[prose cap cxi] Thanne, off merveyllous fasoun,
She took to me a Gambisoun, [Gambeson, Gabison. A fashion of long and quilted horse|mans cassocke or coat, used in old time.—Cotgrave.]
A maner harneys that I knewe nouht: [folio 115b]
And behynde, ther-on was wrouht
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A ful strong styh [Cp. 'the Styth set at thy bak,' 209/7478, below.] off fynë stel, [[Styghe . . ffyne St., fyn C.]]
ffor to receyuë strookys wel
Off the hamer, whan euere yt smyte,
That yt shal hurtë but a lyte. [[Blank in MS. for an Illumination.]]
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Than quod Grace Dieu to me:
'Thys Gambesoun wych thow dost se,
Ys so wrouht, (who taketh hede,)
ffor ta-woyde [[to avoyde St.]] a man fro drede;
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That, from cartage in-to Inde,
Men myghtë nat a bettre fynde;
ffor (as thow shalt wel vnderstonde,)
Thogh a man hadde foot nor hond,
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And were vn-to a stakë bounde,
Hys foomen aboutë rounde,
Yiff he hadde on thys garnëment,
And clad ther-in (off good entent),
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He myghte nat ouerkomen be,
But fynally, in surete,
With gret worshepe & gret glorie,
Off hys Enmyes han vyctorye.
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'And yet thys garnement, (I dar swere, [Stowe folio 132b]
Who that euere doth yt were,)
Hath most Ioye & plesaunce
In thyng that ys to folk penaunce,
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ffor hys proffyt & avauntage,—
Som folk holde yt gret damage;—
ffor pacience (in conclusïoun) [folio 116a]
Haueth [[Hath St.]] thys condicïoun,
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(ffor to descryve and spek in pleyn
Off pacience the trewë greyn,)
I menë, to hys ávauntage
ffructefyeth with fforage:
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