Story.
ONias was an Emperoure in the cetee of Rome; and̛ he hadde a faire dovter, [leaf 190, col. 2] that was muche like to him selfe, and̛ the whicℏ he muche lovid̛. So þer come a knyȝt to this damseƚƚ, named̛ Cornelius, and̛ he stirid̛ hir & wowid̛ hir, in al that he myȝt, for synne to be don̛; and̛ soone this damiselle, not havinge mynde of perilis þat myght falle, soone she consentid̛. the knyȝt deflowrid̛ hir; and̛ whenne he had̛ drive a-weye the flowr̛ of hir virginitee, he lefte hir, and̛ forsoke hir. the woman̛ conseyvid̛, and̛ browte forthe a faire soone. Anoon̛ the knyȝt took þe childe, & slowe hit; and̛ whenne the moder harde that, she was hiliche greuid̛ in alle the strenges of hir herte, and̛ wrote to him, & askid̛ of him whi he hadde I-doo suche a wicked̛ dede. the knyȝt hadde noon̛ Excusacion̛, ne wolde not lowe him selfe. whenne the Emperoure harde her̛of, he hadde gret dispite, & was wrothe to him; & soone he made to be cride a generaƚƚ tornement. And̛ in the day of the tornement þer were sette by the Emperoure iij. or iiij. knyȝtes of oo partye, and̛ as many in that oþer syde; and̛ thei that wer̛ in the firste parte hadde I-putte sheldes in a certeyne place deputte þerefor̛. Whenne this was doon̛, Cornelius the knyȝt, that lay by the damisel, come witℏ the aduersarijs ayenste the Emperour, the whiche wolde play. he yede to the sheldes wher þei lay, and̛ towchid̛ on̛ of hem with his spere, the whiche shelde perteynid̛ to a knyȝt þat the Emperoure moche lovid̛; mevinge, as is maner of playe, that he that owte the shelde