II. Buch.
SOmtyme in Denmark ther was a paynym kyng:
As I fynde, Lothbrocus was his name, [And as. Lothbroochus.]
Which him delited in hawkyng and huntyng [haukyng.]
And to disporte him in such maner game; [And fehlt. dispoorte. suych maneer.]
And for thencres of his roial fame
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Whan he to Mars had doon his obseruance, [of Mars. don the.]
To serue Diane was set al his plesance.
This Lothbrocus hadde sones tweyne, [Lothbrook. had sonys.]
Wonder despitous and of gret cruelte: [Men moost d. and ful of cr.]
Hyngwar and Vbba. which that dide here peyne [Ynguar. did hir.]
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To stuffe ther shippis with gret meyne, [shippes. with furyous fals meyne.]
Lyk as piratis to robbe upon the se, [Lyk fehlt. see.]
And so lik men of ther corage wood [thus st. so.]
Reioisid hem euere to slen and sheede blood. [Reioysshed. sleen. shede.]
What-euer they wan outher bi force or myht, [euere. outhir be.]
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It was to hem no-maner difference;
For whethir ther getyng kam by wrong or riht, [For wheer. cam in of wrong.]
Thei took ther title of wilful violence.
And as they sat onys in the presence [oonys. the fehlt.]
Of Lothbrocus, ther fadir, that was kyng, [Lothbroochus. her.]
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They gan boste and seide in auauntyng: [Thus they gan booste. in vauntyng.]
"Ys ther any leuyng now these daies, [Is. ony lyvyng. this.]
Kyng or prynce, so myhti of puissance
In any rewm, knowen at alle assaies, [ony Reem. prevyd at al.]
On londe and water that hath gouernance, [lond or watir.]
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Which rassemblith or is lik in assurance [Which that resemblyth or þe lyk in substaunce.]
To vs in manhod, yf it be declaryd, [yif. be wel d.]
Which to our noblesse of riht may be comparyd? [Or to our.]
For there is noon afforn vs dar abide; [ther.]
Be title of swerd alway we preuaile, [prevaylle.]
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To spoile be force alle them that go or ride, [spoylle. them fehlt. goon.]
Take alle vesselis that bi the se doo saile, [And take. vessellys. do saylle.]
Stuf of marchantis we proudly kan assaile, [Stuff. gan assaylle.]
Takyng noon heed whethir it be ryht or wrong— [wheer st. whethir.]
For ther be any on erthe now so strong?" [l. wher st. for?] [Wher ther be ony.]
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Whan Lothbrocus had herd hem seid a while [Lothbroochus. said.]
Such bostful woordes, presumptuous of language, [suych. woordys.]
Anoon on hem of scorn he gan to smyle,
Bad hem stynte and cese of ther outrage,
Seide: there was oon, yong and tendir of age, [Sayde. oon but yong.]
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Which passed hem in worthynesse as ferre [passyd.]
As doth the sonne a verray litil sterre: [litel.]
"In Estyngland there regneth now a kyng [Estyngelond. ther regnith.]
Whos hih renoun alle folkes do commende, [whoos. al folkys do comende.]
Of whom the noblesse by report of seyeng [seying.]
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On euery part his bemys doth extende. [Thorugh-out the world.]
Lat be your bost! his prowesse doth transcende [boost. your prowesse.]
Al your emprises as hih as doth the moone
