The alliterative Morte Arthure

Lines 2371 through 2415

In the kalendez of Maye this caas es befallen: Line 2371 The roy ryalle renownde, with his Rownde Table, Line 2372 One the coste of Costantyne, by þe clere strandez, Line 2373 Has þe Romaynes ryche rebuykede for euer. Line 2374 Whene he hade foughtten in Fraunce and the felde wonnen, Line 2375 And fersely his foomen fellde owtte of lyfe, Line 2376

Line 2376 He bydes for þe beryenge of his bolde knyghtez Line 2377 That in batell with brandez ware broughte owte of lyfe. Line 2378 He beryes at Bayone Sir Bedwere þe ryche; Line 2379 The cors of Kayon þe kene at Came es beleuefede, Line 2380 Koueride with a crystall clenly all ouer— Line 2381 His fadyre conqueride þat kyth knyghtly with hondes. Line 2382 Seyn in Burgoyne he bade to bery mo knyghttez, Line 2383 Sir Berade and Bawdwyne, Sir Bedwar þe ryche, Line 2384 Gud Sir Cador at Came, as his kynde askes. Line 2385 Thane Sir Arthure onone, in þe Auguste þeraftyre, Line 2386 Enteres to Almayne wyth ostez arrayed; Line 2387 Lengez at Lusscheburghe, to lechen hys knyghttez, Line 2388 With his lele liggemen, as lorde in his awen. Line 2389 And on Christofre Daye a concell he haldez, Line 2390 Withe kynges and kaysers, clerkkes and oþer; Line 2391 Comandez them kenely to caste all þeire wittys, Line 2392 How he may conquere by crafte the kythe þat he claymes. Line 2393 Bot the Conquerour kene, curtais and noble, Line 2394 Karpes in the concell theys knyghtly wordez: Line 2395 "Here es a knyghte in theis kleuys, enclosside with hilles, Line 2396 That I haue cowayte to knawe, because of his wordez: Line 2397 That es Lorayne þe lele, I kepe noghte to layne; Line 2398 The lordchipe es louely, as ledes me telles. Line 2399 I will ducherye devyse and dele as me lykes, Line 2400 And seyn dresse wyth þe Duke, if destyny suffre; Line 2401 The renke rebell has bene vnto my Rownde Table, Line 2402 Redy aye with Romaynes to ryotte my landes; Line 2403 We sall rekken full rathe, if reson so happen, Line 2404 Who has ryghte to þat rente, by ryche Gode of Heuen! Line 2405 Than will I by Lumbardye, lykande to schawe, Line 2406 Sett lawe in þe lande, þat laste sall euer; Line 2407 The tyrauntez of Tuskayn tempeste a littyll, Line 2408 Talke with þe temperall, whills my tym lastez. Line 2409 I gyffe my protteccione to all þe Pope landez, Line 2410 [folio 79r] My ryche pensell of pes my pople to schewe; Line 2411 It es a foly to offende oure fadyr vndire Gode, Line 2412 Owþer Peter or Paule, þa postles of Rome. Line 2413

Line 2413 Ȝif we spare the spirituell, we spede bot the bettire; Line 2414 Whills we haue for to speke, spille sall it neuer." Line 2415