¶ Sir Degore.    

lordings and ye will hold you still  
A gentle tale tell you I will  
Of knights of this country  
That hath travailed beyond the see  
To seek adventures both night & day  
And how they might their strength assay  
As died a knight his name was sir Degore  
One of the best that was found him before  
Sometime in England there was a king  
A noble man of manners in all thing  
Stout in arms and under shield  
Full moche doubted in battle and field,  
There was no man than verament  
That with him jousted in torment  
That out of his styrope might bring his foot  
He was so strong without doubt  
The king had no children but one  
A daughter as white as whales bone  
That maiden he loved as his life  
Her mother was deed the queen his wife  
In travail of child she died alas  
But when that maiden of age was  
Kynkes sons her wooed then  
emperors Dukes and other men  
To have that maiden in marriage  
For love of her great heritage  
But than the king died them answer  
That no man should wed her  
But if that he might with stout jousting  
The king out of his sadyll bring  
And downe him lose his styropes two  
Many one assayed and might nought do  
Every year of right it would  
A great feast will he hold  
Upon his queens murning day  
That was buried in an abbey  
So on a day the king would ride  
To an abbey there beside  
To do dyryges and masses both  
The poor to feed and the naked to cloth  
His own daughter with him road  
And in the forest still she abode  
She called her chamberlain her to  
And other maidens she died also  
And said adown she must alight  
Better her clothes to amend and right  
adown they been alight all three  
Her damosel and so died she  
A full long stound there she abode  
Till all the main from her road  
They gate up and after they would  
But they could not they right way hold  
The wood was rough and thick iwis  
And they took their way all amiss  
They road south they road west  
In to the thick of that forest  
And in to a land they came at the last  
Than wearied they wonder fast  
Than wist the well amiss they had gone  
And down the light everichone  
And they called all in fere  
But there might no man them here  
The weather was hot before the none  
They wist never what was best to done  
But laid them down upon the green  
Some fell on sleep as I ween  
Thus they fell on sleep everichone  
Save the kings daughter alone  
She went about and gathered flowers  
And to here the song of small fowls  
So long she died forth pass  
That she wist never where she was  
the way to her damoiselles she would have nome  
But she wist never how to come  
Than 'gan she cry wonder sore  
She wept and wrong her hands thore  
And said alas that I was borne  
For well I wot I am forlorn  
For wild beasts will me rind  
Or any man may me find  
And then she saw a joyful sight  
To her came preking a fair knight  
Full well he seemed a gentle man  
And rich clothes him upon  
Well faring both of foot and hand  
There was none such in that land  
So stout a man than was he  
He said madame god you see  
Be ye adread of me right nought  
I have none arms with me brought  
I have the loved this many a year  
And now I have found the here  
Thou shalt be my lemmanne or I go  
whether it turn to weal or woe  
No more to done then could she  
But wept and cried and would have i'll  
Anon began he her to be hold  
And died with her what he would  
And bereft her her maydenhode  
And than before the lady he stood  
He said madame gentle and free  
With child I wot well that ye be  
Well I wot it shall be a knave  
Therefore my sword he shall have  
My good sword of ameaunt  
For therewith I slew a giant  
I broke the point in his heed  
And in the field I it lived  
Dame take it up lo it is here  
For thou speakest not with me this many a year  
And yet peraventure the time may come  
That I may speak with my sone  
And by this sword I may him ken  
He kissed his love and went then  
The knight passed as he come  
All weeping the lady that sword up nome  
She went away sore weeping  
And found her maidens sleeping  
She hid the sword so as she might  
And called them up anon right  
And took their horses everichone  
And began to ride soon anon  
And than there came at the last  
Many a knight preking fast  
From the king than were they sent  
To were whether they went  
They brought them in to the high way  
And road in fere to that abbey  
There was done service and all thing  
With many a mass and rich offering  
And when that service was all done  
And 'gan to pass the high none  
The king unto his palace 'gan ride  
And moche people by his side  
When every man was glad and blithe  
The lady soned many a sith  
Her baly waxed more and more  
She wept and wrong her hands sore  
So upon a day she 'gan sore weep  
A maiden of hers took good keep  
And said madame for charity  
Why ye do weep ye will tell me  
Maiden and I tell the before  
And thou me wrey I were but lore  
For I have been ever meek and mild  
And truly now I am with child  
And if any man it under go  
Every man would tell in every stead  
That my father on me it won  
For I loved never other man  
And if my father it may weet  
Such sorrow his heart may get  
That he shall never merry man be  
For all his joy is laid on me  
And told the damosel all in fere  
How the child was begotten on here  
Now gentle lady grieve you nought  
For still it shall be forth brought  
Shall no man it wit certainly  
Truly madame but you and I  
Time was come she was unbound  
And delivered both hole and sound  
A man child there was bore  
Glad was the lady therefore  
The maiden served her at her will  
And laid the child in a cradyll  
She wrapped him in clothes anon  
And was all ready for to have gone  
Yet was the child unto the mother hold  
She gave it twenty pound of gold  
And ten pound of silver also  
Under his heed she 'gan it do  
much it is that a child behoves  
She put with him a pair of gloves  
Herlemman gave her them in a stand  
They would else on no woman's hand  
On child's neither woman they nold  
But on his moders hands they would  
And bad the child no wife wed in land  
But the gloves would on her hand  
For they might serve no where  
Save the mother that died him bear  
A letter with the child put she  
With the gloves also perde  
She knit the letter with a thread  
A bout his neck a full good speed  
Than was it in the the letter writ  
Who so it found should it wit  
For Christ's love if any good man  
This woeful child find can  
Do him be christened of priests hand  
And to help him to live in land  
With this silver that is here  
Till he may arms bear  
And help him with his own good  
For he is come of gentle blood  
And when she had thus done  
The maiden took her leave full soon  
With the child in the cradyll and all thing  
She stolen away in the evening  
And went her way she wist not whither  
through thick and thin in the breer  
She went all the winter night  
By shining of the moan light  
Then was she readily were anon  
Of an hermitage made of stone  
An holy man had there his dwelling  
And thither she went without losing  
And set the cradyll at the door  
For she durst dwell no longer thore  
But turned again a none right  
And came again the same night  
The hermit rose on the morrow tho  
And his knave also  
Lord he said I cry the mercy  
For now I here a young child cry  
This holy man his door undyde  
And found the cradle in the stead  
He lift up the sheet anon  
And looked upon the little groom  
Than held he up his right hand  
And thanked Ihesu cryst of his sonde  
He bore the child in to the chapel  
For joy of him he rung the bell  
And laid up the gloves and the treasure  
And christened the child with great honour  
And in the worship of the trinity  
He called the child's name Degore  
For Degore too understand it is  
But thing that almost is lost iwis  
As thing that is almost a go  
Therefore he called that child so  
The hermit was an holy man of life  
He had a sister that was a wife  
He sent the child to her full rathe  
With moche money by his knave  
And bad she should take good heed  
The child to nourish and feed  
And this little child Degore  
Unto that city was I bore  
The good man and his wife in fere  
The child they kept as it their own were  
Till it was ten winter old  
He waxed a fair child and a bold  
Well taught fair and kind  
There was none such in all that end  
What time ten year was come and spent  
Unto the hermit they him sent  
The hermit longed him for to see  
then was he a fair child and fire  
He taught the child of clerks lore  
Other ten winter withouten more  
And when he was of twenty year  
He was a man of great power  
There was no young man in that land  
That might stand a brayed of his hand  
And when the hermit that died see  
That he a man so strong would be  
A stalworthe man in any work  
And of his time a well good clerk  
He took his florins and his gloves  
That he had kept sor him in his house  
But his ten pound that was sterling  
was spent about the child's keeping  
The hermit took him his letter to read  
He looked therein that same stead  
Sir he said for saint charity  
Was this letter made by me  
Ye sone by him that me dame shall  
Thus I found the and told him all  
He set him down on knees full blithe  
And thanked the hermit many sith  
And said he would not rest in land  
Till the time he had his father fond  
He gave the hermit half his gold  
And the remnant up he fold  
He took his leave and fain would go  
The hermit said he should not so  
To seek thy kin thou mayst not endure  
Without good horse and good armure.  

¶ How sir Degore fought with a dragon in a forest and slew him.  
SIr hermit he said in deed  
I will have no other weed  
But a bat in mi hand  
Mine enemies therewith to withstand  
A full good sapeling of an oak  
On whom he set therewith a stroke  
Where he never so tall a man  
Nor yet so good armour him upon  
He would him fallen to the ground  
With that same bat in that stound  
The child kissed the hermit tho  
And took his leave for to go  
Degore went forth on his way  
through a forest half a day  
He hard no man nor saw none  
Till it was passed the high none  
Thenne hard he great strokes fall  
That made great noise withal  
Full soon he thought that thing to see  
To wite what the strokes might be  
There was an earl both stout and gay  
He was come thither that same day  
For to hunt for a dear or a do  
But his hounds were gone him fro  
then was there a dragon great and grim  
Full of fire and also venom  
with a wide throat and tusks great  
Upon that knight fast 'gan he beat  
And as a lion then was his feet  
His tail was long and full unmeet  
between his heed and his tail  
Was xxii foot withouten fail  
His body was like a wine ton  
He shone full bright against the son  
His eyen were bright as any glass  
His scales were hard as any brass  
And thereto he was necked like a horse  
He bore his heed up with great force  
The breath of his mouth that died out blow  
As it had been a fire on low  
He was to look on as I you tell  
As it had been a fiend of hell  
Many a man he had shent  
And many a horse he had rent  
And to that earl hard battle began  
But he defended him like a man  
And boldly smote him with his sword  
But of all his strokes he was not afeard  
His skin was hard as any stone  
Wherefore he might him no harm done  
And when the earl sir Degore see  
Help sir he said for saint charity  
And then answered sir Degore  
Full gladly sir and god before  
when the dragon of Degore had a sight  
He left the earl and came to him right  
And the child that was so strong  
Took his staff that was long  
And smote the dragon so on the crown  
That in that wood he fell down  
And then that dragon anon right  
Smote the child with such might  
With his tail upon the right side  
That down he fell in that tide  
And he start up anon full right  
And defended him with moche might  
With that staff that was so long  
He broke of him both foot and bone  
That it was wonder for to see  
He was so tough he might not die  
Till Degore one stroke at him flung  
With his staff that was so strong  
He smote him on the crown on high  
That he made his brains out fly  
And thenne the earl was glade and blithe  
And thanked Degore many a sith  
And prayed him he would with him ride  
Unto his palace there be side  
And there he made him a knight  
And made him good cheer that night  
Rentes treasure and half his land  
He would have seized in to his hand  
Sir Degore thanked him truly  
And prayed him of his curtaysye  
To let his ladies before him come  
wives medens more and some  
And also your daughter eke  
And if my gloves been for them meet  
Or will upon any of there hands  
Than would I fain take my lands  
And if my gloves will not so  
Then will I take my leave and go  
All the women were out brought  
That there about might be sought  
All the assayed the gloves than  
But they where meet for no woman  
Sir Degore took up his gloves anon  
And also took leave for to gone  
The Earl was a lord of gentle blood  
He gave sir Degore a stead right good  
And thereto he gave him good armure  
The which was both fair and sure  
And also a page his man to be  
And an hakneye to ride on truly  
Sir Degore was glade and blithe  
And thanked the earl many a sith  
He road forth upon his way  
Many a mile upon summer's day  
Upon a day moche people he met  
He hoved still and fair them great  
And asked a squire what tiding  
And from whence came all that folk riding  
The squire said sir verament  
They come from the parliament  
from a counsel the king died make  
The which is for his daughters sake  
But when the parliament was most plenere  
The king let cry both far and near  
If any man were so bold  
That with the king Just would  
He should have his daughter in marriage  
And all his land and heritage  
It is a land both good and fair  
And the king thereto had none air  
But sertes there dare no man grant thereto  
Many one said they might not do  
For every man that rideth to him  
He beateth them with strokes grim  
Some he breaketh the neck anon  
Of some he cracketh both back and bone  
Some through the body he glytte  
And some to death he smit  
And to him may no man do nothing  
Such a grace ever had our king  
Sir Degore stood in a study then  
And thought he was a doughty man  
And I am in my young blood  
And I have horse and armure good  
And as I trow a full good stead  
I will assay if that I may speed  
And if I may bear the king down  
I may be a man of great renown  
And if that he me fell can  
There knoweth no body what I am  
death or life what so me be tied  
I will once against him ride  
Thus in the city his in he takes  
And rested him and merry makes  
So upon a day the king he met  
He kneeled down and fair him great  
He said sir king of moche might  
My lord hath sent me to you right  
To warn you how it shall be  
My lord will come and fight with the  
To Just with the my lord hath nome  
The king said he shall be welcome  
Be he knight or barowne  
earl Duke or churl in town  
There is no man I will forsake  
Who all may win all may take   

¶ How sir Degore jousted with the king of England and smote him down.  
SO on the morrow the day was set  
The king advised much the bet  
But then there was no living man  
That Degore trusted moche upon  
But to church that time went he  
To here a mass of the trinity  
 
To the father he offered a floryne  
And to the son another fine  
The third to the holy ghost he offered  
The priest in his mass for him prayed  
And when the mass was done  
Unto his in he went anon  
He died arm him well in deed  
In rich armure good at need  
His good stead he began to strided  
And took his spear and forth died ride  
His knave took an other spear  
And after his master 'gan it bear  
Thus in the field sir degore abode than  
They king came with many a man  
Many came thither readily  
To see the jousting truly  
All that in the field were  
They said and died swear  
That they never or that time see  
So fair a man with their eye  
As was that young knight sir Degore  
But non wist what man was he  
They road to guider at the last  
On their good steeds full fast  
The king had the greater shaft  
And more he could of that craft  
To dash him down then had he mente  
And in his shield set shuche a dente  
That his good spear all to burst  
But Degore was strong and sat fast  
Than said the king alas alas  
For me befell never such a case  
There was never man that I might hit  
That ever might my stroke sit  
This is a man all for the nonce  
For he is a man of great bones  
then took the king a greater tree  
And square also moat I the  
And if his neck will not a two  
His back shall or that I go  
The king road to him with great randowne  
And thought to have dashed the child down.  
He smote sir Degore soon anon  
Right before the brst bone  
That his horse was reared on high  
And sir Degore was fallen nigh  
Sir Degore thus his course out yode  
He was sore angry in his mode  
Alas he said I have missed yet  
And he hath me twice hit  
And never ones with him I met  
By god I shall me advise bet  
They road together with great might  
In their shields their spears pight  
That their good spears all to broke  
Unto their hands with the stroke  
And than the king began to speak  
give me a spear that will not break  
For he shall anon be smitten down  
Though he be as strong as was sampsowne  
And if he be the devil of hell  
I shall him soon down fell  
The king took a spear stiff and stronke  
And Degore took another good and long  
And stouly to the king he smit  
The king him failed and Degore him it  
And sir Degore so him beat  
That he made the kings horse torn up his feet.  
Boldly he road up than  
And seemed a full goodly man  
The king was out of his sadyll cast  
Whereof his daughter was sore a gast  
then was there moche noise and cry  
The king was sore ashamed for thy  
We'll I wot his daughter was sorry  
Fer then she wist readily  
That she should married be  
To a man of a strange country  
And lead her life with such one  
That she wist never fro whence he come  
The king said to sir Degore  
Come hither fair son me before  
And thou were as gentle a man  
As thou seemest to look upon  
And thou could wit and reason do  
As thou art doughty man to  
I would think my land well beset  
And if it were five times the bet  
For word spoken I must needs hold  
Before my barons that be so bold  
I take the my daughter by the hand  
And sesse the in all my land  
To be mine heir after me  
In joy and bliss for to be   

¶ How sir Degore wedded his mother the kings daughter of England/ and how show knew that he whas her son by the gloves.  
great ordinance was there wrought  
To the church door they were brought  
And were there wedded verament  
Unto the holy sacrament  
Look what folly happened there  
That he should wed his own modere  
The which had borne him one her side  
And yet he knew nothing that tide  
He knew nothing of her ken  
Nor she knew nothing of him  
And both together ordained to bed  
Yet peraventure they may be sybble  
Thus died sir Degore the bold  
He wedded his mother to have and to hold  
God suffered moche thing there  
But yet he let them not sin in fere  
It passed on the high time of none  
And the day was near hand done  
To bed was brought both he and she  
With great mirth and solemnity  
Sir Degore stood and be held then  
And thought of the hermit holy man  
That he should never for thy  
Wed no widow nor lady  
But if she might the gloves two  
Lyhtly upon her hands do  
Alas than said sir Degore  
The time that ever I was boar  
And said anon with heavy cheer  
Me had liefer than all this kingdom here  
That is now sessyed in to my hand  
That I were fair out of this land  
The king these words hard tho  
And said dear son why sayest thou so  
Is there ought against thy will  
Other done or said that doth the ill  
Or any thing that is misdone  
Tell me and it shall be amended soon  
Nay lord he said then  
But for all the marriage that done hath been  
I will not with no woman mell  
Wife widow nor damosel  
But if she might these gloves do  
lightly upon her hands two  
And when the lady 'gan this here  
A none she changed all her cheer  
And all to guider turned her mode  
Her visage waxed red as any blood  
She knew that the gloves longed to her  
And said give me the gloves fair sir  
She took the gloves in that that stead  
And lightly upon her hands them died  
She fell down and began to cry  
And said lord god I ask mercy  
I am thy mother that the died bear  
And thou art my own sone dear  
Sir Degore full soon though  
Took her up in his arumes two  
Than were they glade and blithe  
They kissed to guider many a sith  
The king of them had great marvel  
Of the noise they made withouten fail  
And was a bashed of their weeping  
And said daughter what is this thing  
father she said will ye it here  
Ye ween that I a maiden were  
Nay truly father I am none  
For it is twenty winter a gone  
This is my son god it wot  
And by these gloves I it wot  
She told him all together there  
How he was begotten on here  
Than bespoke sir Degore  
Sweet mother than said he  
Where is my father woning  
And when heard ye of him any tithing  
son she said by heaven king  
I can tell of him no tiding  
But when thy father from me went  
A poyntles sword he me lente  
And charged me to keep it than  
Till the time thou were a man  
She fet the sword full swith  
And sir Degore it out twythe  
Long and broad it was perde  
There was none such in that country  
Truly said sir Degore than  
Who so it owed he was a man  
Now god of heaven he me keep  
Night nor day I will not sleep  
Till the time I may my father see  
In christendom if that he be  
He made him merry that ilk night  
On the moro when it was day light  
He went to the church to here mass  
And made him ready for to pass  
Than said the king my next kin  
I will give the knights with the to win  
Sir he said gramercy than  
With shall go no other man  
But my knave that may take head  
To mine armure and to my stead  
He leapt on horse the sooth to say  
And road forth on his journey  
Many a mile and many away  
He road forth on his palfrey  
And ever more he road west  
Till time he came to a forest  
Wild beasts there went him by  
And fowls song there full merely  
So long he road till it drew to night  
The sone went down and failed light  
Unto some town fain would he ride  
But there was none on neither side  
Soon after he found a castle clear  
A lady truly wonned there  
A fair castle of lime and stone  
But other town there was none  
Degore said to his knave that tide  
Will we to that castle ride  
And all night abide will we  
And ask lodging for charity  
The drabryge was drawn tho  
And the gate stood open also  
Unto the castle they 'gan them speed  
And first he stabled up his stead  
And than he set up his hakeney  
I 'nough they found of corn and hay  
He went a bout and 'gan to call  
Both in the court and eke in hall  
Nether for love nor yet for awe  
living man none there they saw  
And in the mids of the hall flower  
There was a great fire in that stoure  
Than said his man leave sire  
I have wonder who made this fire  
If he will come again this night  
I will him abide as I am knight  
He set him done upon the dease  
And made him well at ease  
Than was he ware soon of one  
That at the door he 'gan gone  
And three maidens fair and free  
That where trussed up to the knee  
Twain of them bows died bear  
And two of them charged were  
With venison that was full good  
then sir Degore up stood  
And blessed them anon right  
But they spoke not to the knight  
But whente in to the cambre a none  
And shit the door full soon  
And a none after therewithal  
There came a dwarf in to the hall  
Four foot was the length of him  
His visage was both great and grim  
And the hear that on his heed was  
It was yelo as any way  
But full stouly than looked he  
He ware a cyrcote that was green  
With blaunchmer it was furred I ween  
He was well called and well dight  
His shone was corked as a knight  
He was large both of foot and hand  
As any man was in that land  
Sir Degore looked on him tho  
And to him reverence died do  
And he to him would speak no word  
But made him busy to lie the board  
He laid the cloth and set forth breed  
And also wine both white and read  
Torches in the hall he did light  
All thing ready to souper he dight  
And soon after with great honour  
There came a lady out of her bower  
And with her came maidens fifteen  
Some in red and some in green  
Sir Degore followed a none right  
And nought she spoke unto that knight  
But go and washed everichone  
And to souper 'gan they gone  
The lady was fair and bright  
In the mids of the desk she set down right  
On every side sat maidens fine  
Fair and goodly as any was a live  
By god than said sir Degore  
I have you blessed and ye not me  
But ye seem dumb by saint johan  
I shall make you speak and I can  
Sir Degore could of courtesy  
He go and sat before the lady  
And when he had taken that seat  
He took a knife and cut his meet  
Full little meet at souper eat he  
He died so be hold that maiden fire  
Him thought she was the fairest lady  
That ever afore he died see  
All his heart thought and might  
Was on that lady that was to bright  
And when they had souped all  
The dwerfe brought water in to the hall  
Then 'gan they wash everichone  
And then to chamber 'gan they gone  
Truly quoth Degore and after I will  
To look on that lady all my fill  
Who that me warneth he shall abye  
Or to do him make a sorry cry  
Upon the stair the way he nome  
And soon in to the chamber he come  
They lady that was so fair and bright  
Vpno her bed she sat down right  
She harped notes sweet and fine  
Her maidens filled a piece of wine  
And sir Degore sat him down  
For to here the haps sown  
That thorough the notes of the harp shyll  
He laid him down and slept his fill  
This fair lady that ilk night  
She bade go cover that gentle knight  
And rich clothes about him cast  
And the lady went to another bed at the last  
So on the morrow when it was day  
The lady rose the sooth to say  
And in to the chamber her way 'gan take  
She said sir knight a rise and wake  
They lady said all in game  
Ye be well worthy to have blame  
For as a be'st all night thou died sleep  
And of my maidens tookest no keep  
And than answered the knight so free  
Mercy madame and forgive it me  
The notes of thine harp it made  
Or else the good wine that I had  
But tell me now my lady hende  
Or I out of this chamber wend  
who hath this castle in his hand  
And who is lord of this land  
whether that ye be maiden or wife  
And in what manner ye lead your life  
And why ye have so many women  
Alone withouten any men  
Sir fain I would the tell  
And thou could it amend well  
My father was a bold barowne  
And holden a lord of tour and town  
He had never child but me  
I am air in this country   

¶ How sir Degore fought for a lady with a giant and slew him.  
THere hath me wooed many a knight  
And many a squire well dight  
But than their wonned here beside  
A stout giant full of pride  
He hath me desired long and yore  
And him to love may I never more  
He is a bout with his mestrye  
To do me shame and villainy  
And he hath slain my men ychone  
Save my sorry dwerfe alone  
Right as they stood she fell to ground  
And soned there in that stound  
All her damoiselles to her come  
To comfort her and her up nome  
The lady looked on sir Degore  
Lief dame then said he  
Be not adread whiles I am here  
I will the help to my power  
Sir she said then all my land  
I will it cease in to thy hand  
And all my good I will the give  
And all my body while I live  
For to be at all your will  
early and late loud and still  
And thy leman for to be  
To wreak me now on mine eneme  
That was Degore fain to fight  
For to defend that ladies right  
And to slay that other knight  
And win that lady that was so bright  
And as they stood both in fere  
Her maidens came riding with heavy cheer  
She bade draw the bridge hastily  
For here cometh your enemy  
Or else he will slay us ychone  
Sir Degore start up anon  
Out at a window he him see  
He was soon armed on horse high  
So stout a man as he was one  
In arms saw she never none  
Sir Degore armed him by live  
And our of the castle he 'gan drive  
And road even the giant again  
They smote together with moche main  
That their good spears all to braced  
Degore was stroge and sat fast  
But his steeds bake burst a two  
then sir Degore fell to the ground tho  
And thenne he start up and loughe  
And his good sword he out drughe  
Than said the giant to him anon  
On foot we will to guider gone  
Thou hast said Degore slain my good stead  
I hope to quite the thy meed  
To slay thy stead nought I will  
But to fight with the my fill  
And though they fought on foot in fere  
With strong strokes on helm clear  
The giant gave sir Degore  
Huge strokes great plenty  
And sir Degore died him also  
Till helm and basynet burst in two  
The gyanut was a grieved sore  
Because he had his blood lore  
He struck upon sir Degore so  
That to the ground he made him go  
Sir Degore recovered soon a plight  
And such a stroke he gave that knight  
And on the crown so it set  
That throw his helm and basynet  
He made the sword go thorough his head  
And anon the giant fell down deed  
The lady sat in her castle  
And saw all the hold battle  
How the giant was slain  
That would her have forlain  
She was as glade of that sight  
As ever was bride of the day light  
Sir Degore came to the caestll  
And against him came that damosel  
She thanked him of his good deed  
And in her chamber she died him lead  
She set him on her bed anon  
And unarmed him full soon  
She took him in her harms two  
And kissed him. C. times and more  
And said all my good I will the give  
And my body while I live  
Gramercy damosel than said he  
Of that ye have granted me  
But I must in to far country  
More adventures for to see  
Unto this twelve months be ago  
And thenne I shall come you to  
He betook her to the heaven king  
The lady wept at his departing  
Sir Degore road upon his way  
Many a long journey  
And ever more he road west  
Till a land he found in a forest  
To him came preking a knight  
Well armed and on his horse dight  
In arms that would endure  
With fine gold and rich azure  
Three boar hedes were theryne  
They which were of gold fine  
As soon as ever he saw that knight  
He spoke to him anon right  
And said velayne what dost thou here  
In my forest to slay my dear  
Sir Degore said with words meek  
Sir of thy deer I take no keep  
For I am adventurous knight  
That goeth to seek war and fight  
His father answered and said saunfayll  
And thou be come to seek battle  
Then make the ready in a stound  
For thou haste thy fellow found  
And then sir Degore without danger  
Armed him to fight with his father   

¶ How sir Degore fought with his father & how his father knew him by the broken sword.  
A Well god helm for the nonce  
And well set with precious stones  
It might well be his own saunfayll  
For he wan it once in battle  
He kest his shield about his swear  
Of rial arms good and dear  
His good stead he began to strided  
He took his spear and began to ride  
And his man took an other spear  
And by his side he 'gan it bear  
But look what folly began that tide  
The sone against the father 'gan ride  
But neither knew other a right  
And thus began they to fight  
Sir Degore had the greater shaft  
And wonder well he could his craft  
To dash him down than had he went  
And in his shield gave such a dent  
That his good spear all to braced  
But his father was strong and sat fast  
Another course than have they take  
The father for the sons sake  
So hard they smote together in sooth  
That their horses backs broke both  
And then they fought on foot in fere  
Wirh hard strokes on helm clear  
And thus his father a marveled was  
Of his sword that was poyntles  
And to him said anon right  
Abide a while thou gentle knight  
Where was thou borne and in what land  
Sir he said in England  
A kings daughter is my mother  
But I wot not who is my father  
What is thy name then said he  
Sir my name is Degore  
Sir Degore thou art welcome  
For well I wot thou art my sone  
By this sword I know the here  
The point is in my pautenere  
He took the point and set it to  
And they accorded both two  
So long they have spoke together  
Both the son and the father  
That they be right well at one  
The father and the sone alone  
Sir Degore and his father dear  
In to England they road in fere  
They were both armed and well dight  
As it becometh every knight  
They road forth on their journey  
Many a mile of that country  
And on their way they road full fast  
In to England they came at the last  
When they might England see  
They drew thither as they would be  
When they where to that palace come  
They where welcome all and some  
And they beheld over all  
The lady them spied over a wall  
And when that lady saw that sight  
She went to them with all her might  
And right well she them knew  
And than she changed all her hew  
And said my deer soon Degore  
Thou hast thy father brought with the  
Truly madame than said he  
Full well I wot that it is he  
Now thanked be god than said the king  
For now I wot without losing  
Who is sir Degores father in deed  
The lady swoned in that stead  
And soon after sickerly  
The knight wedded that lady  
She and her son was departed I twin  
For he and she were to nigh of kin  
Forth then went sir degore  
With the king and his main  
His father and his mother dear  
Unto they castle they went in fere  
Where as dwelled that lady bright  
That he had won in fight  
And wedded her with great solemnity  
Before all the lords of that country  
Thus came the knight out of his care  
God give us grace well to far  
And that we all upon domes day  
Come to the bliss that lasteth ay.   
AMEN   

¶ Thus endeth the treatise of sir Degore. imprinted at London in Flete street at the sign of the son by Wynkyn de word.