¶ Þenne was ffortyger at ese,
ffor alle þe strengþes he gan to sese. [þe forcelettes he did him seise.]
When he had alle þys forceresses, [now has Vortiger þe forcelesse.]
Wyþ cites, tounes, & alle richesses, [richesse.]
Line 7144
ȝyt he þoughte on oþer [on oþer.] [Petyt folio 43a:1] wyse
To contreoue a fals queyntyse:
" Sire," he seyde, " ȝyf þou wilt do
" Þat y schal conseille þe to,
Line 7148
" Þy lond schaltow ful wel saue,
" & do þyn enemys of þe stond awe. [& of þin enmys no drede haue.]
" Sent for knyghtes þat conne of sleytes. [Sende . . . . . can of sleghtes.]
" & þat ar bolde men in feyghtes; [quante men ere alle þe peihtes. (Des Pis d'Escoce soldiers, Wace, i. 310, l. 6742.)]
Line 7152
" Lat þeym be alle þy souders,
" ffor of alle kyndes þey knowe þe maners;
" ffor ȝyf þey be y þy court wyþynne,
" On whilk side þat [what tyme so any.] werre bygynne,
Line 7156
" Þen may þou sende hem aboute,
" To serche of wham þer ys most [of whom is moste.] doute,
10" Þaw þe Peytes & þeir kendes,
Line 7159
" Þat ofte han schewed þey were oure frendes."10 [10-10
þorgh þe peihtes & þer frendes.may men witte how mykell wendes.]
¶ Exe iam tradicio falsy ffortygerny.
Þe kyng to fforteger þus seyd: [Lambeth folio 31b:1]
" My purueaunce [purueiance.] ys on þe leyd;
" Do ryght als þy seluen wyle;
" Tak & lef as þou sest [sees . . . . . has . . . . . wote.] skyle,
Line 7164
" Als manye as þou hast [sees . . . . . has . . . . . wote.] of nede;
" Bettere þan y þou wost [sees . . . . . has . . . . . wote.] þe dede."
