Gamelyn þat þider was come Line 684 Anon as he herd how it was byfalle He made him maister vnder hym ouer hem alle WithInne þe iij. weke hym come tydinge To þe Maistere outlawe þat was her kinge Line 688 Þat he shuld come home his pees was made And of þat good tydinge he was ful glade þoo seide he to his ȝonge men soþ forto telle Me bene commen tydinges; I may no lenger dwelle Line 692 Tho was Gamelyn anoon wiþ out taryinge Made maister outlawe and crowned her kinge Whan Gamelyn was crowned king of outlawes And walked had a while vnder þe wode shawes/ Line 696 þe fals knyȝt bis broþer was sherif and sire And lete his broþere endite for hate and for ire þoo were his boond-men sory; and no þing glade Whan Gamelyn her lord / wolfes hede was cried and made And sent out of his men wher þei myȝt hym fynde ffor to go seke Gamelyn vnder þe wode lynde To telle hym tyding þe wynde was wente And al his good reued and al his men shent Line 704

Line 704 Whan þei had hym founden on knees þei hem setten And adoune with her hodes and her lord gretten Sir wreth ȝou not for þe good rode ffor we han brouȝt ȝou tydyngges but þei be not gode Line 708 Nowe is þi broþer Sherreue and haþ þe bayly And haþ endited þe / and wolfes hede doþ þe crye Allas seide Gamelyn þat euere I was so sclak þat I ne had broke his nek whan I his rigge brak Line 712 Goþ greteþ wel myn husbondes and wif [folio 72a] I wil be at þe next shyre haue god my lif Gamelyn come redy to þe next shire And þer was his broþer boþ lord and sire Line 716 Gamelyn boldely come into þe mote halle And putt a doun his hode / amonge þo lordes alle God saue ȝou lordinggs þat here be But broke-bak sherreue euel mote þou þee Line 720 Whi hast þou don me þat shame and vilonye fforto lat endite me / and wolfeshede do me crye þoo þouȝt þe fals knyȝt forto bene awreke And lette Gamelyn most he no þing speke Line 724 Might þer be no grace. but Gamelyn atte last Was cast/ in prison and fettred fast ¶ Gamelyn haþ a broþere þat hiȝt sir Ote Als good an knyght and hende as myȝt gon on fote Line 728 Anoon ȝede a massager to þat good knyȝt And tolde him al to-gidere how gamelyn was diȝt Anoon whan sir ote herd howe Gamelyn was diȝt He was riȝt sory and no þing liȝt Line 732 And lete sadel a stede and þe way namme And to his tweyne breþeren riȝt sone he camme Sir seide Sir Ote to þe sherreue þoo We bene but þre breþeren shul we neuere be mo Line 736 And þou hast prisoned þe best of vs alle Such anoþere broþer euel mote hym byfalle Sir Ote seide þe false knyght lat be þi cors By god for þi wordes he shal fare þe wors Line 740

Line 740 To þe kingges prison he is ynome And þer he shal abide to þe Iustise come Parde Seide Sir Ote better it shal be I bid hym to maynprise þat þou graunte me Line 744 To þe next sitting of delyueraunce And lat þan Gamelyn stonde to his chaunce Broþere in such a forward I take hym to þe And by þ^e fader soule þat þe bigate and me Line 748 But he be redy whan þe Iustice sitte [folio 72b] þou shalt bere þe Iuggement for al þi grete witte I graunte wel seide Sir Ote þat it so be Lat delyuere hym anoon and take hym to me Line 752 Tho was gamelyn delyuered to Sir ote his broþer And þat nyght dwelled þe oon wiþ þe oþer On the morowe seide Gamelyn to Sir Ote þe hende Broþer he seide I mote forsoþ from ȝo^u wende Line 756 To loke howe my ȝonge men leden her liff Whedere þei lyuen in Ioie or ellis in striff By god seide Sir ote þat is a colde rede Nowe I se þat alle þe Carke shal fal on my hede Line 760 ffor whan þe Iustise sitte and þou be not yfound I shal anoon be take and in þi stede I-bound Broþer seide Gamelyn dismay ȝou nouȝt ffor by seint Iame in Gales þat mony men haþ souȝt Line 764 Ȝif that god almyȝty holde my lif and witte I wil be redy whan þe Iustice sitte Than seide sire Ote to gamelyn god shilde þ^e from shame Come whan þou seest tyme and bring vs out of blame Line 768 ¶ Liþeneþ and listeneþ and holde ȝou stille And ȝe shul here howe Gamelyn had al his wille Gamelyn went vnder þe wode Ris And fonde þer pleying ȝeng men of pris Line 772 þo was ȝong gamelyn riȝt glad ynouȝe Whan he fonde his men vnder wode bouȝe Gamelyn and his men talkeden in fere And þei had good game her maister to here Line 776

Line 776 His men tolde him of auentures þat þei had found And Gamelyn tolde hem aȝein howe he was fast bounde While Gamelyn was outlawe had he no cors þer was no man þat for him ferde þe wors Line 780 But Abbottes and Priours monk and chanone On hem left he nouȝt whan he myȝt hem nome While Gamelyn and his men made merþes ryve þe fals knyght his broþer euel mot he thryve Line 784 ffor he was fast about boþ day and oþer [folio 73a] ffor to hiren þe quest to hongen his broþer Gamelyn stode on a day and byheeld Þe wodes and þe Shawes and þe wild feelde Line 788 He þouȝt on his broþere how he hym byhette Þat he wold be redy whan þe Iustice sette He þouȝt wel he wold wiþ-out delay Come to-fore þe Iustice to kepen his day Line 792 And saide to his ȝonge men dighteþ ȝou ȝare ffor whan þe Iustice sitte we most be þare ffor I am vnder borowe til þat I come And my broþer for me to prison shal be nome Line 796 Be seint Iame seide his ȝonge men and þou rede þerto Ordeyn how it shal be and it shal be do While Gamelyn was commyng þer þe Iustice satte þ^e fals knyȝt his broþer forȝate he not þat Line 800 To hire þe men of þe quest to hangen his broþer þouȝe þei had not þat oon þei wold haue þat oþer Tho come Gamelyn from vnder þe wode Ris And brouȝt with hym ȝonge men of pris Line 804 I see wel seide Gamelyn þe Iustise is sette Go a-forn adam and loke how it spette Adam went into þe halle and loked al aboute He segh þer stonde lordes grete and stoute Line 808 And Sire Ote his broþer fetred ful fast Þoo went Adam out of halle as he were a-gast Adam seide to Gamelyn and to his felawes all Sire Ote stout fetered in þe mote hall Line 812

Line 812 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] If gode ȝeue vs grace wel forto doo He shal it abigge þat it brouȝt þerto / Line 816 Þan seide Adam þat lockes had hore Cristes curs mote he haue þat hym bonde so sore And þou wilt Gamelyn do after my rede Þer is noon in þe halle shal bere away his hede Line 820 Adam seide Gamelyn we wil not do soo We wil slee þe giltif and lat þe oþere goo/ I wil into þe halle and with þe Iustice speke [folio 73b] Of hem þat bene giltif I wil ben awreke Line 824 Late no skape at þe door take ȝonge men ȝeme ffor I wil be Iustise þis day domes to deme God spede me þis day at my newe werk Adam come with me for þou shalt be my clerk Line 828 His men answerde hym. and bad done his best And if þou to vs haue nede þou shalt finde vs prest We wil stonde wiþ þe while þat we may dure And but we worchen manly pay vs none hure Line 832 Ȝonge men said Gamelyn so mote I wel þe A trusty maister ȝe shul fynde me Riȝt þere þe Iustise satte in þe halle Inne went Gamelyn amonges hem alle Line 836 Gamelyn lete vnfetter his broþer out of bende þan seide Sir Ote his broþer þat was hende þow haddest almost Gamelyn dwelled to longe ffor þe quest is out on me þat I shuld honge Line 840 Broþer seide Gamelyn so god ȝeue me good rest þis day shul þei be honged / þat ben on þe quest And þe Iustise boþ þat is þe Iuge man And þe Sherreue also. þorgh hym it bigan Line 844 Than seide Gamelyn to þe Iustice Now is þi power done. þe most nedes rise Þow hast ȝeuen domes þat bene euel diȝt I wil sitten in þi sete and dressen/ hem ariȝt Line 848

Line 848 The Iustise satte stille and roos not anone And Gamelyn cleued his cheke bone Gamelyn toke him in his armes and no more spake But threwe hym ouer þe barre and his arme brake Line 852 Dorst noon to Gamelyn seie but good ffor feerd of þe company þat with-out stoode Gamelyn sette hym doun in þe Iustise sete And Sire Ote his broþere by hym. and Adam at his fete Whan gamelyn was sette in þe Iustise sede Herken of a bourde þat Gamelyn dede He lete fetter þe Iustise and his fals broþere [folio 74a] And did hem come to þe barre þat on with þat oþere Line 860 Whan gamelyn had þus ydone had he no rest Til he had enquered who was on his quest fforto demen his broþer sire Ote forto honge Er he wist what þei were hym þouȝt ful longe Line 864 But as sone as Gamelyn wist where þei were He did hem euerechone fetter in fere And bringgen hem to þe barre & setten in rewe By my feiþ seide þe Iustise þe sherrue is a shrewe Line 868 þan seide Gamelyn to þe Iustise þou hast ȝoue domes of þe worst assise And þe xij. Sesoures þat weren on þe quest þei shul be honged þis day so haue I good rest Line 872 Than seide þe sheref to ȝonge Gamelyn Lord I crie þe mercie broþer art þou myn þerfor seide Gamelyn haue þou cristes curs ffor and þow were maister. I shuld haue wors Line 876 fforto make short tale and not to longe He ordeyned hym a quest of his men stronge Þe Iustise and þe Sirreue boþ honged hie To weyuen wiþ þe ropes and þe winde drye Line 880 And þe xij. Sisours sorowe haue þat rekke All þei were honged fast by þe nekke þus endeþ þe fals knyȝt wiþ his trecherye þat euere had lad his lif in falsnesse and folye Line 884

Line 884 He was honged by þe nek and not by þe purs þat was þe mede þat he had for his faders curs Sire Otes was eldest and Gamelyn was ȝenge Wenten to her frendes / and passed to þe kinge Line 888 Þei maden pees wiþ þe king of þe best sise Þe king loued wel sir Ote & made hym iustise And after þe king made Gamelyn in est and in west Þe cheef Iustice of his free forest Line 892 All his wiȝt ȝonge men þe king forgaf her gilt And siþen in good office þ^e king haþ hem pilt Thus wanne Gamelyn his land and his lede And wreke him on his enemyes . and quytte hem her mede And Sire Ote his broþer made him his heire And Siþen wedded gamelyn a wif good and faire They lyued to-gidere þe while þat crist wold And siþen was Gamelyn grauen vnder mold Line 900 And so shul we all; may þer no man fle God bring vs to þat Ioye þat euer shal be