¶And here begynneth the historye of La cote male tayle (Book 9)
¶Capitulum primum
AT the Courte of kynge Arthur there cam a yo∣nge man and bygly made / and he was ryche∣ly bysene / and he desyred to be made knyghte of the kyng but his ouer garmēt sat ouerthwart∣ly / how be hit / hit was ryche clothe of gold / ¶What is your name said kynge Arthur / Syre saide he / my name is Breunor le noyre / and within shorte space ye shalle knowe that I am of good kyn / It maye wel be said sir kay the Seneschal / but in mockage ye shalle be called la cote male tayle / that is as moche to saye the euyl shapen cote / Hit is a grete thynge that thou askest said the kyng / And for what ca∣use werest thou that ryche cote / telle me / for I can wel thynke for somme cause hit is / Syre he ansuerd I had a fader a noble knyght / And as he rode on huntynge vpon a daye hit happed hym to leye hym doune to slepe / And there came a knyght that had ben longe his enemy / And whan he sawe he was fast on slepe / he alle to hewe hym / And this same cote had my fader