and the kyng drove the emperour̛ oute of the empire,
in so moche that the Emperour̛ had no place to abide ynne; So he
wrote letres, ensealid̛ with his Ryng, to his first doughter,
þat seid that she lovid̛ him more than her self̘, for
to pray her of̘ socouryng in þat grete nede, bycause he was
put oute of̘ his empire. And when the doughter had red thes
letres, she told̛ hit to þe kyng, her husbond̛.
Þo quod the kyng, "it is good þat we socour̛ him in
þis nede. I shal," quod he, "gadery an host, & help him in
aƚƚ þat I can or may; & þat wiƚƚ not be do
withoute grete costage." "yee," quod she, "hit wer̛ sufficiant
if̘ that we wold̛ graunt him v. knyghtes, to be in felaship
with him, while he is oute of̘ his empire." & so hit was y-do
in dede; and þe doughter wrote ayen̛ to the Fader,
þat oþer help myght he not haue, but v. knyghtes of̘
þe kynges to be in his felaship, at þe coste of the kyng,
her husbond. And when the Emperour̛ herd̛ this, he was hevy
in his hert, and seid, "Alas! alas! aƚƚ my trust was in her; for
she said she lovid̛ me more than her self, and þerfore I
avaunced̛ her so hye." Then he wrote to þe seconde,
þat seid̛ she lovid him as moche as her self̘. And
when she had herd̛ his letres, she shewid̛ his erand̛
to hir husbond̛, & yaf him in counseiƚƚ, that he
shuld̛ fynde him mete, & drink, & clothing, honestly as
for þe state of sucℏ a lord̛, during tyme of his nede;
and when þis was graunted̛, she wrote letres agein to hir