On their knees vpon the stoon
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For him they besoughte euerychoon,
That he wolde haue mercy of Segwyn [Caius MS. 107 page 79]
For goddis loue and seynte Martyn.
With that is Segwyn to the Chirche come,
On his knees he felle full sone:
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Of the Emperour he besoughte mercy
For goddis loue and oure Lady.
'SIR EMPEROUR,' seide Segwyn,
'This daie is come ending myn,
Bot thou haue mercy on me.
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At thy wille it shal bee.
No lenger y ne woll thy wrath dryue,
While y am man a-lyue,
Bot oute of this londe y shall goo,
And neuere ayene to come moo.
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Here my swerde, thou take it,
And myn hede of thou smyte,
Or what thy wille is, doo by me
(Myn owne Lorde, y woll it so bee)
For the folie that y dude,
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Whan y slowe thy neuiew in that stede.'
Than bespake the Emperoures sone
To his fader and seide: 'sir, of your benesone,
Segwyn is a noble baroun.
Holden he hath vs in prisoun:
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To vs he hath bee full kynde,
And to you herafter [MS. apparently heraftis.] may bee well helping.
Bot thou foryiue him thy wrath swithe,
Of me thou shalt neuere bee blithe.'
Than seide the Duke Reyner full sone:
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'Sir Segwyn is a noble baron.
Sithe he obeyeth him to thy wille, [Caius MS. 107 page 80]
Foryiue him thy wrathe, and that is skille,
Of thy neuyew, that he slow by cas;
For in his defence, by god, it was.
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