¶ He answerde, 'leue lord,
To þe ich wile bere rekord, [folio 169b:b]
And telle y wile þe:
Heraud, for-soþ, me nam is
(In grete dede ichaue be er þis),
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So men clepeþ me.
Ȝif me stringþe wer aȝen i-come
Þat ichaue lore in þe prisone,
Ich wer of gret pouste.
Find me stede gode & liȝt,
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Spere, & scheld, & armes briȝt:
Þe man wile ich be.'
¶ Queþ þemeraile, 'wolcome, ywis!
Þow schelt haue þat þe nede is,
Briȝt armur & stede.
Ingliis þow ert, sikerly:
Knew þow ouȝt þe gode Gij,
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Þat douȝti wes of dede?'
Heraud seide, 'y knew him wel:
His man icham & euer be schel.
He was tauȝt me to fede.
His sone was stolen him [Read me?] fro:
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To seche him icham y-go,
Ȝif god me wolde spede.'
Þemeraile cleped is chaumborlain,
And bad him wiþ al is mayn
Heraud to him take.
In pourpre pal þei gan him schrede,
& founde him al þat was nede,
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And baþes let him make.
On a day sire ameraile [C line 10877]
Tok Heraud in consaile
Wiþ-oute þe castel gate:
'Now Arguus king werreþ on me,
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Me nis leued boute þis cite
For grete werre & hate.
