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Reinbroun

Ihesu þat ert of miŠte most, {f.167rb}

Fader & sone & holy gost,

Ich bidde þe a bone,

Ase þow ert lord of our ginning

5000 & madest heuene and alle þing,

Se and sonne and mone,

Šeue hem grace wel to spede

Þat herkneþ what y schel rede,

Ihesu, God in trone.

1000 Of a kniŠt was to batayle boun,

Sire Gij is sone þat hiŠte Rey[n]broun,

Of him y make my mone.

His fader Gij þat him get,

He was a werrour swiþe gret;

1500 Þar nas nowhar his per

In Fraunce, in Pycardy,

In Spayne, in Lombardy,

Neyþer fer ne ner.

Mani batayle he began

2000 For þe loue of o wimman

Þat was him lef & dere.

Siþe Rey[n]broun on hire he wan

Þat was a swiþe douŠti man,

Ase Še may forþward here.

2500 ¶ Þay were togedre fifti niŠt {f.167va}

After a spusede þat swete wiŠt

Wiþ meche melody.

Þanne was beŠete þat baroun,

His sone þat was cleped Rey[n]broun,

3000 Of þat kniŠt sire Gij.

Fourti wikes wiþ child Šhe was

& dilyured þourŠ [Godes] gras

And is moder Mari.

Cristned hit was werschipliche,

3500 Reinbroun men calde him sikerliche,

For soþe and nouŠt ne lye.

¶ Heraud hadde þat child to lore

Seue winter and wel more;

Ful wel he gan him lere.

4000 Be þat he was seue winter old

He was a fair child and a bold,

And of swete chere.

So hit befel þat of fer lond

Marchauns riche, ich vnderstond,

4500 Hider þai come were.

Gold and seluer þai brouŠte meche,

Badekenes and pane riche,

Gris and menyuer,

¶ Bras, maslyn, yren & stel,

5000 Wod-wex, selk, and cendel,

Gingiuer and galingale,

Clowes, quibibes, gren de Paris,

Pyper, and comyn, and swet anis;

Mani a riche bale,

5500 Fykes, reisyn, dates,

Almaund, rys, pomme-garnates,

Kanel and setewale,

Scarlet and grene wel ywrouŠt;

More richesse wiþ hem hii brouŠt

6000 Þan y can tellen in tale.

¶ Þai riuede at Londen þat cite

King Aþelstond þan fonden he

Þat her was king wiþ croune.

A Šaf hem leue in alle wise

6500 To wende wiþ her marchaundise

In is londe fro toun to toune.

To Walingforde þai gonne fare,

A strong bourŠ þai fonde þare -

Þai boskede & made hem boune – {f.167vb}

7000 Ac it was strued, wiþouten lesing,

For werre of Heraud & þe king,

Hit was niŠ brouŠt adoun.

Þe marchauns kedde hii wer fre,

A Spayniis mvle þan token he,

7500 To Heraud hii [hit] sende.

For he was lord of þat cite,

Wiþ him hii þouŠte wel to be;

So þai han him kende.

Sire Heraud, for soþ to say,

8000 Bad hem ete wiþ him þat day

Er hii þannes wende.

Þe marchauns seie þe child goand

In þe halle faire pleiande,

Þat was so faire and hende.

8500 ¶ At a kniŠt hii askede anonriŠt

Whas was þo child so faire of siŠt

And of swete chere,

And he answerde anon, y pliŠt,

‘Hit is Gij is sone, þe gode kniŠt,

9000 Þat Heraud haþ to lere.’

Þe marchauns hem beþouŠte

Šif hii þat child haue mouŠte

Hii wolde stele him þere;

& Šif hii hadde þat child bolde,

9500 Richely into her londe þai wolde

And selle hit ful dere.

¶ Wiþ þe porter þai speke stille,

Þat hii hadden al her wille.

Þai Šeue him riche mede,

1000 He betauŠte hem þe child þare,

And into schip þai gonne fare;

Away þai gonne him lede.

Þay gonne saily toward Roussy,

Al glad hii were þet londe to sy;

1050 Hii þouŠte wel to spede.

Al siker hii were alond te gon,

Ac swiche a strom hem cam vpon,

Þat sore hem gonne drede.

¶ Þe wind began to blowen loude,

1100 Þe elmence þikkede on þe cloude;

Gret strom hem wex vpon.

Þe four wyndes began to blowe,

Þe se gan tornen & to þrowe, {f.168ra}

Ded hii wende haue ben echon.

1150 Here ropes toborsten, her mast also,

Þar nas non þat him nas wo;

Hii made reuful mon.

To Ihesu crist þai gonne crye

And to his moder Marie;

1200 Nas þer no beter won.

¶ Þe wind faire slake gan,

Mery in þe se þe schip ran.

Ase God hit wolde

Þai wer driuen al þe niŠt,

1250 In Aufrik þai riuede riŠt;

Þai toke a wel gode holde.

Þe marchauns han it vndernome

Þat hii beþ into Aufrik come,

Hii þouŠte þat hii wolde

1300 Þe king of þe lond presenti

Wiþ þat child þat was so fry

And of chere bolde.

¶ Of hem hii token marchauns þre

Þat noble were, courteis & fre,

1350 Wiþoute more duelling.

Þai toke þat child, veraiment,

And made þerwiþ a present

To Arguus þe king.

Þe king hadde a douŠter fair

1400 Of al Aufrik Šhe was air,

A swiþe fair Šonling.

Meche Šhe kouþe of menstralcie,

Of harpe, of fiþele, of sautri,

Of romaunce reding.

1450 ¶ So was Reynbroun, for soþ to say,

Meche liche þat faire may

Of semlaunt and of chere.

BesouŠt Šhe haþ be hir moder rede,

& to hire fader king Šhe sede,

1500 ‘Leue, fader dere,

Y mote him in me chaumber norsy:

Šet a may me seruy;

Norture y schel him lere.’

Þe king him graunted þourŠ alle þing,

1550 For he hire louede wiþoute lesing,

To ben hire plaie-fere.

Whan sire Heraud parseued was {f.168rb}

Þe child was stole, for þat cas

Gret sorwe he gan make.

1600 He let seche him in þat cite,

Mani man made gret pite

For þat childes sake.

Wiþ mesagers a sente is sonde

To seche him in mani londe

1650 Šif hii him miŠte oftake

& whan hii him finde ne miŠte

Sorwe hii made day & niŠte,

For drede þai gonne quake.

¶ Hit nas nouŠt longe after þan

1700 Þat in Londen held king Aþelstan

A riel parlement.

Sire Heraud þeder gan gon;

Þe king a werschipede & mani on,

Whan he was þeder ywent.

1750 Oþer hadde þerof envie

And þouŠte hii wolde on him lye,

Þat a wer yschent,

& segge he hadde Reinbroun sold

For is wiŠte of rede gold

1800 To þe marchauns, verayment.

¶ ‘Lordinges’ seide þe king ycore,

‘Al Še ben to me yswore

For helpe me at nede.

Šour consaile wite y welle.

1850 Wel Še witen Še han herd telle

Ase Šour eldren sede,

Þat þe king of Denemark

ÞourŠ a geaunt stor & stark

Kalaungeþ al oure þede.

1900 A gret ost he haþ ynome

& Šif he may vs ouercome

He makeþ our sides blede.’

¶ ‘Sire’ queþ Heraud ‘þarf þe no drede.

ÞourŠ Godes help we scholle wel spede

1950 Þei he vs wile asaile.

Gode kniŠtes Še han & cite stro[n]g,

Šif Še him douteþ it is wrong

For al is grete taile.

Myn eldren seide, ich vnderstonde,

2000 Þe Dennisch men hadde riŠt in þis londe,

Wiþouten eni faile, {f.168va}

Whilom & nouŠt ful Šore it is

& siþþe þai han it lore, ywis,

And here folk in bataile.

2050 ¶ Now þai han loren here riŠt,

Hii weren ouercomen in fiŠt

ÞourŠ help of God almiŠte.

Þarfore ensemle þe barouns

Þat haþ þe toures & þe tounes

2100 Before þe an hiŠte.

At what hauen þai alende,

Ase tit aŠen hem we scholle wende

Wiþ hors and armes briŠte.

& Šif a comeþ in þis londe, ywis,

2150 We scholle sle him & alle his,

So wel we scholle fiŠte.’

Þanne seide þe king ‘þow hast wel sed,

Þow hast red me a gode red;

Yblessed mote þow be.

2200 A beter rede ne wot y non;

Ase þow hast seid so y schel don,

Also mote ich þe.

Þow ert me beste consailer;

In al þis lond þer nis þe per

2250 Þat ich mowe yse.

Al þe while icham coren king,

Don ich wile be þe teching,

Sire Heraud þe fre.’

Þe duk Medyok vp aras,

2300 Of al Cornewaile lord he was,

A sterne kniŠt & a grim.

‘Sire king’ a seide ‘herkne to me.

Þow ert nouŠt wis ase þe holdest þe,

Whan þow leuest on him;

2350 Þow werschepest him fer & ner,

And he nis boute a losenger

Ful of tresoun [and] gin.

Beter we beþ to þe consaile

Þanne þe treitour, wiþouten faile,

2400 Be God and seinte Martyn.

¶ His gode lord traye he gan

Þat þourŠ him he was maked man,

Of Warwik sire Gij.

Euel he haþ is while Šolde

2450 Whan he Reinbroun, is sone, solde {f.168vb}

To þe marchauns of Roussy;

For gold & seluer gret plente

To þe marchauns diliurede he,

Ase we gonne aspie.

2500 & Šif he hadde þe riŠte lawe

A scholde ben hanged & drawe

For þat trecherie.’

¶ Þo Heraud herde him speke so,

Him þouŠte his herte barst ato,

2550 Vp he sterte an hye.

‘Felawe duk’ a seide ‘þow lyxst,

Whan þow wiþ tresoun me betwyxst;

Þow dost me vileynie.

Þow hit schelt to soþe bringe

2600 Þat þow hast seid before þe kinge,

Or þow schelt abye.

Hasteliche now arme þe,

Anon it schel proued be

Þat þow dost on me lye.

2650 ¶ Ich wile þat y ben hanged & drawe

Boute y defende me wiþ þe lawe

Of þis famacioun,

Þat þow seist y scholde selle

Me lordes sone þat ich of telle,

2700 Þat men clepede Reinbroun.

Whan ich þe soþe parseued hadde,

Þe marchauns him hadde [a] wei ladde

Me ofþouŠte þat tresoun.

Wiþ mesagers y sente me sonde

2750 To seche him in mani londe;

Þow lyxst on me feloun.

¶ Before þe king I say þe riŠt,

Þarto me treuþe y þe pliŠt.

To seche him y schel fonde

2800 In Fraunce, in Lombardie,

In Spayne, in Spir, in Roussie,

In mani an honkouþ londe.

Betwene þis and þe lond of Ynde

Šif a be, y schel him fynde,

2850 And bringe him to honde.

& whan ichaue so ydo

Þin heued y schel smite þe fro,

For no man nel ich wonde.’

Catchword: Šis felonn queþ
þerl of cornwa.

¶ ‘Pes, feloun’ queþ [þ]erl of Cornewayle, {f.169ra}

2900 ‘Al þe lesing schel þe nouŠt vaile.

Traytour þow worst holde.’

Þat herde anoþer kniŠt,

Egar a het, forsoþ apliŠt,

Heraud is man ytolde.

2950 His steward, forsoþ, he was.

steward: MS unclear; perhaps stiward.

He sterte vp in þat plas

And to þe duk a wolde.

‘Felawe duk’ a seide ‘þow lixst,

Whan þow me lorde betwixst

3000 Þat he Reinbroun solde.

¶ Fif hondred siþe haue þow maugre

Of Ihesu þat sit in trinite,

Ihesu ful of miŠt,

Boute þow swiþe arme þe

3050 & do þe bataile aŠenes me

And proue(d) it ariŠt.’

Þar hii hadde togedres smite

Nadde þe king hit vnderŠite

& departede hem an hiŠt.

3100 He bad hem lete be þat fare,

& besouŠte hem to make hem Šare

AŠenes þe Dennisch king to fiŠt.

Heraud wiþ is ferde fre

Wente to Walingford þat cite

3150 Ful of sorwe and care.

‘Egar’ a seide ‘þow schelt beleue

& kepe þis land to me beheue

And forþ ich wile fare

Til ich Reynbroun finde may.

3200 Y ne schel reste niŠt ne day

Til ich wite whar he ware.

Ac war þe fro þerl of Cornewayle;

He wile arere on þe batayle,

He nele þe noþing spare.’

3250 ¶ ‘Sire’ queþ Egar ‘we scholle vs were,

Þat he ne schel vs noþing dere,

Þei he vs wile agreue.’

Heraud wente out of þat cite,

For him was maked gret pite,

3300 Whan he tok his leue.

Hasteliche to schip a wente,

Gode wind and weder God him sente,

In Denemark þai gonne riue. {f.169rb}

In Fraunce, in Lombardie,

3350 In Spayne, in Spyr, in Roussie

Reynbroun a souŠte bliue.

¶ ÞourŠ mani londes þai him souŠte.

Whan hii miŠte finde nouŠte

To schip þai gonne fare.

3400 To Costantin-noble hii wolde wende,

Swiche a tempest God hem gan sende

Þat hii come nouŠt Þare.

Þai were driue wiþoute þe toun,

In Aufrik þai riuede soune.

3450 Þanne wer þai ful of care.

Þe cite on þe riuage hii sye,

Meche & wide, & walles hye,

Of blisse þai wer al bare.

¶ ‘O God’ seide þe meister þo,

3500 ‘Gret mishap is come vs to;

Our lif y telle ylore.

In Aufrik we ben, wiþouten lesing,

Vpon Arguus lond þe king;

Worsse man nas neuer bore.

3550 Al þat leueþ in Godes lawe

A wile he hem hongen & todrawe;

His oþ he haþ yswore.

Al for soþe we beþ dede

Boute God vs helpe at our nede

3600 Þat was of Marie bore.’

¶ Heraud seide ‘whas is þis cite?

Distrued it is so þenkeþ me.

Her haþ be strong bataile.’

Þe maroner seide ‘y þe telle.

3650 For soþe, sire, lye I nelle,

Wiþouten eni faile,

Hit is þemerailes Parsan;

In þis world nis þer worsse man

Cristene men to asaile.’

3700 Þe SaraŠins come wiþ þis

& nemeþ Heraud & alle his

And distrueþ is vitaile.

¶ Þai nomen Heraud & al is man,

And brouŠte hem before Parsan

3750 Þat was of gret power.

He let hem caste in prisoun

Stinkande & þerk, wel fer adoun, {f.169va}

For þai Cristen were.

Lite þai ete & dronke, ywis,

3800 Vnneþe her lif sostened is;

To God he made his prayere.

For Reynbroun him was ful wo,

For he neste whider he was go,

He made reuly chere.

3850 ¶ A seide ‘allas, allas!

In werre douŠti man y was,

And now icham forlore.’

On of þe gaylers herde þis,

To þemeraile a wente, ywis,

3900 And gan him telle fore

‘Sire’ a seide ‘wite nouŠt Še

Of a prisoun Še han in Šour pouste,

A noble man ykore?

A is wel douŠti in bataile

3950 .... .... .... ....

Ase icham to Šou swore.’

¶ Queþ þemeraile ‘bringe him forþ now.

Šif he be swich ase seistow,

Meche helpe me a miŠte.’

4000 Þe gayler wente aŠen anon

& to þe prisoun he gan gon,

& Heraud vp atwiŠte.

In a sklauin he gan him folde.

Swiþe meche a was beholde

4050 Of mani a douŠti kniŠte.

His berde was to is brest ywax,

To his gerder heng is fax;

Grisliche he was of siŠte.

¶ Before þemeraile he(m) gan him lede,

4100 & areisoned him in ech a side,

‘Man, what is þe name?

Whar wer þow bore tel me now

Þat so meche of werre canstow?

Of þe ichaue game.

4150 Ich, ameraile Parsan,

Icham a swiþe douŠti man,

Wide springeþ me fame.

MiŠte [y] of þe siker be

Þat þow woldest serue me,

4200 Ne schostow haue no schame.’

¶ He answerede ‘leue lord,

To þe ich wile bere rekord, {f.169vb}

& telle y wile þe:

Heraud, for soþ, me nam is -

4250 In grete dede ichaue be er þis -

So men clepeþ me.

Šif me stringþe wer aŠen icome

Þat ichaue lore in þe prisone

Ich wer of gret pouste.

4300 Find me stede gode & liŠt,

Spere, & scheld, & armes briŠt;

Þe man wile ich be.’

¶ Queþ þemeraile ‘wolcome, ywis.

Þow schelt haue þat þe nede is,

4350 BriŠt armur & stede.

Ingliis þow ert, sikerly;

Knew þow ouŠt þe gode Gij

Þat douŠti wes of dede?’

Heraud seide ‘y knew him wel,

4400 His man icham & euer be schel,

He was tauŠt me to fede.

His sone was stolen him fro,

To seche him icham ygo,

Šif God me wolde spede.’

4450 Þemeraile cleped is chaumborlain,

& bad him wiþ al is mayn

Heraud to him take.

In pourpre pal þei gan him schrede

& founde him al þat was nede

4500 And baþes let him make.

On a day sire ameraile

Tok Heraud in consaile

Wiþoute þe castel gate

‘Now Arguus king werreþ on me,

4550 Me nis leued boute þis cite

For grete werre & hate.

¶ Þe king haþ a kniŠt wiþ him

Sterne in bataile & swiþe grim,

Of swich þow neuer herd.

4600 In þis world nis man, sikerly,

Boute hit wer þe lord sire Gij,

Þat of him nolde ben afered.’

MiŠtest of him awreke me,

A noble prins þan schostow be

4650 & sle him wiþ dent of swerd.’

Heraud seide ‘so y schel do {f.170ra}

Šif God wile helpe me þerto,

Be min hore berd.’

¶ Wiþ þat com a mesagere bold,

4700 To þemeraile he haþ ytold

Swiþe hard tiding:

King Arguus stiward wiþouten let

On of is castels hadde beset,

Wiþouten eni lesing.

4750 Whan þemeraile herde þis,

He bad is stiward, forsoþ ywis,

His folk before him bringe.

So a dede riŠt anon

& bad hem bosken euerichon

4800 Al boun to batailinge.

¶ Heraud lep on a rabyte

Þat was meche, & noþing lite,

Rod out of þe toun.

Þat ost him siwede fair & wel

4850 Til hii come to þe castel

Wiþ spere and gounfanoun

Wiþ helm on heued & brinie briŠt.

Iyren-wrye mani a kniŠt

To bataile wer þai boun.

4900 Ayþer ost gan oþer asaile,

Ech man fondede, wiþouten faile,

To felle is foman adoun.

¶ Heraud a SaraŠin smot

Þat he fel doun fot-hot

4950 Dede of is stede.

Þe þredde, þe ferþe þat he mai hitte,

No man miŠte his strok wiþsitte;

For wreþþe a wolde awede.

Wiþ is swerd of meche pris

5000 Mani SaraŠin a slouŠ, ywis,

And made here sides blede.

Þe SaraŠins seide hit was a fend

Þe deuel hadde þeder isent

[Þ]emeraile to spede.

5050 ¶ Þe king hadde a SaraŠin,

His stiward þat seruede Apolyn;

Heraud he gan þrete.

Heraud he mete & is men echon,

Hard þai hewe togedre anon

5100 And delde dentes grete. {f.170rb}

Þe stiward was sconfited þere,

Abated was þe meister banere,

To fle þai nolde lete.

Heraud siwede him on a rabyte,

5150 Hard hii gonne togedre smite

Sterne strokes and grete.

¶ Here scheftes schiurede, scheldes flitte,

Brenyes barsteþ, hauberk ritte.

Þar was strong bataile.

5200 Heraud ouercom him in þat fiŠt,

And ladde him to his folk ariŠt,

Wiþouten eni faile.

Prisouns þai toke gret plente,

Forþ hii wente to þat cite

5250 To þemeraile

& presente him þe stiward

Þat in werre was so hard,

Swiþe heŠ of paraile.

¶ Þanne seide þemeraile

5300 ‘Heraud, do be me consaile,

Me stiward þow schelt be.

Erles, barouns, riche & poure,

Al me land folk, lasse & more,

Scholle do after þe.’

5350 Þanne gret werre he began,

Boþe into is hond he wan

Castel and cite

Þat þemeraile hadde lore;

King Arguus made þarfore

5400 Deul and gret pite.

¶ Þo þe king wiste þis,

Þat his stiward nomen is

And al his men aslawe,

Wroþ he was and sori.

5450 His barouns a clepede an hie

And tolde to hem þat sawe.

Þanne answerde an old kniŠt

‘Sire, y nel þe lye nowiŠt.

A kniŠt of Cristene lawe

5500 Þemeraile is souder is he.

Þe wer beter þan þis cite

Þat he wer of dawe.

¶ Hore a is and kniŠt ful eld,

Wel gode hit were to flen is scheld. {f.170va}

5550 Sire, þe miŠt me leue,

In al þe lond SaraŠin þer nis,

Wer he neuer so strong, ywis,

Þat he nolde tocleue.’

Þe king seide ‘a fend it is.

5600 To Mahoun I swore, ywis,

Wel sore y schel him greue.

Min ost schel ensembled be,

In is lond schel brenne & sle,

No cite schel ich beleue.’

5650 ¶ Þe king a parlement let crie.

To þemeraile a wolde an hie

Wiþ briŠt armvr & stede,

His castels struede & is cite.

Þat Heraud wan þanne les he,

5700 DouŠti man of dede.

Whan þemeraile wiste þis

He bed is kniŠtes, for soþ ywis,

To helpe him at is nede.

Heraud was prest to bataile,

5750 Þe king is ost he gan asaile;

God þat day him spede.

Faste þei smite to her fon,

Wiþ swerdes, speres wel gode won,

Togedres þai gonne fiŠte.

5800 Gret slauŠter was in eiþer side,

Þe blod ran in þe feld wel wide

Of mani a douŠti kniŠte.

Heraud mette wiþ þe king

& smot him wiþ is swerd keruing

5850 A strok of meche miŠte.

Þer he hadde slawe him þo,

Boute his ost com him to,

And hors þai gonne him diŠte.

¶ Wel stoutliche þe king gan fiŠte,

5900 Al þat a mette he felde doun riŠte.

Heraud he gin discrie.

Þemeraile was sconfited þere;

Abated was þe meister banere

And al here cheualrie.

5950 In eche side asailed a is

Wiþ speres & wiþ swerdes, iwis,

Þat he miŠte nouŠt flie.

Wiþ is swerd a wereþ him wel {f.170vb}

In eche side, ase a gode kniŠt schel,

6000 Whiles a miŠte driŠe.

¶ Þo he seŠ Heraud a cleped him to,

To helpe him he gan go.

An erl Heraud gan mete,

Heraud wiþ is fauchoun him smot

6050 A dent þat þourŠ is helm bot;

Þar a lefte þe swete.

Heraud & þemeraile anon

Delde dentes wel god won,

For noþing þai nolde lete.

6100 Þe king þai sailede & al is men;

So mani Šede to deþe þen,

Þat grimly þai gonne grete.

¶ Þe king wel sori þanne was he

Whan he seŠ is men fle

6150 And al ybrouŠt to gronde.

Whar þat he seŠ Heraud ride

He fleŠ awei be þat oþer side

Wel sory in þat stonde.

His men ouercome were,

6200 Þarfore sori he was þere

& for his owene wonde.

King Arguus, for soþ, a geþ;

A was afered of is deþ

Šif þat a were yfonde.

6250 ¶ Whan Heraud parseued is

Be his armes a knew him, iwis,

And after him he gan ride.

NeŠ he hadde him ouercome,

Slawe oþer in þe feld ynome

6300 In þat ilche tide.

Þanne seŠ he come a Šingling -

Ouer al þe oþer a miŠte be king -

Out of þe wodes side.

Þe king him hadde dobbed kniŠt,

6350 Šeue him hors & armes briŠt

Wiþ wel meche pride.

¶ Whan he seŠ þe king fleande,

Heraud after him folwande,

He him gan discrie

6400 ‘Old man, no forþer þow ne gon,

Boute þe Šeue me bataile anon

Þow dost a gret folye. {f.171ra}

Þe lif þow lest er þe gon,

Þin heued þe king schel haue anon;

6450 For soþ þow schelt abye.

Þe rabite is min, sikerliche,

Y ne disirede neuer hors so meche

Þat y sauŠ wiþ eye.’

¶ Sire Heraud knew him anon

6500 Be his armes he hadde vpon,

Togedres þai gonne ride,

Þat boþe þei fellen of here stede,

& seþe gonne swerdes brede,

No lenger þai nolde abide.

6550 Hii cleueþ helm & scheldes bo,

Gret fiŠt þer was betwene hem to

In þat ilche tide.

Þai hewe þe scheldes of gode entaile,

Þe hauberk of so gode a maile

6600 Teborsten be boþe side.

¶ Betwene hem was strong batayle,

Eiþer fondede, wiþouten faile,

To bringe oþer to dede.

Ac Šif aiþer wiste of oþer ariŠt,

6650 Betwene hem to þar ner no fiŠt

For noneskines nede.

Sire Heraud drouŠ him a heŠ,

And seide ‘kniŠt corteis & sleŠ,

Alse God þe spede,

6700 What is þe name? Tel þow me

For Godes loue in trinite,

And of what þede.

¶ AŠild þe now to me.

Gret harm it wer to sle þe,

6750 So Šong a bacheler,

For neuer kniŠt y ne fond

So wel werchande wiþ dent of brond

Naiþer fer ne ner.’

Reinbroun seide ‘þerof be stille;

6800 Þat telle þe y ne wille,

Be Godes moder dere.

Er þan ich wile Šelde me

Erst þin heued schel of fle

Faste be þe swere.

6850 ¶ Boute þow now telle me

Wheþen þow ert & what þow be {f.171rb}

I schel þe sle anonriŠt;

For þow ert old & whit iblowe

Þe stringþe is gon alse y trowe,

6900 Þe power and þe miŠt.’

Heraud seide ‘me frend fre,

So fareþ folk in me contre

In bataile and in fiŠt.

Whan hii ginneþ for to helde

6950 Þanne þai wexeþ stout & belde

And stronge men, apliŠt.

¶ Er þow fro me departed be

Wel Šonge þow schelt holde me

And douŠti man of dede.’

7000 Togedres þai smite, wiþouten faile,

Ase sterne lyouns in bataile,

KniŠtes stif on stede.

Togedre þai smite ernest & faste,

Þe fur out of here helmes braste,

7050 And made here sides blede.

Ful dedli fon now þai are,

Šet þai scholle be frendes þare -

Crist þerto hem spede.

¶ Heraud seide ‘sire kniŠt,

7100 Herkne to me a lite wiŠt,

For þe courteisie.

Gode þow ert & hardi, ywis,

In al þis land þe beter nis

Þat ich conne aspie.

7150 Šif it were þe yteld

Which ichaue ben in feld

Of miŠt and of meistrie,

Ne wostow neuer aschamed be

Þe name for to telle me,

7200 Ne holde hit to vileynie.’

¶ ‘Sire olde man’ þanne seide he,

‘For a coward ich holde þe.

Min armes beþ al sonde,

Me strokes beþ sene on þin helm cler:

7250 Out of þe scheld ichaue a quarter

Yfeld to þe grounde.’

Heraud seide ‘me frend fre,

Þei min armes apeired be,

Me bodi naþ no wounde.

7300 What is þe name? Tel me fore {f.171va}

& y schel sai þe whar ich was bore,

Er ich fro þe founde.

¶ Swiche tiding þow miŠt of me here,

Or ich of þe in swiche manere,

7350 Þat frendes scholle we be.

I ne aske it for no vileinie,

Boute for meche courteisie;

For loue ich asked þe.’

Wiþ þat Reynbroun wiþdrouŠ him þere,

7400 Wiþ drery semlaunt & reuful chere

To Heraud seide he

‘KniŠt’ a seide ‘þow ert wise,

SleŠ and hardi, of gret prise,

Be God in trinite.

7450 ¶ Y nolde haue told it for non awe,

Erst ich wolde ben islawe

In þis ilche batayle.

In Ingelond ich was ybore,

So were min eldren me before,

7500 Wiþouten eni faile.

Gij a Warwik me fader was,

No beter kniŠt neuer nas,

Ase wid ase man mai saile.

A stiward hadde me fader Gioun

7550 Þat hiŠte Heraud, þe noble baroun,

Swiþe hiŠ of paraile.

¶ Lord he was of al Arderne,

Ich was take him to lerne

To conne of courteisie,

7600 And siþe marchaundes stele me

And brouŠte me to þis contre

Þat weren of Russie.

Þe king me haþ dobbed kniŠt,

& Šeue me hors & armes briŠt

7650 To lede is chiualrie.

Be me lai a dede me swere

In eueri bataile is baner to bere;

Þarof y nouŠt ne lie.’

Whan Heraud herde þis,

7700 Þat he Gij is sone is,

Away a cast is scheld.

‘Lord’ a seide ‘in trinite,

Fader and sone, yherd þow be.

Þis dai y bide in min eld, {f.171vb}

7750 Þat ich me lordes sone se may.’

For ioie a wep al þe day

And swonede in þe feld.

Reinbroun hadde of him pite,

And seide ‘sire kniŠt, tel what þe be,

7800 For God þat alle þing weld.’

¶ ‘Heraud’ a seide ‘me name is,

‘Ich norschede þe, Reinbroun, ywis;

In my nory þow were.’

Sone Reinbroun wiste þis,

7850 Þat [he] Heraud of Arderne is,

Merci a cride him þere.

Sire Heraud tok him vp þo

Leuelich in is armes to

Wiþ hertte & wel gode chere.

7900 On here stedes lopen he

& forþ hii ride to þe cite

Wiþ meche ioie yfere.

¶ To þemeraile tolden he

How þai acorded be

7950 ÞourŠ grace of God almiŠte.

King Arguus was ouercome,

& al is men yslawe and nome

In þat ilche fiŠte.

Heraud & Reinbroun toke leue þo

8000 Into Ingelond for to go,

& into schip hem diŠte.

So longe hii sailede in þe se

Þat in a lond þanne riuede he

Þat wonder was of siŠte.

8050 ¶ Hii ne seie castel ne cite,

Erst hii wente in al þe contre -

So distrued it is -

Til it toward þe neuen cam.

A castel þei seie fer hem fram,

8100 To þe gate þai riden, iwis.

Of þe porter Heraud gan craue,

‘Tel me now, so God þe saue,

Was þis castel is?

Forhele(d) [it] nouŠt we bedeþ þe.

8150 KniŠtes we beþ of fer contre,

Ase God Šeue vs blis.

¶ Þis in we beddeþ par cherite,

For Godes loue in trinite, {f.172ra}

Þat is lord [so] fre.

8200 Tomorwe anon so it is day

We scholle wenden in our way

Towardes our contre.’

Þe porter answerde anonriŠt

‘Of þis lord I ne can telle nowiŠt,

8250 Ne in what contre a be.

Ac a leuedi herin is

Ful of del and sorwe, ywis;

Wel sore wepeþ Šhe

¶ For hire lord þat Šhe haþ lore,

8300 Ioie ne worþ hire neuer þerfore

For non menstralcie.’

Þe porter in anon gan wende

And tolde tale ord and ende

To Amis is leuedy

8350 ‘Madame, her beþ come twei kniŠte,

Noble men hii be in fiŠte.

Þai wolde her soiurny

Al þis niŠt for soþ to say,

Tomorwe wenden in her way;

8400 Þarof y nouŠt ne lye.’

¶ Þe leuedi seide ‘let hym in,

Þai scholle be serued wel afyn,

Be þe grace of God almiŠte.’

Þe porter wente aŠen anon

8450 & to þe gate he gan gon

And let hem in ful riŠte.

Þe kniŠtes were kende kore,

Whan þai come to halle dore,

Adoun þai gonne liŠte.

8500 Men toke here swerdes, scheld & spere,

Here stedes, and here oþer gere,

Ful wel men gan hem diŠte.

¶ Þe leuedi faire grete hem anon,

To vnarme hem hireselue is gon

8550 Wiþ a wel gode chere.

Here mete was redi wiþouten let,

Anon hii were adoun yset

To þe sopere.

Heraud askede hire, ywis,

8600 ‘Dame, what þe lordes nam is

Fayn ich wolde hire.’

‘Of þe Montayne he het Amis, {f.172rb}

Wiþinne Almayne no swich þer nis,

Me leue frendes dere.

8650 ¶ A stiward was wiþ þemperour,

To al Almayne he was treitour,

Sire Berard of Paui.

Me lordes swike euer was he,

ÞourŠ him in al þis sorwe we be.

8700 For þe loue of sire Gij,

Þat me lord louede wel

& sokoured him in is castel,

We beþ in gret vileinie.

For þe dukes deþ Otoun,

8750 Þat was a treitour feloun,

He vs gan beliŠe

¶ And made vs fle out of þat londe

& in þis contre we beþ astonde

Þat wonder is of siŠt.

8800 Mechel Arderne cleped it is.

A fairy kniŠt herin is

Þat is of meche miŠt,

Wiþ him ones fauŠt me lord

& Šaf him dentes wiþ is sword

8850 Vpon is helm briŠt.

Wepne mai him dere non,

He is so hard to hewe vpon

Ase marbel, y þe pliŠt.

¶ On a dai me lord honted a best

8900 & drof it out of þe forest

Wiþinne is merkes stake.

Siþþe herde ich of him namore,

Þarfore me ofdredeþ sore

Þe kniŠt him haue take.’

8950 ‘Allas,’ queþ Heraud ‘is it Amis,

Þerl of Montaine of gret pris?’

Gret sorwe he gan make.

‘O’ a seide ‘sire Reinbroun,

Wel a louede þe fader Gioun.

9000 We mote him helpe for is sake.’

¶ Reinbroun seide ase he was hende

‘Tomorwe ich wile þerder wende

To seche sire Amis.’

‘Me swete frend’ queþ þe leuedi,

9050 ‘Be þow nouŠt to foul-hardi,

For gret perel it is.’ {f.172va}

Amorwe Reinbroun aros erly

And armede him ful hastely

For to winne pris.

9100 A gode stede he bestrod

& forþ a wente wiþoute abod

To þe forest, ywis.

¶ Heraud wiþ him go wolde

Ac he seide þat he ne scholde

9150 For nonskines nede,

& he dradde of him strangliche

& betauŠte him God in heuenriche

& in is wey a Šede.

Heraud blefte & he gan gon,

9200 Þe merkes stake a pased anon,

Þat was wel vnrede.

Al þe dai a tok þe pas

Til it noun apased was

Ridand vpon is stede.

9250 ¶ An hille he seŠ before him þere,

Gates þeron maked were.

Forþ riŠt he rod in.

Þe gate aŠen anon was spered;

Þo was Reinbroun sore afered

9300 And faste blessede him.

NouŠt he ne seŠ boute þesternesse.

Half a mile a rod, ywisse,

Þe wai was þerk and dim.

He rod ase faste ase a miŠte,

9350 Þanne he seŠ more liŠte

Be a wateris brim.

¶ To þe water he com sone þas,

A riuer be a launde þer was,

Þar he gan to liŠte.

9400 Faire hit was ygrowe wiþ gras,

A fairer place neuer nas

Þat he seŠ wiþ siŠte.

On þat place was a paleis on,

Swich ne seŠ he neuer non,

9450 Ne of so meche miŠte.

Þe walles were of cristal,

Þe heling was of fin ruwal

Þat schon swiþe briŠte.

¶ Þe reftes al cipres be

9500 Þat swote smal casten he {f.172vb}

Ouer al aboute.

Þe resins wer of fin coral,

Togedre iuned wiþ metal

Wiþinne and ek wiþoute.

9550 On þe front stod a charbokel ston,

Ouer al þe contre it schon

Wiþouten eni doute.

Postes and laces þat þer were

Of iaspe gentil þat was dere,

9600 Al of one soute.

¶ Þe paleis was beloken al

Aboute wiþ a marbel wal

Of noble entaile.

Vpon eueriche kernal

9650 Was ful of speres & of springal,

And stoutliche enbataile.

Wiþoute þe gate stod a tre

Wiþ foules of mani kines gle

Singande wiþoute faile.

9700 Þe water was so sterne & grim

MiŠte no man come þerin

Boute he hadde schip to saile.

Reinbroun dorste nouŠt pasy,

Wiþ is spere a gan it prouy

9750 How dep hit was beside.

He þouŠte on is fader fot-hot,

Þe stede in þe side a smot

& in he gan to ride.

Ouer is helm þe water is gon,

9800 He nolde haue be þer for eiŠte non,

Swich aunter him gan betide.

Er he vp of þe water ferde,

A fond it was þretti mete Šerde,

So dep he gan doun glide.

9850 ¶ Þanne he þouŠte on Ihesu Crist,

His hors was wel swiþe trist,

& quikliche swam to londe;

His fet fastnede on þe grounde.

Reinbroun was glad in þat stounde,

9900 And þankede Gode sonde.

Into þe pales he him dede,

He [be]helde þe est[r]es of þat stede;

For no man a nolde wonde.

Ac wimman ne man fand he non þere {f.173ra}

9950 Þat wiþ him speke or confort bere

Naiþer sitte ne stonde.

¶ And þarof war a is

Into a chaumber a goþ, ywis,

A kniŠt a seŠ alone.

1000 A grette him wiþ wordes fre

& seide ‘sire, God wiþ þe be,

Þat sit an heŠ in trone.’

‘Sire’ a sede ‘tel þow me

Šif þis pales þin owen be,

1005 Ich bidde þe a bone.

& Šif þow ert her in prisoun diŠt,

Tel hit me so wel þow miŠt,

To me now make þe mone.’

¶ Amis answerde to Reinbroun

1010 ‘In Almayne ich was a baroun

And now icham forlore.

Ich was driue out wiþ a feloun

And now y lye her in prisoun,

Allas þat ich was bore!

1015 Of þis paleis I nam no lord.

Ich telle þe a soþe word,

Wiþoute oþ iswore,

Hit is a kniŠtes of fayri,

And al þis forest her by,

1020 A sterne man ykore.

¶ Þis paleys is of swiche miŠt,

Her schel no man elde, apliŠt,

Be he her neuer so longe.

Þei he wer her a þosand Šer

1025 In is heued schel hore non her

Ne non elde fonge.’

Reinbroun seide ‘ert þow Amis,

Þerl of Montayne of gret pris?

Þow singest a reuly songe.

1030 Now ichaue fonde þe,

Now schelt wende now wiþ me

Out of þe paines stronge.’

¶ Amis seide (seide) ‘spek nouŠt so.

Of þe me wondreþ, so mot y go,

1035 Þat þow ert hider ycome.

Siþe þis world ferst began

In þis paleis ne com noman

Boute Šif a wer inome,

Boute Šif þe lord him hider ladde {f.173rb}

1040 Oþer of him sum leue hadde;

Nis non so hardi gome.

How miŠtest þow lede me

Whan þow miŠt nouŠt saue þe?

Ich telle þe at þe frome.’

1045 ¶ Reinbroun seide ‘drede nouŠt þe

Þarfore schel hit nouŠt lete be.

Go we anonriŠt.

Šif eni man so hardi were

Þat vs wolde athelde here,

1050 His deþ wer ydiŠt;

Swich a strok ich him Šeue wolde

Þat is heued lese a scholde,

Be grace of God almiŠt.

Þei he wer te bataile boun

1055 Ase sterne alse eni lyoun,

Wiþ him ich wile fiŠt.’

¶ Amis seide ‘let now be,

Swiche stringþe mai nouŠt helpe þe

AŠenes sire Gayere;

1060 For noþing ne schel him dere

Wiþ no wepne þat man may bere,

Naiþer stel ne yre;

Ac Šif þow wilt ouercome him,

Þat ilche swerd to þe nym

1065 Þat hangeþ a þe pylere.’

Reinbroun braide it out anonriŠt,

Þe chaumber was al ful of liŠt

Þat schon swiþe clere.

To þerl Amis anon a wond

1070 & tok him vp be þe hond;

No leng hii nolde abide.

Out of þe paleys boþe hii Šede

And lopen on Reinbroun is stede

And forþ þai gonne ride.

1075 NouŠt fer þannes beþ hii gon,

Þai beheld aŠen anon

Vpon here riŠt side,

Comande hii seŠe ride a kniŠt

Vpon a stede gode and liŠt

1080 Prikande wiþ pride.

¶ Swift ase swalwe he com ride

‘KniŠtes’ a seide ‘Še scholle abide,

No forþer þat Še ne wende. {f.173va}

In me paleys þow hast ybe

1085 And me prisoun ledest wiþ þe;

Þow dost a dede vnhende.

Her Še sholle bleue bo

In me prisoun for euermo

Into þe worldes ende,

1090 Or þow schelt, Reinbroun, þin hed forgo.

Kep for me, icham þe fo;

Bataile y wile þe sende.’

¶ Þerl Amys þer aliŠte,

Arome he drouŠ him anonriŠte

1095 And Reinbroun Gayer gan smite.

Gret strokes hii smite betwene

Þat adoun hii fellen bene;

Aiþer sparede oþer lite.

Siþe þai drowe brondes on grounde

1100 & hewe togedre wiþ grimly wounde

Wiþ swerdes þat wolde bite.

Še herde neuer a stringe[r] fiŠt.

Reinbroun stirede him as gode kniŠt;

Hit was him nouŠt to wite.

1105 ¶ He þouŠte on is fader anonriŠt,

Ase fresch a was to fiŠt

Ase grehonde to hare.

Betwene hem twie was gret fiŠt;

Aiþer smot oþer in helmes briŠt

1110 And delde dentes sare.

Þai hewe helm and scheldes bo,

Gret fiŠt was betwene hem to;

Swich herde Še neuer are.

Reinbroun made him to blede,

1115 And felde him doun of is stede,

Þanne was he out of care.

¶ Reinbroun be þe nose him tok

And drouŠ to him & faste him schok,

Þat greuede him ful sore.

1120 His heued benome him he hadde

Ner it þat he merci gradde

& seide ‘sire R[e]inbroun, þin ore,

For þe fader loue Gii,

Þe beste kniŠt sikerly,

1125 Þat euer was ybore.

Wiþ þat þow haue merci on me

Al me prisouns diliured be {f.173vb}

And hennes for euermore.

¶ R[e]inbroun seide ‘so y schel.

1130 In þat forward y graunte wel

Þat þow aliue go,

So þe prisouns diliured be;

Þarto þe treuþe pliŠte me

Betwene vs-selue to.’

1135 R[e]inbroun glad & bliþe is,

He hadde diliured sire Amis,

Þre hondred kniŠtes & mo.

Into þe castel wenten hii,

Þar was Heraud & þe leuedy

1140 Ful of sorwe and wo.

¶ Þai wer welcomed wiþ fair gle.

Whan þe leuedi hire lord gan se

Šhe made meche blis,

& Heraud for soþe dede also,

1145 And herede God almiŠti þo,

And Amis he gan kisse.

Heraud tolde him al is treye,

How he hadde in prisoun leye,

For soþe wiþouten misse,

1150 Fo[r] me lordes loue Reynbroun,

What sorwe he hadde in prisoun,

Honger and þesternesse.

¶ ‘Þis is Reinbroun, Gii is sone,

Þat haþ set þe out of prisone,

1155 And [brouŠt] þe out of þe care.’

Al is lif a tolde him þo,

How Gij was out of londe ygo,

And how hit was yfare.

Among hem gret ioie þer is,

1160 In þe castel was meche blis

Among alle þare.

Euerich of hem oþer gan kisse

And made meche ioie & blisse,

For blisse þai wepe ful sare.

1165 ¶ Wiþ þat þer com a kniŠt riding,

To þerl Amis a brouŠte tiding

Fro þat emperur

Þat þe duk Berard ded is:

A palmer slouŠ him, ywis.

1170 Wiþ wel mechel onour,

Þemperur hadde sent is sonde {f.174ra}

A scholde come, and [haue] is londe,

Boþe toune and tour;

& þat þerl Terry and he

1175 Were skyred and maked fre

ÞourŠ þe conquerur.

¶ Sire Amis wiþ is meyne

Wente hom to is contre

To þat emperour.

1180 A Šaf him is londes fre,

Boþe castel and cite,

Wiþ wel meche onour.

Glad of him was þemperur fre,

Euer a was to him priue

1185 Boþe in halle and bour.

And also was þerl Terry,

Þat was þerles sone Aubry,

A man of gret fauour.

Heraud & Reinbroun tok leue þo

Heraud: MS reads Beraud.

1190 Into Ingelonde te go.

Þanne was þe leuedi in care.

Mani iurne þai ride þo

ÞourŠ Spayne & þourŠ londes mo,

Into Bourgoyne þai come ware

1195 Þe contre was strued doun riŠt.

Heraud askede at a kniŠt

How hit was yfare.

He seide ‘þe duk of Marce ytold,

Þat is a stout kniŠt and bold,

1200 Vs haþ ybrouŠt in care.

¶ Vpon our erl werreþ he,

He naþ leued boute þis cite

Þat he naþ ynome.

Ac þis castel is gode engyn,

1205 Noblech a wereþ him þerin

Also a douŠti gome.

Wiþ him he haþ a noble kniŠt,

His souder, siker apliŠt,

Þat to him is ycome.

1210 Šong a is so þenkeþ me,

NouŠt twenti winter old nis he,

Ich telle þe at þe frome.

¶ In þis launde her before

An hondred haþ her lif ylore,

1215 Whan he seŠ hem ride. {f.174rb}

Her forþ ne schel pase no kniŠt,

Šif he haþ brenye or stede liŠt,

brenye: MS reads breyne.

Þat he ne schel abide

And forlese þer þat on,

1220 Oþer is heued riŠt anon

Be þe wode side.

Šif Še be þat launde gon

Ich telle Šow be sein Ion

Swich aunture Šow schel betide.’

1225 ¶ ‘O, God be þanked’ queþ Reinbroun,

‘Ichaue founde me compaynoun,

Me felle wiþ to fiŠte.

Šif he wile haue oure þing

Y schel him teche, wiþouten lesing,

1230 Þat he doþ vnriŠte.’

NouŠt fer þanne ne beþ þai gon,

Þai behelde aŠen anon,

Hii siŠe his armes briŠte

Vpon a stede whit so flour;

1235 His armes wer of rede kolour,

A semede of meche miŠte.

¶ ‘Sire Heraud’ seide Reinbroun,

‘Now y se þat bolde baroun

Þat is so stout a fere.

1240 Wiþ vs to fiŠte he makeþ him Šare;

Wiþ him to iusten ich wile fare

Emforþ me powere.

Ich him asaile, Šif þow wilt so.’

Heraud seide ‘so þow schelt do,

1245 Me leue sone dere.’

Swiþe þeder rod Reinbroun,

& he in þe launde com adoun

Vpon is deistrere.

¶ Aiþer was prout & mody,

1250 No word þai speke, sikerly,

Togedres þai gonne driue.

Aiþer hitte oþer in þe scheld

Þat boþe hii fellen in þe feld

Of here hors beliue.

1255 Siþe þai drowe brondes of stel

And hewe togedre hard & wel

And delde dentes riue

& laiden on wiþ swerdes clere;

Helm and scheld þat stronge were {f.174va}

1260 Þai gonne hem al toschliue.

¶ Heraud beheld longe þat fiŠt,

For Reinbroun a bad te God almiŠt

Þat he non harm ne fonge.

To himselue a seide þare

1265 Swich fiŠt ne seŠ he neuer are

Of dentes þat were stronge.

‘Sire kniŠt’ seide Reinbroun,

Vnderstand to me resoun,

So God þe saule fonge,

1270 Ac neuer ne fond ich a kniŠt

Þat me strokes driŠe miŠt

Haluendel so longe.

¶ What is þe name? whar wer þe bore?

Ich þe praie tel me fore,

1275 For loue of oure driŠte,

& Šif þow wost Šelde þe,

Ich schel þe lede to me contre.

Me treuþe I schel þe pliŠte,

Y schel þe Šeue castel & cite,

Erasure before castel.

1280 Bourwes, & tounes, & riche fe,

And mani a douŠti kniŠte;

For þow ert of gret power,

In al þis world þer nis þe per

Þat man finde miŠte.’

1285 ¶ ‘Sire kniŠt’ þanne answerde he,

‘Y nel nouŠt, be him þat made me,

Telle þe me name.

ÞourŠ þe sarmoun scheltow nouŠt wite

Whar y was boren ne gete

1290 An erneste ne a game;

Erst y schel þe sle, verament.

Sire, let be þe prechement,

Hit is þe meche schame.

Ac neuer kniŠt I ne fond

1295 So wel worchande wiþ dent of brond

Þat ich fauŠt wiþ ysame.

¶ Ac y ne sei nouŠt for þam;

Þin heued y schel smite þe fram,

Forsoþe, wiþoute more.

1300 Þat olde man þat ich yse -

Y ne wot Šif he þe fader be

Or þow ert wiþ him at lore -

Lite a louede [þe], siker þow be, {f.174vb}

Whan a sente þe to me,

1305 He wiþ þe berde hore.

Whan ichaue þin hed oftake,

Be þe berd y schel him schake

Þat him schel smerte sore.

¶ So y schel him þerbi ploke

1310 Þat al is teþ schel roke

Þat sitteþ in is heued.’

& þo Reinbroun herde þis,

Þat Heraud dispised is,

His swerd to him a weued.

1315 A strok a smot is helm vpon

Þat a quarter gan doun gon;

Hit was half tocleued.

Wiþ þat strok a stente adoun al,

& to þe erþe a is yfal,

1320 His lif neŠ he hadde leued.

¶ ‘O frend’ a seide ‘ich bidde þe lete,

For it is meche foly to þrete

Eni man aliue.’

& he a scorn bad him lete

1325 And a sterte vpon is fete

Hasteliche and bliue.

Haslak smot Reinbroun anon

Þat to þe bokel þe schel[d] chon,

NeŠ a gan doun driue.

1330 Strong and gode hii wer boþe,

Eiþer kedde þat hii wer wroþe

To bringe oþer of liue.

¶ Betwene hem strong fiŠt þer is,

Swich ne herde [Še] neuer, iwis,

1335 Siþe þat Še wer bore.

So miŠte nouŠt longe be

Þat [on] moste þat oþer sle

Of þe kniŠtes kende icore.

Heraud beheld þat bataile,

1340 How aiþer gan oþer asaile,

Wo was him þerfore.

A gret harm him þouŠte it were

Šif aiþer slouŠ oþer þere,

For hem a wep wel sore.

1345 ¶ Wiþ þat amonges hem com he

And seide ‘kniŠt, for Godes pite,

Herkne to me a stounde. {f.175ra}

Let now ben al Šour fiŠt

And aŠild þe to þis kniŠt

1350 Þat þou hast her yfounde.

For he is man of gret power,

In al þis world þer nis is per,

Ne of so meche mounde.

In is merci y rede þow [þe] do,

1355 Er þan be mad betwene Šow to

Eni mo harde wounde.’

He answerde wiþoute more,

‘Say me ferst, þow faimel hore,

Also God þe spede,

1360 Why me stringŠe is forlore.

Siþþe þe time þat ich was bore

Y nas in swiche a drede.

Šif þow ert of fendes come,

For whi þis drede me haue nome,

1365 Ich wolde þat þow me sede.

In Gode[s] name ich coniure þe

Þat þow þe soþe telle me,

And be al is ferede.’

¶ Heraud seide ‘þerof be stille,

1370 Þat telle þe [nis] me wille

For noman aliue.

Erst þow schelt telle me

Wheþen þow ert & what þow be,

Also mote y þriue.

1375 Þanne y schel telle þe riŠt

Boþe of me and of þis kniŠt

Þat Šif[þ] þe dentes riue.

Þin hauberk is al tosiŠe,

And þe face wiþ blod bewriŠe

1380 Of woundes mo þan fiue.’

¶ He answerde ‘þow seist wel.

Boute for drede, be sein MiŠel,

Y nolde ben aknowe,

Ac for ich wolde wite an haste

1385 Whi ich was so sore agaste

Now in a lite þrowe.

In Ingelonde ich was bore,

So were min eldren me before

Boþe heŠ and lowe.

1390 Heraud me fader het, ywis;

Of Wallingforde lord a is {f.175rb}

And al þe contre is owe.

¶ Out of londe þan wente he

To seche Gii is sone þe fre

1395 Þat marchauns stele away.

To þerl of Winchester y was sent,

Þar ich was loked, veraiment,

Boþe niŠtes and day.

Whan ich was woxe of meche pris,

1400 DouŠti and swiþe strong, ywis,

Me felawes gonne say

Þat y nas of dedes nouŠt,

For þat y me fader [ne] souŠt

In vnkouþe contray.

1405 ¶ To Walingforde y gan gon,

Me fader is armes þer y fond anon,

His hauberk and is stede,

His scheld and is helm briŠt,

And is swerd gode and liŠt

1410 Þat he was woned to lede.

Me selue y dobbed me kniŠt þare,

Man ne tolde ich it neuer are,

Also God me spede.

Out of þat londe ich wente þo

1415 To seche me fader [in] wer & wo

In mani an vnkouþ þede.

¶ Of werre ne herde y neuer speke,

Þat y ne com þer me fader to seke;

Þus to þis lord y cam.

1420 Þe duk of Marce haþ strued him,

Boute þis castel is gode engyn.

Þe lord þat y wiþ am

NeŠ he hadde is lond forlore -

Swiþe wo was him þarfore

1425 And mani a douŠti man.

Boute þretti hors he hadde þo,

Now he haþ þre hondred & mo

Þat ich in bataile wan.’

Heraud herde þis wordes alle,

1430 Byter teres he let doun falle,

And seide ‘what is þe name?’

‘Haslak’ a seide ‘þow schelt me calle.

Heraud het me fader in halle,

& Cristiane het me dame.

1435 Now þow wost whar ich was bore {f.175va}

And what ich hatte wiþoute more

An erneste and agame,

To forward þow schelt telle me

Whi ich was afered of þe

1440 Þat we made er ysame.’

¶ Heraud beheld þe Šonge kniŠt

Ac o word speke he ne miŠt

For meche ioie and blisse.

‘Heraud is me name, apliŠt,

1445 And þow Haslak y se wiþ siŠt,

Me sone, wiþoute misse.

Þis is þe lord, sire Reinbroun;

Ichaue had for him in prisoun

Honger and þesternesse.

1450 Þe miŠt him se, a stant þe by.

Šild him þe swerd in is merci

And pray him þat he þe kisse.’

¶ Þo Haslak wiste sikerly

Hit was is fader þat stod him by

1455 And is lord Reinbroun,

Swiþe loude he gan to crie

‘Fader, for loue of oure leuedye,

Šem me þe benesoun.’

Ofte he knewelede to þe grounde,

1460 And cride him merci in þat stounde

Wiþ gode deuocioun.

‘In þe merci y do me riŠt

And euermore to ben þe kniŠt

Boþe in feld and toun.’

1465 ¶ Þo Reinbroun wiste þis,

Þat he Heraud is sone is,

Vp he gan him take.

Leueliche a kiste him þo,

Sire Heraud, for soþ, dede also,

1470 Meche blisse þai gonne make.

Haslak ladde hem faire & wel

Hom til is lordes castel

And tolde, wiþoute sake,

Þat he hadde is fader brouŠt

1475 Þat he hadde wide ysouŠt

Wiþ meche wer and wrake,

¶ ‘And me lord, sire Reinbroun,

Ase sterne ase eni lyoun

At euery skenes nede, {f.175vb}

1480 Þat euer to bataile was boun.’

Glad was þanne þerl Myloun

And Šaf hem riche mede

Þe kniŠtes of seluer & of golde,

Ase meche as he take wolde,

1485 BriŠt armur and stede.

So þai wente sone anon

For to wreke hem of here fon,

Šif God hem wolde spede.

Fiue dawes before MiŠelmas

1490 Þai armede hem more & las

AŠen here fon to fiŠte.

Out of þe castel þai gonne pas,

Þe duk hii fonden in þe plas

Wiþ mani helmes briŠte.

1495 Þar miŠte men se scheftes schake,

Þar men miŠte se crounes crake

Of mani an hardy kniŠte.

Heraud, Haslak, and Reinbroun,

Al þat hii smite Šede adoun

1500 Of þai hii mete miŠte.

¶ Þe duk of Marce seŠ þat tide

His folk was slawe be ech aside,

& in þe feld al todreued.

He prikede is stede wiþ meche pride,

1505 AŠenes þerl he gan ride

And smot him on þe heued.

Almest a felde þerl adoun,

Heraud com wiþ is fauchoun,

His body ato he cleued.

1510 Þanne Haslak and Reinbroun

Þerl is folk þai felde adoun,

Noþing þai ne leued.

¶ Þis seŠ al þe barnage,

For to do þerl omage

1515 Merci þai gonne crie.

KniŠtes, squier, and page

Þai toke þer into ostage

Of þe duk is partye.

Þus þai stablede þe lond wiþ fiŠt

1520 & þerafter anonriŠt

Þai toke leue an hiŠe.

Inte Ingelonde þai gonne saile.