Þe kyng had herd seid wel byforn [say biforn.]
Þat Ihesu was of Marie born,
& hadde y-taught a newe lawe;
. Of-ten þer-of he herde in sawe;
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& his wyf was Cristen,
In ffraunce born of Frensche [frankis.] men,
& in swilk foreward scheo hym took
. Þat scheo hure lawe nought fursook/;
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Þat ladies name was Dame Berk/. [Berke . . . . . clerke.]
Wyþ hure cam ouer a noble clerk/, [Berke . . . . . clerke.]
A byschop þat highte Sire Leothard,
. To holde his wyf þat foreward,
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'Þe kyng schulde nought furdo hure feythe,
'Neyþer for loþ, lef, ne leythe.' [noiþer for leue ne for laith.]
Þe kyng a day til Austyn set,
. To come to þe Ilde of Tanet:
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Þe kyng durste come no couert [courte.] til,
But stod & bod vnder an hyl;
Of [for.] wiche-craft he hadde doute,
. Þer-fore of couert [courte.] he held hym oute;
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In toune ne hous ne com he nought, [P. leaves out this line.]
ffor drede of gyle þat mighte be wrought. [P. leaves out this line.]
Þat his poer mighte hym be raft [P. leaves out this line.]
. Þorow word or werk of wychecraft/; [P. leaves out this line.]
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Þus he hoped, & wel he wende,
After hym þer-fore dide he sende.
When his message til Austyn cam,
. His felawes alle wyþ hym þey [he.] nam,
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& byforn hem dide bere a croys
Of seluer, & alle wyþ o voys [a voyce.]
