(VSOF* N 
 
 
 U h i
 
 sme DeGRevHajsrc 
 
 Ft 
 
 ZOi 
 
 01
 
 p.-ymvf 
 
 zm
 
 rr>e RojMHjsrce Of sir oeeRe- 
 
 Sire Degrevvaunt, & tbeynke & tbanke 
 
 ORO G0O6 IN 
 flTTrynite, 
 Yeff borne bevene 
 fortose, 
 XTbat lovetbe ga- 
 in en e and gle, 
 Hnd gestys to 
 fede* 
 
 T^berfolkesitis 
 in fere, 
 
 Sbullde mene berkene and bere 
 Off gode tbat beffore bem were, 
 Xlbat levede on artbede ; 
 Hnd y scballe karppe off a knygbt, 
 TTbat was botb bardy and wygbt, 
 Sire Degrevaunt tbat bend bygbt, 
 TTbat dowgbty was of dede* 
 3Has nevere kyngb tbat be fond, 
 Xn frauncene in Gnglond, 
 JVIygbt sette a scbaff t of bys bond 
 Oneastytbestedef 
 
 :&&*• 
 
 yCF> kyng Hrrtor, y wene, 
 Hnd wy tb Gwennor tbe qu ene, 
 f)e was knowun for kene,
 
 H good Cbat comely cb hnygbt; 
 
 hnigbt In fietbenesseandin Spayne, 
 In f rauncc and in Bryttayne, 
 Qly tb persevalle and Gawayne, 
 for bcrdy and wygbtf 
 Re was dowgbty and dere, 
 Hnd tbern evew f ullc nere, 
 Tber be of dedys migbt y bere, 
 By days or by nygbt* 
 f ortby tbey name bem tbat stounde 
 H hnygbt of tabulle round, 
 Hs maked is in tbe mappe/mound, 
 In story e full rygbt* 
 
 )B was fay re mane and free, 
 Hnd gretlecb yaff bym to gle, 
 'Co barp and to sautre, 
 Hnd geterne full gay ; 
 3dell to play in a rote, 
 Off lewtyng, welle y wote, 
 Hnd syngyng many suet note, 
 F)e bare tbe pryes aey* 
 Yet gamenes bade be mere, 
 Greboundes for bert and bare, 
 Botb for bohes and tbe bare, 
 2
 
 r 
 
 Be nygbt and be day ; 
 f elle faukons and fayre, 
 fiaukes of nobulle eyre, 
 Cylle bis perke ganne repeyre, 
 By sexxty, y dar say, 
 
 )£ wold be upp or tbe day 
 To bonte and to revay, 
 Gretly yaff bem to pley 
 Gcbeday ton ewe; 
 T^bo bere bys mas or be went, 
 T>ewly in gode en taunt, 
 Hnd setbtbe to bowe into tbe bente, 
 T^bere games inne grewe, 
 ]Sow to forest be f ounde, 
 Botb wy t borne and witb bound, 
 'Co breyng tbe deere to tbe grond 
 das bys most glew ; 
 Certus wyff wold be none, 
 CKencbnelemone, 
 Bot as an anker in a stone 
 f>e lyved evere trew* 
 
 H great 
 bunter 
 not given 
 to women 
 
 b2
 
 Olealtby, 
 ready 
 to help, 
 given 
 to alma/ 
 deeds 
 
 |f)6RG was sesyd in bys hand 
 
 H thousand poundus worth off land, 
 
 I Off rentes well settand, 
 
 Hnd muchelle delle more; 
 
 Hn houndered plows in demaynus, 
 
 f ayere parkes inwyth baynus, 
 
 Grett herdus in the playnus, 
 
 Sly th muchelle tame store* 
 
 Castelos wyth heygh wallus, 
 
 Chambors wyth noble ballus, 
 
 f ay er stedes in the stallus, 
 
 kyardandsoore; 
 
 3dber he herd of anny cry, 
 
 Gvere he was redy, 
 
 fie passede never forth by 
 
 In lond where they were* 
 
 »S lovede wellealmos/dede, 
 powr men to cloth and f ede, 
 Slytb menske and manbede, 
 
 Offemethewasfre; 
 
 Hnd also gestes to calle, 
 
 Hnd mensteralus her in balle, 
 
 f)e yaff hem robes off palle, 
 
 Off gold and off fee. 
 4
 
 In ycb place wbaer be comme, Of an 
 
 fldben be wente f ram beme, Barl bis 
 
 Tbey bade balowed bys name neigb- 
 
 CBytbgretnobulle; bour 
 
 In ycb lond wbere be wentt, 
 So many mene be badd scbennt, 
 In Justus and on tornament 
 fje wban evere tbe gref 
 
 |F>eRG wonede an eorl bim besyd, 
 
 Ye a lord off mocbelle pryd, 
 
 i Tbat badd viij. forestes f ul wyd, 
 Hnd bowres f ulle brode; 
 f>e bade a grete spy t of tbe knygbt, 
 Tbat was so bardy and wygbt, 
 Hnd tbougbt bowe be bestmygbt 
 XTbat dowgbty to grode. 
 F)e was steme and stoute, 
 Hnd rode in a gay route, 
 Hnd brak bys parkes about, 
 Tbe best tbat be bade; 
 Tberinne be made a sory pley, 
 Tbe fattest be f eld in fey 
 By sexty one a day, 
 Sucbemaystriesbemadef 
 
 5
 
 Sari lays 
 
 waste 
 
 Degre- 
 
 vaunt's 
 
 lands 
 
 £ drowbe reveres with f ysb, 
 Hnd slogb bys forsteres ywys* 
 X^be hnygbt wyste not of tbys, 
 
 for sotb y y ow say ; 
 
 for be was in tbe boly lond, 
 
 Vcdc of armes for to fond, 
 
 'Cbe betbenemene witb bys bond 
 
 F>e f eld bem offten in fey* 
 
 F>ys steward badd a lettre ysent, 
 
 H mesyngere batb byt bent, 
 
 Hnd f ortb bys wey ys ywent, 
 
 Hs fast as ever be mey : 
 
 Slben be tylle bys lord come, 
 
 Tbe lettre in bys band be nome, 
 
 F>e sey, Hlle yoode to scbomef 
 
 Hnd went one bys wey* 
 
 YCf) tbe knytbt was none abad, 
 f)e buskyd byme fortb and rade 
 f ram tbe f rount of tbe garnad, 
 
 Hsfasteasbemygbt; 
 
 Sone be pasedtbe see, 
 
 f)eandbysmeney, 
 
 Hnd come into bys contre 
 
 By tbe tweltbe ny gbt* 
 6
 
 TTyllbysmanerbewent, becomes 
 
 H f eyre place be fond scbent, bome and 
 
 Rys busbondus tbat yaf rent finds bis 
 
 Cdas y beryy ed dounrygbt : lands 
 
 FMs tenaun trie was alle don e, barried 
 
 The best in every tone ; 
 F)is fay re perkes wer com en e, 
 Hnd lotblycb bydygbtf 
 
 |6 closed bys perkes ayene; 
 
 FMs busbondus tbey were f ayene, 
 
 f)e lent hem oxone and wayne 
 Of bis own e store, 
 Hnd also sede for to sowe, 
 dygbt borse for to drow, 
 Hnd tbougbt werke be lawe, 
 Hnd wytb none other scbore* 
 f ortbl a lettre bas be dygbt 
 To tbis eorl opon my gbt, 
 Re preyd bem to do bim rygbt, 
 Hr telle bymewbereffore; 
 Hnd wytb sqwere be bun sent, 
 Off an bondredpondof rent, 
 Hnd forth bys wey ys be went 
 'Co wy tt bys answere* 
 
 7
 
 fie sends *s^ffi6sqwyerewoldnogbtebabyd t 
 a squire Mgftft Bot f ortbe f aste gunne be ryde 
 
 i^&f) anto tbe palesse of pryde, 
 6arf Tbare tbe erle wounde: 
 
 Sone so be of bym bad sygbte, 
 Sir Sere of Cypirs be bigbte, 
 3CTas buskede witb many a knygbte 
 In tbe foreste to bunte ; 
 F>e was steryne and stowte, 
 CBitb many knygbtes bym abowte* 
 Tbe sqwyere tbogbt gret dowte 
 To byde bis firste brountf 
 Therefore wold be nogbte lett, 
 Sone witb bym als be mett, 
 Bvene to bym was be sett 
 ditb bis borse f ront* 
 
 |F)G squiere nolde nat downe lygbt, 
 Bot bay Us tbis eorl opone bygbt, 
 Hnd setbes bowrone and knygbt, 
 Qlitb wordes f ulle wise ; 
 f>e beld tbe lettre by tbe nooke, 
 Hnd to tbe eorle be bit toke ; 
 Hnd be tbereone gane loke, 
 Hnd seyde bis avys, 
 8
 
 Hnd spake to the squiere, 'Cbe Barl 
 
 J& ]Ne were tbow a messengere, wy tes the 
 
 TTbow sbuld abey rygbt bere, Squire, 
 
 tlnderetbiswoderysf wbo 
 
 I wulle fore tby lordes tene, answers 
 fionte bys foresstus and grene, 
 Hnd breke bis perkes bydene, 
 proudeste of prys f 
 
 ?f)HfJJ^6 tbe squiere seyde sone, 
 
 J& Syr e, tbat is nat well done, 
 
 Ye bave lefft by me bot wbone 
 In berde is nat to byde: 
 Re tbat sey tb tbat bit is rygbt, 
 Be be squiere otbere knygbt, 
 f)ere my glove one to f ygbt, 
 3dbat cbaunce so betydef 
 Syr, y eff bit be youre welle, 
 Xlbenkes tbat ye ban don ylle, 
 
 Y rede ye amend to sebky lie, 
 for wotbes is ever wyde f 
 J&TLbz eorl answeryd ywyse, 
 
 Y wolle nat amend tbat mese, 
 
 Y coun te by me nat at a cres 
 for alle bys mecbelle pryd f
 
 Tbe tsg^fiHJ^tbeeorlwaxwortb, 
 
 Squire JlfcpSfi ^ nc * swore many a gret owtb, 
 tells bow ssszs) F>e scbold be messaggere lotbe 
 bebas Butbebyswey wentef 
 sped fietokebislevewitboutennay, 
 
 Hnd wendus f ortb one bis way, 
 
 Hs fast as ever be may, 
 
 Over tbe brode bent* 
 
 Re come borne at tbe none, 
 
 Hnd told bow be bade done; 
 
 Tbe hnygbt asked bim as sone, 
 
 CClbat answer be sent* 
 
 j^Sir,andbemayasbement, 
 
 FMs game wolt be never stent, 
 
 Thyself and be may tbe bent, 
 
 1 telle tbe, for yscbent* 
 
 |F>H]N" syr Degrevvaunt sygbt, 
 Hnd bybeld tbe bevene upan bygbt, 
 ^^besus, save me in my rygbt, 
 Hnd JMare me spedef 
 Hnd y scballe yeff Gode a vow, 
 Some of us scballe by trow f 
 F)y t scballe not be for bis prow, 
 Hnd y may rigbt rede f 
 10
 
 jg^Hnone to arm us tbey bom dygbt, Sir 
 
 Hs fast as cvcre tbey my gbt, Degre- 
 
 Botb squicr and kynygbt, vaunt 
 
 <0Clys under wede; arms, be 
 
 "Cher was armed one bye and bis 
 
 TTene score Nny tbis redy, 
 Hnd iff. bondred arcberus by, 
 f ulle goode at bere nede* 
 
 jlVOJ^e to tbe forest tbey found, 
 
 TTbere tbey stotede a stound ; 
 
 'Cbey pygbt pavelouns round, 
 Hnd loggede tbatnygbt* 
 'Cbe eorle purveyede bim an ost, 
 Hnd com in at another cost, 
 *Hy tb bis brag and bis bost, 
 <KIytb many a f erres knygbt; 
 f)e uncouplede bis boundus 
 ditbinne tbe knygbtus boundus ; 
 Botbe tbe grene and tbe groundus 
 'Cbey balowede an bygbt: 
 XTbus tbe forest tbey fray, 
 fiertus bade at abey ; 
 One a launde by a ley 
 Cbese lordus dounne lygbt. 
 
 n
 
 The BpjfRGXTej^G bertus wase yslayne, 
 hunting IBw»J Hnd wer brought to a pleyne, 
 of the clliis? Byf ore tbo cbeff cbeventene 
 Sari Y^yd wer y ffere. 
 
 Thane seys the erle on the land, 
 
 j^CKber ys now sir Degrevvaund? 
 
 <KIby wol not come this gyan t 
 
 To rescow his dere ? 
 
 F>ys proud hertes of grese 
 
 Bereth no chartur of pes ; 
 
 CCle schalle have som ar we sese, 
 
 Y wold he wer here f 
 
 Trewely, are he went, 
 
 f)e schuld the game repent, 
 
 The proud lettre that he sent 
 
 By hys squiere* 
 
 jYRB DeOReWHajTC was so nere, 
 That he the wordes can here; 
 Re seyd, H vaunt ban ere, 
 Hnd trompes apone hyghtf 
 JP f>ys archerus that were thare, 
 Both lase and the mare, 
 Hs swy the were they thare, 
 To shote were they dygbt* 
 12
 
 Thane the corlc was payd, Tbey 
 
 Sone bis batcllc was reyde, join 
 
 fiewasnotbyngafreyd battle 
 
 Off tbat f eris Nnygbt; 
 ]STow ar tbey met one a f eld, 
 Botb witb spere and witb sbeld, 
 GBygbtly wepenes tbey weld, 
 Hnd f ersly tbey f ygbtf 
 
 >?TO wban tbe batelle enjoined, 
 SCTitb speres ferisly tbey foynede, 
 Tbere mygbt no sege be ensoyned, 
 
 Tbat faugbt in tbe f eld; 
 
 dytb brygbt swerdus one tbe bent 
 
 Rycb bawberkes tbey rent, 
 
 Gleves gleteryng glent 
 
 Opone geldene scbeldus* 
 
 Tbey styfcene stedus in stoure, 
 
 Knygbtus tborow ber arm ere, 
 
 kordus off bonore, 
 
 Opone tbe betbene beldus ; 
 
 Tbenne f ougbtene so f erisly, 
 
 Tber weste non so mygbty, 
 
 3dbo scbold bave tbe victory, 
 
 Bot F)e tbat alle weldus* 
 
 13
 
 X!be earl ||pi3F>6dougbty knygbtsureDegrevaunt 
 is van- |f||| keys the lordes one the laund, 
 quisbed SbiS'Cborw jepun and jess eraund, 
 
 Hnd lames tbe ledes: 
 
 Scbyre scbeldus tbey scbrede, 
 
 JVIany dowgbty was dede, 
 
 Rycbe may lus wexen rede, 
 
 So manye bolde dedus* 
 
 Tbus tbey f owgbtene one f rytbe, 
 
 Kene kynegbus inwitb kytb, 
 
 3do wrekes tbare wrytb, 
 
 These dougbty one dedus f 
 
 Burnes be badde yborne doune, 
 
 Gomes wytb gambisoune 
 
 kyes opone bent broune, 
 
 Hnd sterff undere stedus. 
 
 JIRe D6GRG VHQJVT, tbe gode kny gbt 
 Brigbtenes tbe basnettus brygbt; 
 fiys f eris f erysly tbey f ygbt, 
 Hnd f elles borne to grond: 
 Tbe knygbtus of tbe eorlus bous, 
 That were y balden so cby valrous, 
 Hnd in batelle so bountyveus, 
 Tbey deydene alle tbat stond f 
 »4
 
 The eorl bovede and beheld, Re flees 
 
 Botb witb spere and witb scbeld, leaving 
 
 Row tbey f ayre in tbe f eld, many 
 
 Hnd sygbt unsound ; slain 
 
 Tbe best mene tbat be ledde, 
 Re badd ylefft bome to wedde, 
 SCIitb f yff ty spers is be fledd, 
 Hnd wodelecb was y wound. 
 
 ;YR DeGRXWHJSTCand bis mene 
 
 f eld bome faste in tbe f ene, 
 
 Hs tbe deere in tbe dene 
 TTo detbe be tbame denges f 
 dy tb scbarpe exus of stelle 
 Re playtede bere basnetus welle, 
 JMany a hnygbt gart be knelle 
 Intbemornyng, 
 Sire Degrevvant was f ulle tbro, 
 Deperted ber batelle atwo ; 
 "Cbe eorl fley and was wo, 
 Oneastedecanebespryng: 
 Re laf slawe in a slak 
 forty score on a pak, 
 3dyd opene one bere bake, 
 Dede in tbe lyng. 
 
 15
 
 Sir 
 
 Degre- 
 
 vaunt 
 
 YRe DeGRevVH^r gat a sted, 
 XT bat was gode in ilk a ned ; 
 JViany a side grat be bled, 
 
 bas lost Tborow dent of bis spere, 
 
 not one Hnd scbased tbe eorl witbin a wbylle, 
 
 JMore tben enleve mele. 
 
 JMany bold gert be syle, 
 
 That by fore dud bym deref 
 
 FJe come scbygynge ayene, 
 
 Hnd of bys folk was fyene, 
 
 Hnd f ond nevere one slayne, 
 
 JVeworsebeapere. 
 
 Re hnelyde doune in tbat place, 
 
 Hnd tbanhyd God of bis grace; 
 
 Hnd alle wend tbat tbere was 
 
 Turtle bis f eyre man ere. 
 
 fjere endytb tbe furstfit, 
 
 P>owe say ye ? will ye any more of bit ? 
 
 I^eve ro sopeR cnex 
 
 dygbt, 
 
 Botb squiereand knygbt; 
 
 TTbey daunsed and revelide 
 
 tbat ny gbt, 
 
 In bert were tbey blytbe*
 
 Hnd wbane the corl come bame, 
 fie was wonded to scbame; 
 XTbe lady ses be was lame, 
 Hnd swouned f ulle swy tb f 
 Offte sbe cry ed, Hlas f 
 Rave ye nat perkus and cbas ? 
 <Klbat scbuld ye do a tbis place, 
 Swycb costus to kytbe? 
 ^Oame, be seys, y was tbare, 
 Hnd me rews now f ulle sare, 
 Y take my leve for evere mare 
 Swycb wronges to wry tbe f 
 
 ;]S"G tbe morow sire Degrevaunt 
 Oygbt bim at bis avennaunt, 
 On a sted f erraunt 
 Y'armed at rygbtes* 
 Co tbe castelle be rad, 
 Slitb f olkys tbat be bad; 
 Ht tbe barnekyncb be abad, 
 Hnd lordelycb doune lygbtes, 
 Hnd axed yef tber eny were, 
 Cbat wold byme delyvere bim tber 
 Off tbre corses of wer, 
 f)ym and xij\ kny tbus ; 
 
 c 17 
 
 On tbe 
 morrow 
 Degre- 
 vaunt 
 rides to 
 tbe Barl's 
 castleand 
 craves 
 justing
 
 Hbe F>e pray d the portere 
 
 porter for to bene bis mesengere, 
 bears bis Hnd to wit an answere, 
 message Hndanonebebymbytus, 
 to tbe 
 
 Garl, ^^^^^ portere went to tbe balle, 
 wbo re- Wnm ^ nd t0 ^z eorl be cane calle, 
 fuses t s^-Jf J Rer is comen to tbus walle, 
 
 Y'armed apone a sted, 
 
 Sire Degrevvant tbe gode knygbt, 
 
 3ditb bey belmes brygbt, 
 
 ]Many bold mene and wygbt, 
 
 <KIyse undere wede ; 
 
 Re axit justes of were, 
 
 Hnd prays tbe of answere : 
 
 Re mad me bis mesagere 
 
 To walk one bis ned* 
 
 J&TZbc eorl answerd an by, 
 
 fjereisnoneredy, 
 
 TTbat scbames tbat ilk dogbety 
 
 Sir Degrevaunt dedis, 
 
 f)G contase wendes to tbe balle, 
 Hnd bure dougbter witballe ; 
 3 Scbe was jentelle and smalle, 
 
 18
 
 Hnd lovesome to seygbt. 
 
 She lokyd one that aunterous, 
 
 Hnd seygb, Sire knygbtes, 
 
 TTbou art a man e marvelus, 
 
 JMy troth y the plygbtf 
 
 YeflF Gode batb lent tbe grace, 
 
 T^bat tbou bast vencoust tby foos, 
 
 J^e sekes nat at oure pies 
 
 Be day ne be nygbt. 
 
 j^'Cbe knygbt spekes to tbat free, 
 
 JMaydame, wy tes nat me, 
 
 JMucbelle mawgre batb be 
 
 Tlbat cbalangetb unrygbtf 
 
 B sais, ]My perkes ar stroyed, 
 Hnd reveres endreyde; 
 Y gretly ame anoyde, 
 
 for soutb as y yow say f 
 
 Sdbyle y wared in Spyane, 
 
 Re made my londes barreyne, 
 
 JMy wodes and my warreyne, 
 
 JMy wy Ide ys away f 
 
 Y sballe do yow witbowtene dred, 
 fie tbat dede me tbat dede, 
 
 Y scballe quite beme bis mede, 
 
 C2 19 
 
 TTbe 
 
 Barrs 
 
 daughter 
 
 speaks 
 
 witb 
 
 Oegre- 
 
 vaunt
 
 V)c Y telle yow in fay, 
 
 answers. Yeff ydeyintbepleynef 
 
 She bids That my f osteres bath slayne, 
 
 bim make Re sballe award borne eyane, 
 
 peace* Re Hssoneasymayf 
 
 willfigbt 
 
 »t out EUP^N^ spekes tbat wis inwitb wane, 
 
 Ye bave welle good mene yslayne, 
 Y redeye be at an e 
 Or tbere dey any moo* 
 J& Tbe kny gb t an sweres an by, 
 fie scballe tbat bargayne aby, 
 Tbat dede me tbis vy lany, 
 Hs evere mote y goo f 
 JMadam e, y ef bit be youre welle, 
 
 Y pray yow take bit not to ille, 
 Yame boldene tbertylle 
 To f ygbt on my f oo ; 
 
 Y telle yow trewly, 
 F)y t ley ves not so lyegbtly, 
 JVIany dowgbty scballe dey 
 Orbytendesoof 
 
 20
 
 f>e knygbtb bovcs in the f eld Of bis 
 Botbewetbaxandwitbsbeld; goodli- 
 TTbe corlus dougbderc bebeld ness and 
 
 TTbat borlicb and bolde, bers 
 
 for be was armed so dene, 
 
 3Hitb gold azoure f ule scbene, 
 
 Hnd witb bis trewe/loves bytwene, 
 
 rbat f rely to f olde, 
 
 Sbe was comlecb yclade, 
 
 To ryebe banrettes bur lade, 
 
 Hlle tbe beute scbe bade 
 
 3das joy to bebold; 
 
 3dy tb love sbe wendus tbe knygbt, 
 
 In bert trewly be byegbt, 
 
 TTbat be sballe love tbat swet wygbt, 
 
 Hcbeve bow bit wold, 
 
 (OCd as evere bit cbeve; 
 Tbe knygbt takes bis leve, 
 Jp jviadame, takes not agreve 
 H tbyng tbat y yow say ; 
 Gret welle tbe eorl tbey lord, 
 Hnd sey we sballe not acord, 
 Ty lie my tbyng be restored, 
 That be batb done awey* 
 
 21
 
 fie F)erc afore mygbt be ey tb 
 
 tcllsber Sone nave made me aseytb; 
 be must ]Nowe scballe be, magre bis tyetb, 
 bave bis for alle bis grete arey f 
 gear again Trewly y undertake, 
 
 Slere bit not for youre sake, 
 
 Y scballe bym wynly wake 
 Or tomorow it were day! 
 
 ; kGTTG for my gentriose 
 To do swycb roberyse, 
 for secbe f ayre laydes, 
 XTbere casteles to fray ; 
 Sene y mey do no mare, 
 XLy lie bis f retb wyle y fare, 
 
 Y wolle no wy Id best spare 
 for sotb alle tbis day f 
 j^Hnone to forest tbey founde, 
 Botb witb borne and witb bound, 
 To breng tbe dere to tbe grond 
 Hlaund tber tbey lay : 
 Tbus tbis games be begane, 
 Racbis reyally rane ; 
 Sexti bockes, ar be blane, 
 Radde be f elde in fay* 
 
 22
 
 ;tR6 DGGRSVHKC, ar be reste, fie bunts 
 TTemede tbe eorl one tbe beste, tbe Garl's 
 Hnd bontede bis forste land 
 
 Ulytb bernus f ulle bolde; 
 
 fiis depe dyebys be drowe, 
 
 fiys wbygbt swannes be slow, 
 
 Crete luces ynowe 
 
 fie gat borne wold. 
 
 JSow byme lykys no pley, 
 
 *Co bonte ne to revey, 
 
 for mayd JMelidore tbe may 
 
 fiis care wax alle coldf 
 
 Hs be bounted in a cbas, 
 
 fie told bis squier bis case, 
 
 *Cbat be loved in a place 
 
 H f rely to f olde. 
 
 } Y love is lelicbe y lyegbt 
 
 One a wortbly wyegbt, 
 
 TTbere is no berelle so brygbt, 
 J^e cristalle so clere; 
 Sbe is ware and wyse, 
 Rode ronne bit ys, 
 Hs tbe rose in tbe ris, 
 Cdytb lylye in lere. 
 
 23
 
 he She ys precious in palle, 
 
 telle bis fere f eyrest of alle, 
 
 Squire of Y say hurt ones one awalle, 
 
 bis love Yneygbedburesonere; 
 
 for maid T bade leve sbe were my n e 
 
 Melidore. Tbane alle tbe gold in tbe Reyne, 
 
 Tbe fausonedoneflorene, 
 
 Squire Sbeismynesoderef 
 
 askswbo 
 
 sbe is fiHiSlS squier answered y wyse, 
 
 JP Jvat me wy te wbat sbe is, 
 Hnd y wol sy ker tbe tbis, 
 In payne of my lyff, 
 Tbat y wollc do tbat y mey, 
 Botb be nygbt and be day, 
 Ycf y cane be any way 
 Sftyn bure to youre wyf ; 
 Hnd bere y sballe tbe ensure, 
 Tbi conselle nevere descure, 
 dbylle my body may endure, 
 ^ly tb swerd and wy tb knyef 
 Tbat y sballe f ay tbly f y egbt, 
 Botb in wrong and in rygbt, 
 Or be be squier or knygbt, 
 Hyenese tbe wolle streff   
 24
 
 ►6 JJYT)OR& ys bure naume, F)e tells it 
 
 Sftbyegb as the seys f ame ; 
 
 JMy boldc burnes wold me blame, 
 mbat bot is tbat y lye ? 
 That 1 sboulde wow in a stede, 
 Hgey n alle m en e rede, 
 Hnd botbe my lyff and my dede 
 Yslokeninburtye; 
 for sbe is f rely and fair, 
 Hnd tbe eorlus owne eyer, 
 X wolde nothing off tbeir, 
 Brocbenebye* 
 X wolde aske tbam na mare 
 But byr body all bare, 
 Hnd we frendes for evermare, 
 mbat doel tbat X dry e f 
 
 'f)HT sqwyer seyde bys avyse, 
 TTbink tbatyeereenemys; 
 kat some wye tbat ys wys 
 Clalk one tbus nede, 
 for X dare saflfty s were, 
 Gytf be take tbe in werre, 
 HlleGnglondbere 
 Cdold spek of tbi dede, 
 
 25
 
 TZbc 
 
 Squire 
 
 tells bim 
 
 to take 
 
 some 
 
 other love; 
 
 Degre- 
 
 vaunt 
 
 gainsays 
 
 it 
 
 Hnd say by t ys a folly, 
 for to love thin enemy, 
 Gy f tbou gett a vy lony, 
 Butmaugretomede; 
 Otber ladyes wolde say, 
 JMygtbe no womman tbe apay 
 Bete maiede JMy Ider tbe may, 
 Vlonkest on wede ? 
 
 |f)6]^ saide syr Degrivaunt, 
 'Cbou sbalnotmak tbin avaunt 
 XTbat X sball be recreaunt, 
 
 for f rende ne for foot 
 
 TTbou woldest balde me f ul made, 
 
 for tbe erle f ul rade ; 
 
 Croust 1 be so made 
 
 Xlo leve my love so ? 
 
 Ht even arme tbe well 
 
 Botbe in yren and in stel, 
 
 Hnd we sbullen to tbe castel 
 
 Bytwyx us owne two; 
 
 Sertenly tbisylkenygbtb, 
 
 X wy lie see byr witb sygbtb, 
 
 Hnd spek witb tbat byrde brygbtb, 
 
 for wel or for wot 
 26
 
 |OCd rycbe coursers tbei bente, 
 Hnd f ortbc bcrc weys tbei wen tc ; 
 dndir a lynd are tbei lente, 
 
 By a launde syde, 
 
 *aby le by t dawed lygbtb day, 
 
 The eorle buskede on bys way, 
 
 Outataposterne to play 
 
 SUtb knygbtis of pryde* 
 
 Sir Degrivaunt belde bym sty 11, 
 
 Sdbyle tbe eorle passyde tbe byll, 
 
 Hnd seid bys squier bym tyll 
 
 pry valy tbat tyde, 
 
 tredewebyeusfulyerne 
 
 In at tbe yond posterne, 
 
 Hnd let us balde us in derne 
 
 Tbe burde tyll abyde* 
 
 jYRDGGRXVHajsrc tok non bede; 
 In at tbe posterne be yede* 
 Tbe porter bade ben in drede, 
 fiadd be ben tbare* 
 fie tbat tbe yatt scbulde kepe, 
 Re was go for to slepe; 
 Xn at an orcberd tbei lepe, 
 Y'armede as tbei ware* 
 
 27 
 
 Tbey two 
 go to see 
 tbe JYIaid, 
 and note 
 tbe Barl 
 going out 
 a/gates
 
 They two 
 go into a 
 garden 
 and abide 
 the 
 
 damsels 
 going to 
 church 
 
 XThe fcnyght and the squiere 
 Resten in a rosere, 
 Tlylle the day wex clere, 
 Ondurne and mare; 
 <HbyJe that hurde thei a bell 
 Rynginachapell; 
 TTo chyrche the gay dammisel 
 Bushede hyr yare* 
 
 JCFJS come in a vyolet, 
 Cftitb wbygbtbe perl overf ret, 
 Hnd saphyrus therinne isett 
 
 On every che a sy de ; 
 
 Hll of pall work fyn, 
 
 ditb miche and nevyn, 
 
 Hnerlud with ermyn, 
 
 Hnd overt for pryde* 
 
 TTo tell hure botenus was toore, 
 
 Hnam elede with azoure ; 
 
 3Kitb topyes and trechoure 
 
 Overtrasyd that tyde, 
 
 Sche was recevyd a spanne 
 
 Of any lyvandmanne; 
 
 Off rede golde the ry banne 
 
 Glemydburesyde. 
 28
 
 )\R bere was bygbtbtyd on bold 
 WLitb a coronal of golde ; 
 das never made upon mold 
 
 So wortbely cbe wygbtb* 
 
 Scbe was f rely and fair, 
 
 Hnd well byr semed byr geyr, 
 
 ?XUtb ryebe boses a payr, 
 
 Tbat derely were bydygbtb 
 
 <HJitb a front en dent, 
 
 Cditb peyrl of orient, 
 
 Out of Syprus was sent 
 
 To tbat burd brygbtb ; 
 
 F>urkercbevus was curyus, 
 
 F)yr vyssag f ul gracious. 
 
 Sir Degrivaunt tbat amerus 
 
 f)ad joye of tbat sygbtb* 
 
 OTben 
 mass was 
 said tbe 
 Sari 
 comes 
 back, and 
 eats in tbe 
 ball 
 
 Y tbat tbe masse was iseid, 
 Tbe balle was ryaly areyd ; 
 Tbe eorlle badd irevayd, 
 Hnd in bys y erd lygbtbus : 
 Trompers tromped to tbe mete, 
 Tbey wesben and went to sette, 
 So duden all tbe grete, 
 Ladyes and knygbttus* 
 
 29
 
 Hf ter Olben the bordys were drawin, 
 
 dinner kadyes rysen, was not to leyn, 
 
 JWildorc Hnd wentten to cbaumbur ageyne, 
 
 goes to Hnon tbei bom dygbtbus ; 
 
 tbe gar- Dame JVIildore and byr may 
 
 denwbere Sttenttotbeorcberdtoplay, 
 
 tbey two TTber syr Degrivaunt lay 
 
 are. F>e Tbei com anomrygbtbus* 
 
 speaks 
 
 to ber iH|YR DeGRlVHtXJST: witbouten lett 
 
 In an aley be byr mete, 
 Hnd godlycbe be byr gret, 
 
 B|f|| In an alcy be byr mete, 
 i^ra Hnd godlycbe be byr p 
 That wortbelycbe wygbtb, 
 Hnd seyd, Certys, lady and f re, 
 Tfnesu save tbe and see, 
 *Cbi servaunt wold X be, 
 JMy trougbtb 1 tbe ply gbtb f 
 X wold spefc, badd X space, 
 privelyinaplace; 
 JVly lyffys loken in tbi grace, 
 Tbou worthily cbe wy gbtb f 
 jPJZbc byrd was gretely affraid, 
 But natbeles boo was wel paid, 
 F)e was so ryally arayd, 
 XTbat commolycbe knygbtb, 
 
 30
 
 IRG byrd answerus on bygbtb, Sbc 
 
 Qlbetbur tbou be squier or knygbtb, answers, 
 IJMe tbenkus tbou not dost rygbtb, and asks 
 
 Sotbely to say ; bis name 
 
 That tbou commyst arm id on werre, 
 
 To maydenus to afferre, 
 
 That walkes in bere erbere 
 
 prively to play* 
 
 By God and by Senfjame, 
 
 Y know not tbi name, 
 
 Tbou erte gretely to blame, 
 
 Itelltbeinfayf 
 
 j^Tbe knygbt kneled byr tyll, 
 
 JMedam e, y f bit be y oure wy U, 
 
 X graunt X bave done yll, 
 
 X may not ageyn/say* 
 
 >S God save me of synne, 
 I mygbtb witb non other gynne 
 Tyl your specb for to wynne, 
 
 By day ne be nygbtbe; 
 
 fro X telle tbe my name, 
 
 1 am not for to blame, 
 
 Hnd yf bit turne me to grame, 
 
 X sbal anon/rygbtb : 
 
 31
 
 fie tells fiytysI,syreDegryvauntf 
 her. She Hnd hit were youre avenaunt, 
 says he X wold be youre servaunt, 
 shall be Hs y am trew knygbtb f 
 banged, JPSbo seyd,Tratur, lat be the, 
 fie Be fiym that dyed on tre, 
 
 defends JMy lord bymselfsbal the see 
 him Ranged on by ghth f 
 
 |fiH]N" syr Degrivaunt lough, 
 Hs he stod under the bow, 
 JMadame, ye wy teth me with wougb, 
 
 Gyf by t be youre wyllf 
 
 X had never no gy It, 
 
 Of al that blod that was spy It, 
 
 'Chat wyll X prove, as thou wy It, 
 
 Hbove the yondur by 11 : 
 
 Corteys lady and wyse, 
 
 Hs thou arte pervenke of pryse, 
 
 I do me on thi gen try se, 
 
 3Hby wolt thou me spy 11? 
 
 Hnd X be slayn in this stede, 
 
 Chou sbalt be cause of my dede; 
 
 Yet wolt thou rew that rede, 
 
 Hndlyhebytfulyllf 
 
 32
 
 jCRG said, Tratur, tbou shalt byef fiebids 
 3dby were tbou so bardye ber bring 
 
 TTo do me tbisvylanye, all to 
 
 By day ar by nygbtb ? figbtbim, 
 
 for oure folk tbat tbou bast slayn, Sbe goes 
 
 XTbou sbalt be bonged and drawyn, to ber 
 
 TTberof my fadyr wol be fayn cbamber 
 
 Co see tbat witb sygbtb f 
 
 j^XTbe knygbt spak to tbis fre, 
 
 Setbtbe by t may no bettur be, 
 
 Go f ecbe all your many 
 
 Olitb me for to f ygbtb ; 
 
 Hnd bere my trougbtb er X leton, 
 
 *Cbe geyest of bem sbal gron, 
 
 Gyf tber come fourty for on, 
 
 My trougbtb X tbe ply gbtb f 
 
 j]SfD ber my trougbtb 1 tbe plygbtbe, 
 
 Xlbo tbat lepetb now f ul lygbtb 
 
 Sbal be fay, and we f ygbtb, 
 for all bere micbel prydef 
 ^T^be stout man was astered, 
 F)ys squiereraugbtb bym bys swerd; 
 'Cbanne tbe borlycb berde 
 J^o lenger durst byde* 
 
 d 33
 
 r>ev maid Hyl byr cbaumbur scbc went, 
 
 asks a Hnd swore tbe knygbtb sbulde be scbent. 
 
 boon, tbe tbe mayde bur bood of boe bent, 
 
 Knigbt Hnd knelyd tbat tyde; 
 
 for ber- j^JMeydame, oppon yowlus nygbtbe 
 
 self JMywarysonyemebygbtb; 
 
 Y tic axe tbe bote yonde knygbtb 
 
 Ho slep by my sydef 
 
 jfjJ-YVe tbe burde gat a blame, 
 But scbe ne let for no scbame, 
 TTbat scbe ne asked tbe same, 
 
 Sotbly to say* 
 
 ^Damesel, go do tbi best, 
 
 1 pray tbe let me nave my rest; 
 
 (do and glad tbi gest, 
 
 In all tbe devy I way f 
 
 for as ever Code me save, 
 
 FJaddest tbou asked a knave, 
 
 TTbe symplust tbat I bave, 
 
 fiadd be more to my pay : 
 
 I swere tbe by Goddus grace, 
 
 Come be ever in tbis place, 
 
 Re passed never syebe a pace, 
 
 By nygbtbe ne by day f 
 
 34
 
 fHYOHJMG, scbc seid, gramercy She is 
 Of tbi gret cortesy. yea/said 
 
 j^Blyveacbaumburtberby and 
 
 Busked was yare, makes 
 
 Hnd in scbe f ecbes tbe knygbtb, feast 
 
 prevaly witbouten sygbtbe, to tbe 
 
 Hs wymmen conn myebel slygbtb, Knigbt, 
 
 Hnd tber wylles ware* wbo will 
 
 Scbe dygbt to bys sopere not eat 
 
 Tbe f oules of tbe ryvere, 
 Tber was no deyntetbus to dere, 
 J^c spyces to spare* 
 Tbe knygbt sat at bys avenaunt, 
 In a gentyl jesseraunt; 
 Tbe mayd mad bym semblaunt, 
 Hnd bys met scbare, 
 
 \f all tbe met that sbe scbare, 
 Tbe knygbt ete never tbe mare ; 
 Cdban be sygbtbe f ul sare, 
 Tbemayden gan smyle. 
 Sone af tyr be seys, 
 Sdbat usetb tbe eorl a/dayes ? 
 Rontes be ar revayes ? 
 CHbat does be tbis wby le ? 
 
 d2 35
 
 Cbey j^TIbeburdanswerusageyn, 
 talh of Sctbtbc bys cbyvalry was slayn, 
 tbc Carl Re passed never out on tbe playn 
 fialvendelamyle; 
 fiys burtus bas bym so yderyd, 
 fie bas byn gretely aff eryd: 
 TTbe yatus bas byn ay ysperyd 
 for dred of tbi gyle f 
 
 >R bys yatis be ysperyd, 
 X sbal mak bym aff eryd, 
 1 sbal scbak bym by tbe berd 
 TTbe nexte tyme we metef 
 But X let for bur sake, 
 T^batl bave cbosen to my mak, 
 Scbe doys me unwynly to wak, 
 Slitb wongus f ul wete f 
 1 bad levere scbe were saugbtbe, 
 Hben all tbe golde in bys augbtbe, 
 Hndlinarmusbadeylaugbtbe 
 'Cbat commely and swete. 
 TTbane durste I saffty syng, 
 <£las never emporoure ne kyng 
 JVIore at bys ly kyng, 
 Hnd bonde I tbe bete. 
 36
 
 F>Gmaydanswerusageyn, Hndof 
 
 JVle thin k tbou travelus in vayn, JMildore, 
 TIboubastourekunredyslayn, and of a 
 
 fiowmygbtbitsobe? tourney 
 
 X swere tbc by Godus mygbtbe, 
 
 Com tbou ever in bur sygbtbe, 
 
 Tbou bes bonged on bygbtbe 
 
 fiyfeoneatref 
 
 F)yr pref errys paramoure 
 
 Botb duhes and emperoure; 
 
 f)y t were byr disonowre 
 
 for to taken tbe: 
 
 Tbe duke of Gerle for bir bas sent, 
 
 Tbat be wol nave a tornament, 
 
 f)y t ys my lordys assent, 
 
 SUtbynne for to be* 
 
 |FJO duke comes of so gret arey 
 
 *Co juste and to tornay ; 
 
 XTbou comes nat at tbat play 
 By counsayl of me* 
 f)y t is my lordys en sent, 
 Come tbou to tbat torniment, 
 Sertaynly tbou be scbent 
 Hndalltbimeynyef 
 
 37
 
 fie gives jfi^Damesele, witbouten drede, 
 bertbe XTbou bast warnydme of this dede; 
 Squire Of tbis gret genty I rede 
 Godforyeldetbef 
 Hnd y swere be Sent kuke, 
 I sbal juste witb tbat duke, 
 Orlgetearebuke, 
 F>ow ever tbat byt bet 
 
 }]ND, damesel, for tbi cbere, 
 Hnd for my god sop ere, 
 TTbou sbalt bave my squiere, 
 
 J^okyf tbepaye; 
 
 F)ere igy f 1 yow be band 
 
 Hn c. pownd wortb of land, 
 
 TTo tak byr by tbe bond, 
 
 Hnd do as y tbe saye* 
 
 jg^S&ban bere troutbus were plygbtbe, 
 
 Sone torches were ilygbtbe, 
 
 Hnd gaff bym ordyr of knygbtbe, 
 
 for sotbe as X say   
 
 JP Recumaunde, for Godys pyne, 
 
 XTo my lady and tbinne, 
 
 Hs tbou wolt tbat 1 be tbin, 
 
 TTomydetbusdayf 
 38
 
 ecajMHa]NTD me pryvaly Glould be 
 
 To that fay re lady, recom - 
 
 Or bur tbonke lygbtberely mended 
 
 That I am pore ; to tbe 
 
 Tiber sbal emporoure ne kyng, Lady 
 
 Tbat sbal byr to bed bryng, 
 
 That X sball make a lettyng, 
 
 Isey tbetbosotbe* 
 
 F)ere my troutb I tbe plygbtbe, 
 
 Seyn fyrst I see byr witb sygbtbe, 
 
 X sleped never o nygbtbe 
 
 Ralvendelan bouref 
 
 pray tbat corteys and bende 
 
 TTbat scbe wold be my f rend, 
 
 Hnd some socoure me send 
 
 for byr mycbel bonowre. 
 
 'RB maid sets, I take on band, 
 That X sbal do tbyn errand, 
 Or X be flemyd out of lond, 
 Ylctefornodred; 
 1 sball tecbe tbe a gyn 
 Out of tbis castel to wyn, 
 Hnd bow tbou sbal come in 
 Tbyn erond to spede* 
 
 39
 
 Che maid 
 tells the 
 Knight of 
 a secret 
 entrance 
 through 
 the wall 
 
 Cher ys a place in the wall, 
 
 Bytwyne the chaumbur and the bal, 
 
 Cbor ly gbtbe a mychel watur/wal 
 
 Of fourty f eyt brede: 
 
 'Cher shalt thou come in a nyghthe 
 
 prevaly withouten sygbtb, 
 
 Hnd here thi chaumbur shal by dygbt, 
 
 Hnd X can ryghth rede* 
 
 ^HJMeSGk, for Godus grace, 
 Cecbe me to that ylke place* 
 ^Cbe maid prevaly apace 
 
 passes byf orne, 
 
 Hnd ledes hym out at a gate, 
 
 In at a watur/gate, 
 
 Cher men vy tayled by bate 
 
 Chat castel with come* 
 
 J&Rt ebbe of the see, 
 
 Chou shalt not wad to the fcne* 
 
 ^Che hnyght kyst that f re* 
 
 Grlyatthemorne 
 
 f ayir tbei passed thatfiode, 
 
 Co tho forest thei youd, 
 
 Hnd tofce here stedus where thei stod 
 
 Clndur the bawtborne. 
 40
 
 ]YR£ Degrivaunt ys whom went TTbe Lady 
 Hnd af tyr bys rctcn sent; mocks 
 
 Xlo that gret tornament the maid 
 
 Tbei busked bem yare* 
 
 But leve we now tbat gentyl knygbt, 
 
 Hnd spek we of tbat byrd brygbt ; 
 
 Row tbei gestened tbat nygbt 
 
 Carp wy U we mare* 
 
 Grly one tbe mowroun 
 
 TTbe lady tougb byr to scorn e, 
 
 Scbe seys, XTbi maydynbed is lorne, 
 
 God gyf tbe caret 
 
 jj^JVIaydame, gyff byt so be, 
 
 f>y t deres no man but met 
 
 I f oucbesaff on tbat f re, 
 
 Hnd byt so ware* 
 
 no lady lougbwes uppon bygbt, 
 
 Oamesele, for Godys mygbt, 
 
 F)ow peyis tbe tbat knygbt, 
 Hs evere mote tbou tbe ? 
 J&l dare make myn avaunt 
 for my lord syre Degrivaunt, 
 Corteys and avenaunt, 
 I know non so fret 
 
 4i
 
 *Cbe maid Sertaynly this y Ike nygbtbe, 
 says Sir F>ys squicr ys mad knygbtbe, 
 Degre- fieandlystroutbeplygbtbe 
 vaunt JMy bousbond to be ; 
 sends ber Hndbebatbgyf us by band, 
 a ring as Hnc.powndwortbof land: 
 a token FJere tbe cbartur in tbi band, 
 T^biself may byt seel 
 
 'RH]Sr tbat lady was glad 
 By scbe tbat cbartur bad rad, 
 FJad tbou syre Degrivaunant bad, 
 
 'Cben bad tbou wel igom 
 
 ^]Say,meydame,somotItbryve, 
 
 Tiber ys now lady on lyve, 
 
 'Cbat be wol wed to wyff, 
 
 But only tbe allone* 
 
 Y warne tbe of o tbing, 
 
 Tber sball be emporoure ne kyng, 
 
 ^bat sbal tbe to bede bryng, 
 
 towttakenone, 
 
 X^batbeewolmakealettyng; 
 
 F>e sendys tbe syebe a gretyng, 
 
 kof bere ys a rede gold ryng, 
 
 Cditb a ryebe stone* 
 42
 
 |f)G lady loked on that ryng, 
 F)y t was a gyf te fore a kyng, 
 Tbis ys a mcrvcylous thing! 
 C&enus tbou 1 be wode 
 'Co do syebe a f oly, 
 To love my lordys enemy, 
 Tbow be were to so dowgbty ? 
 Nay, by tbe rode f 
 \ do tbe wele for to wy te, 
 Y nel non bousbond bave yy te : 
 Seye tbe knygbtbe wban ye mete, 
 Iwolbymnogudef 
 The duk of Gerle base ibygbt 
 Tbat be wol soupe bere tbis nygbt, 
 Hnd gyf my cbaumbur were idygbt, 
 Nothing f oryeed* 
 
 JMildore 
 says sbe 
 (stowed 
 tbe Duke 
 of Gerle 
 
 •F>G duk ys comen over tbe see 
 CHitb a f ul grete meyne; 
 Tbe eorl cortays and fre 
 f ayre bym gan praye 
 To dwel at bys costage, 
 Ht boucbe and court and wage, 
 GCTitb knygbt, squiere, and page, 
 Tyl tbe tent day* 
 
 43
 
 TbeDuke 
 comes; 
 the Sari 
 tells bim 
 of bis 
 quarrel 
 
 H tbousaund bors and tbre 
 Of tbe dukus meyne 
 Ylke nygbt tok lyvere 
 Off cowrne and ofF bay ; 
 XTbe ryebe duk wban be eet, 
 Tbe eorle bertely bym bete, 
 Hnd witb mayd JMy Idore tbe swet, 
 Co bave byre for ay   
 
 |fi€ knygbtbus of tbe eorles bouse 
 field tbe duk so cbyvalrous, 
 for be was gay and amorous, 
 
 Hnd made by t so tow, 
 
 Tbe eorl told bym anon, 
 
 Cdbatarmes be badde cone, 
 
 Hnd bow bys cbyvalre was slone 
 
 Clndir tbe wod bowe. 
 
 j^Tbe baneret tbat wonnes bere by 
 
 <KIolasayltbecry, 
 
 fie wrogbtbe me tbis vylany, 
 
 Hnd dud me tbis wougbef 
 
 j^Tbe duk answerus on bygbtbe, 
 
 fiere my troutb I tbe plygbtbe, 
 
 GCIbedur be wol tornay or f ygbtbe, 
 
 fie sbal bave inowf 
 
 44
 
 fJG duk answerus on bygbtbe, 
 SHberby knowus tbou tbe 
 knygbtbe? 
 
 jg?Xbe eorle taugbtb bym f ulrygbtbe, 
 
 Cditb wordy s, I wene, 
 
 J& fie bcrcs in cbccf of azour, 
 
 Gngrelyd witb a satur, 
 
 <Klitb doubule tressour, 
 
 Hnd treweloves bytwene; 
 
 Bot bis bagges arc blake, 
 
 for be wol no man forsake, 
 
 H lyoun tyed to an ake 
 
 Off gold and of grene : 
 
 Hn belme ryebe to bebold; 
 
 F)e beres a dolf yn of gold, 
 
 Cditb trewelovus in tbe mold, 
 
 Compasyd f ul dene* 
 
 F>e tells 
 tbe Duke 
 of tbe 
 Kntgbt's 
 coat- 
 armour 
 
 |p2gj€r ys a lyoun in f eld, 
 
 Gdben be ys spred undur scbeld f 
 
 yU F>ys belme sbal be wel steled, 
 
 TTbat stond sbal as stak : 
 Reys so stallowortb in stoure, 
 By seynt JMartyn of T^oure, 
 Coutbe be love paramoure, 
 1 knew never bys mak f 
 
 45
 
 TTbe Duke HU the londes that 1 welde, 
 will fight Sdoldl gyf in my yelde, 
 Degre- To sc bym falde in the f eld, 
 vaunt Rowoldbytundurtake. 
 
 j^Tbe duk tough bym to scorune, 
 
 fjys othe beyly has iswrun, 
 
 f)e shal aby e to mowrun, 
 
 Syre, for tbi sake! 
 
 jl^D on morow the duk bym dygbtbe, 
 Hlso fast as be migbtbe, 
 The eorl hardy and wygbtbe, 
 
 Cruelandkene* 
 
 The sonne scbonne en clere, 
 
 They uscben in with ban ere, 
 
 V« bunderyd knygbtus in fere, 
 
 I/armed ful dene, 
 
 Hnd the servitourus bysyde: 
 
 HU that contray so wyde 
 
 Come tbedur that tyde, 
 
 That solas to sene* 
 
 Sire Degrivaunt out of the west 
 
 Brougbtb out of the forest 
 
 Tbre hundred knygbttus of the best, 
 
 QIas grey tbed al on grene* 
 46
 
 'F)GR was non so hardy, They 
 
 That durst asay I the cry ; fight 
 
 Thei held this duk so doughty, 
 
 for hys mychel pryd* 
 
 But when thei se syre Degrivans 
 
 Com armed up a ferauns, 
 
 Thei tbonked Code of here shaunce, 
 
 HU that other sydef 
 
 Than thei drowe hym f ulnere, 
 
 Baneretand bachelere, 
 
 To ben undur hys banere, 
 
 To tornay that tyde, 
 
 Slitb trompe and with nakere, 
 
 Hnd the scalmuse clere; 
 
 f olke frouschen in fere, 
 
 In herd ys not to byde* 
 
 j]NT> when therenkus ganemete, 
 f ele was fouled undur fete, 
 Knyghthus strewed in the strete, 
 
 Stonyyed with stedys ; 
 
 Sditb swerdus smartely thei smyt, 
 
 Thei teme sadils f ul tyte, 
 
 Tber was no lengur dely te, 
 
 These worthely in wedus f 
 
 47
 
 Sir Baronus syttys on the bent 
 
 Degre- Cditb sbuldrys sbamly sbent; 
 vaunt Brygbtbe browus and bent 
 strikes Brodelycbe bledus f 
 down tbe JManyebarmesbastbeibent, 
 Duke That was never at bore as en t, 
 
 To come to tbat tornament, 
 
 To do sucbe dedus. 
 
 |YReDG6RlVHa]NTC,witboutenles, 
 pry kkus fast tberow tbe pres ; 
 To tbe cbeventayn be cbes, 
 
 Hnd raugbtb bym a strok : 
 
 Tbe duk dotered to tbe ground, 
 
 On ertbe swyff tly be swouned, 
 
 Syre Degrivaunt, witbin a stound, 
 
 fie wan bys sted blak, 
 
 f)e was stalworgbtb in stoure, 
 
 for be loved paramoure ; 
 
 Tbe lady lay in tbe toure 
 
 Tbat sbuld be bys mak* 
 
 Syre Degrivaunt, are be blan, 
 
 Tbis sey many a man, 
 
 Syxty stedus be wan, 
 
 Hnd brougbtb to stak. 
 48
 
 ;YRe VeGReVRUjrC every day, Che Duhc 
 The sertayn sotb for to say, and the 
 
 HI the prys of the play Sari go 
 
 Cdasputontbatfre; home 
 
 Sonc that doughty undur shcld 
 f)ad yvenkessyd the f eld, 
 Many a man hym by held, 
 So hardy was he t 
 kadyes seyden al/bydene, 
 Bothe contasse and qwene, 
 Yond gentyl knygbt on grene 
 Rath deservyd the gref 
 j^Brygbtbe burdus in tber boure 
 Jvoved that knyghtb paramoure, 
 03ret ladyes of honoure, 
 Hnd alle that hym seyen* 
 
 |F)G dufc was horsed agayn, 
 Hnd prycked fast thorw the playne ; 
 I 'Che eorl and he with a trayn 
 
 T^o the castel gan fare : 
 
 Thane an beroud gon crye, 
 
 Hnd prayd al the cby valry e 
 
 "Co soupe at the maungerye, 
 
 03yff tber wy llus ware* 
 
 e 49
 
 Sir ^be good knygbt syre Degrivaunce, 
 
 Dcgrc- Re bad ymade repurveaunce 
 
 vaunt for al bys retenaunce, 
 
 holds bis fourty days and mare, 
 
 own f cast In tbe sy de at a f el, 
 Ht a wel f eyre castel, 
 Slbyle bym was kf tc for to dwel, 
 for to sic care* 
 
 |F>e stcrnc knygbtbusandtbc stout, 
 I <COby Ik tbat tornyment without, 
 Ryden away in bys rout, 
 
 t:brc hundred and mo ; 
 
 Hnd c. pound and a stedc 
 
 P>e send tbe mynstralus to medc, 
 
 Off gyffte was be never gnede, 
 
 for wele nor for wo t 
 
 Ty I bys castel be rade, 
 
 H ryal maungery c be made, 
 
 Hlle tbe bold tber abade, 
 
 Cher scapydnon bym fro. 
 
 Ht even seyd syr Oegrivauns, 
 
 I wol se tbe coun tenauns 
 
 Of tbe cbyvalrye of f rauns, 
 
 Hs ever mote I got 
 50
 
 V%R Degrivaunt at evymlygbtbus Sir 
 Hrmedbymatalrygbtbus, Ocgrc- 
 
 I Hnd cally d to bym tolly knygbtbus, vaunt 
 
 TTbat pry vest were ay ; takes two 
 
 J& Fjave dy gbt vow on stedus knigbts 
 
 In two damysel wedus, 
 
 for I wol found in my nedus 
 
 Hs fast as 1 may   
 
 TTak etber of yow a spere, 
 
 Botbe of pes and of were, 
 
 Grey tb myn bors on bore gere, 
 
 Hnd lok tbat tbei be gay ; 
 
 T^bat tbey be trapped a get, 
 
 In topteler and in mauntolet, 
 
 In a f yn vyolet, 
 
 Hnd makes non delay, 
 
 j]SX> wban bere bors were beld, 
 
 ( 0>ei toke tber sperus & tbere scbelduo, 
 
 Hnd prycked fast over tbe f elde, 
 
 ]So lenger wolde tbei dwel ; 
 
 Hnd sy then tbei ryden even west 
 
 'Cborw a f ayr f orest, 
 
 Cftitb two trompess of tbe best, 
 
 TTbat range as a bell* 
 
 e2 51
 
 Rides On an bull be gan bym rest, 
 
 into tbe Tbei gaf bym bys belm in bys rest, 
 
 Carl's Re was tbe sternest gest 
 
 ball, and fro beven to belief 
 
 cbal- Syr Oegrivaunt, witbouten abad, 
 
 lenges To tbe eorlus castel be rade, 
 
 tbe Duke f>e found tbe yat so brad, 
 
 for Swycbe bap bym f elle* 
 
 Mvldor 
 
 ^O rydes up to tbe des, 
 Hs tbei were servid of bere mes, 
 TomaydJMyldorbecbes, 
 
 Hnd cbalangys tbat fret 
 
 Tbe duk sterte up an bygbt, 
 
 Jp f)ere my troutbe y tbe plygbt, 
 
 X sbal dely ver tbe tbis bry gbt, 
 
 Tomorow sbalt tbou se, 
 
 Bytweneundurne and prime; 
 
 koke at tbou come at tbat time, 
 
 Otber swowne sbal in sweme, 
 
 Tbe lady sball i se* 
 
 Hnd trewly,\vitbouten les, 
 
 Tbou sbalt be servid, or X sess, 
 
 Botbe of werre and of pess, 
 
 Of ay tber cours tbre. 
 52
 
 f)6 knygbtb was so dresse, 
 fiytt was gret joye to se, 
 So f ayre an borsman as be 
 
 Seye tbci never are ; 
 
 Some loked one bys stede, 
 
 Hnd some on bys ryeb wede, 
 
 Hnd some tbe resone gan rede 
 
 Cdbat tbe knygbtbe bare* 
 
 Re loutes down to tbem alle, 
 
 Botbe to tbe ricbe and to tbe smalle, 
 
 Hnd rydys out of tbe balle, 
 
 Hnd buskys bym yare. 
 
 Of all tbat loked one tbe knygbt, 
 
 3das non tbat knew bym with sygbt, 
 
 Bot mayden JVIyldor tbe brygbt, 
 
 Of all tbat tber ware* 
 
 (HIMJMHRD be rydes rygbtb, 
 Hnd as fast as be my gbtb, 
 On tbe mowro be bym dygbtb 
 
 Rygbtb as be dude are ; 
 
 Hnd f yndys tbe duk in tbe f eld, 
 
 Botbe wttb spere and witb scbeld : 
 
 13be eorl boved and bybeld, 
 
 Bremasabaref 
 
 53 
 
 JVone 
 knows 
 bim but 
 JVIyldor, 
 Re rides 
 borne
 
 Jind rides TTban scid the duke one the land, 
 
 into the 3Hbare ys now this geand? 
 
 field fiewolbaldnocovenand, 
 
 o\i the for alle bys gret fare f 
 
 morrow ^But wben be say syreDegrivaunt 
 
 Come armed up a feraunt, 
 
 Rys bert wex recreaunt, 
 
 Hnd sygbtb f ul sare f 
 
 |F)G duke send a squiere 
 To wy tt wbat bys wyll were, 
 To juste o pesse or off were, 
 So sore be bym dredus f 
 The knygbtanswerd tbertyll, 
 Botbe witb resone and witb skyll, 
 F)y t sbal be at bys wyll, 
 Tak bap wbat ledus f 
 ^Tben tbe dougbtby bym dygbtb 
 Hs f aste as tbei mygbtb, 
 Tbei set belmus on bygbtb, 
 Tbes dougbty on dedus : 
 To gret sperus of pese 
 Botbe tbese lordes bem cbese, 
 Hnd prikes fast tborw tbe prese 
 Opon stout stedus. 
 54
 
 f)GR stedes styrres bom f aste, 
 Tbe knygbtbus jusset or tby cast, 
 Tber good spcrcs al tobrast, 
 
 Onmoldewbennetbaimett; 
 
 Syr Degrivaunt, as be bad men t, 
 
 Hnd gaf tbe duk swycb a dynt, 
 
 Tbat botbe styroppus be tynt, 
 
 Hnd bond X tbe bete* 
 
 Tbe duke rekyvered agyne, 
 
 F)ys frencbepys were fayn, 
 
 Tbei prof ord bym paynmayn, 
 
 Vernage and Crete ; 
 
 Tbe duk swore by gret God of bevene, 
 
 dold my bors so evene, 
 
 Yet wold I sett all one seven 
 
 for JMy Idor tbe swet f 
 
 0^1 gret sperus ba tbey ton, 
 
 Hnd gerdtbere stedus wbyll tbei gron f 
 
 ftly tt yow wel tbat many on 
 
 Lokede on tbem two ; 
 
 Tbe dougbty knygbtbus of pryde, 
 
 Tborw tbe renckus gon tbei ryde, 
 
 Bote tbey myssede at tbat tyde, 
 
 Tbey 
 run with 
 spears of 
 peace: 
 tbe Duke 
 loses bis 
 stirrups 
 
 Tborw bap by t fell so* 
 
 55
 
 Sir TLbz good knygbtb, syre Huntorus, 
 
 Degre- Comeinattbetbrydcours, 
 
 vaunt for be loved paramours, 
 
 pierces In bert tbat be was tbro, 
 
 tbe Hnd strykus tbe duk tborw tbe scbeld, 
 
 Duke's 3dyd opon in tbe f eld; 
 
 sbield. Tbe eorl boved and bybeld, 
 
 JMyldor In bert be was wot 
 
 brings 
 
 bim tbe (gp3f)6damesseltoketbestede t 
 Duke's w||| Hnd tborw tbe renkus gone bym lede 
 horse ^^3 Hnd seys, Rave tbis for tbi mede, 
 
 Ty I tbou gete mo* 
 
 JP \zt sbe spekys a word of pride, 
 
 On tbis stede wol I ry de 
 
 By my lemmanus syde, 
 
 In lond wbare X go* 
 
 j^Cbat knygbt dressyd bym in bys gere, 
 
 ftys f elawe raugbtb bym a spere, 
 
 H scbarpe wepon of were, 
 
 'Cbedukfortoslo; 
 
 Hnd seis, Syre duke avenaunt, 
 
 X pray tbe bold couvenaunt, 
 
 Yondur ys a knygbtbe erraunt, 
 
 3dby tary est tbou bym so ? 
 56
 
 f)e duk lay on the grownd, 
 On ertbe swyf tely be swound, 
 fie was stony ed that stownd, 
 
 'Crewely that tyde; 
 
 Hnd yit she cry es upon bygbtb, 
 
 Yondur ys armed a knygbtb, 
 
 HU redy and ydygbtb, 
 
 TTbi comes for to abyde* 
 
 J&TLhz duke answerd tbertyle, 
 
 Botbe witb reson and sky le, 
 
 X am yburte f ul yle, 
 
 In berd is not to bydef 
 
 pray bym tak bit nat agreff, 
 
 F>e ses X am at myscbeff, 
 
 Y batbe nat y my ly ff, 
 
 So sore ys my sydef 
 
 T!beDuke 
 will not 
 run again; 
 be goes 
 away tbat 
 nigbt 
 
 YRB DeGiUVHCIKC toke bys stede, 
 Hnd gaff tbe mynstrallus to mede, 
 Hnd to forest tbei spede 
 
 Hs f aste as tbei may ; 
 
 Tlbe duke tbat was tbis ydygbt, 
 
 f>e toke bis leve tbat y Ik nygbt 
 
 Botbe witb baroun and witb knygbt, 
 
 Hnd went one bys way* 
 
 57
 
 Sir 
 
 Degre- 
 
 vaunt 
 
 on the 
 
 morrow 
 
 comes 
 
 to the 
 
 castle; 
 
 the maid 
 
 lets btm 
 
 in 
 
 Sire Degrivaunt on the morwoun 
 
 Come age to the tborun, 
 
 Tber bys stede stod byf orun, 
 
 Hnd lenges all tbat day ; 
 
 privay ly at tbe nygbtb 
 
 he come in witb bys knygbtb, 
 
 To spek witb JMyldore tbe brygbtb, 
 
 Spedeyf be may* 
 
 f>e mayde wyst by a gyne, 
 Tbat tbe knygbtb was com en in ; 
 Tbe lady of beye kyne 
 
 perseved tbe tbougbtb, 
 
 J& Damesele, so bave 1 rest, 
 
 Tbou bast geton tbe a gest 
 
 Off wylde men of tbe west, 
 
 Delayne tbou bom nougbtb; 
 
 privayly witbouten sygbtb 
 
 Do me carp witb tbat knygbtb, 
 
 f)ere my trougtb y tbe plygbtb, 
 
 f)ee bas dere y bougbtb f 
 
 j^Cbanne tbe may den was glade, 
 
 Scbe dude as tbe lady bade, 
 
 Hnd up at tbe grese boe bim lade, 
 
 Hnd to cbaumbur bym brougbtb. 
 58
 
 |F)G lady of bonowre 
 JMetes the knygbt in the doure, 
 Knelyd doun in tbefloure, 
 Hndfelbym to feet; 
 f rek as f uyre in tbe flynt 
 Re in armes bad byre bynt, 
 Hnd tbry tty sy tbes, are be stynt, 
 fiekysttbatswetf 
 ^fldelcome, syre Hunterous, 
 JMetbenkus tbouartmervelous; 
 SClyst my lord of tbis nous, 
 Cditb grame be wolde tbe gretf 
 j^Swytbe cbayres was isete, 
 Hnd quyscbonus of vyolete, 
 TTbus tbis semely was isete 
 Cditb moutb for to mete* 
 
 TTbe Lady 
 kneels 
 before 
 bim : be 
 kisses 
 ben Sbe 
 bids tbe 
 service 
 
 HJVieseLe, loke *ber be 
 H f uyre in tbe cbymene, 
 f agattus of f yre tre, 
 T^bat f etcbyd was yare* 
 JP Scbe sett a bourd of y vore, 
 Trestellus ordeyned tberf or, 
 Clotbus keverede tbat over, 
 Swycbe seye tbei never are t 
 
 59
 
 TTbey TTowellus of Bylyssbam, 
 wash and SClbygbtbastbeseeysfame, 
 sit to Sanappusof tbesame, 
 supper TIbusservydtbeiware; 
 
 Sditb a gyld salere, 
 
 Basyn and ewere, 
 
 Slaty r of cvcrrosc clere, 
 
 They wescbe rygbtb tbare. 
 
 HY^rejVIHYN prevayly 
 
 Scbc brougbtb fram tbc pantry, 
 
 Hnd served tbat semely, 
 
 Sametbertbeiseet. 
 
 Scbe brougbt fram tbe fcyebene 
 
 H scbeld of a wylde swynne, 
 
 Rastelettus in galantyne, 
 
 Hn band y yow bete. 
 
 Setbtbe scbe brougbt bom in baste, 
 
 ploverys poudryd in paste, 
 
 fcber ware metus witb tbe maste, 
 
 Idoyowtowytte; 
 
 f att conyngus and ynewe, 
 
 f esauntus and corelewe, 
 
 Rycbe sbe tbam drewe 
 
 Vernage and Crete* 
 60
 
 Oteit here metus was tere, Of the 
 
 T^bat was served at here sopere, chamber 
 
 Cber was no dentetbus to dere, of love 
 
 JVe spy ces to spare ; 
 
 Hnd evere scbe drow bom tbe wyn, 
 
 Botbe tbe Rocbe and tbe Reyn, 
 
 Hnd tbe good JVIalvesyn 
 
 f elde scbe bom yare* 
 
 Hnd evere JMyldore scbe sete 
 
 Rarpyng notus f ul swet, 
 
 Hnd other why le scbe et, 
 
 <nban bur leveste ware; 
 
 Songe yeddyngus above, 
 
 Swycbe murtbus tbey move, 
 
 In tbe cbaumbur of love 
 
 Cbus tbei sleye caret 
 
 'f)6R was a ryall rooffe 
 In tbe cbaumbur of lofFe, 
 Fjyt was buskyd above 
 ?Hitb besauntus f ul brygbtb 
 Hlloff ruelbon, 
 SClbygbtb oger and parpon, 
 JVIony a derewrotbe stone, 
 Bndentyd and dygbtbe. 
 
 61
 
 Cbc 'Cher men mygbtb se, bo tbat wolde, 
 imagery Hrcangelus of rede golde, 
 tbereof fyftymadof omolde, 
 kovvynge f ul lygbtb ; 
 ditb tbe pocalyps of 7on, 
 TTbe powlus pystolus everyebon, 
 TTbe parabolus of Salamon 
 payntyd f ulrygbtb. 
 
 $^S$F® tbe foure gospellorus 
 ( JbJ^ Sy ttyng on pyilorus ; 
 ^JSjM Rend, berkenetb and hems, 
 
 Gy f by t be youre wyll. 
 
 Hustyn and Gregory, 
 
 Jerome and Hmbrose, 
 
 Tlbus tbe foure doctorus 
 
 kystened tban tylle: 
 
 There was purtred in ston 
 
 Tbe f ylesof erus everyebon, 
 
 'Cbe story of Hbsolon, 
 
 Tbatlykedfulylle; 
 
 Cditb an orrelegge one bygbtb 
 
 To rynge tbe ours at nygbtb, 
 
 To waken JMy Idore tbe brygbtb, 
 
 SCIitb bellus to knylle* 
 62
 
 QCIHRG wyndowus of glas, Hnd the 
 
 The recbest that ever was, glass 
 
 Tbe moynelus was off bras 
 
 JMade witb menne bandus ; 
 
 Hlle tbe wallus of geete, 
 
 3CIitb gave gablettus and grete, 
 
 Kynggus sy ttyng in tber sete 
 
 Out of sure londus. 
 
 Crete Cbarlus witb tbe crounne, 
 
 Syr Godf ray tbe Boyloune, 
 
 Hnd Hrtbur tbe Bretoune, 
 
 Qlitb bere brygbt broundus. 
 
 Tbe floure was paned overal 
 
 Slitb a clere crystal, 
 
 Hnd overe U every d witb a pal, 
 
 Hfflore wbere sbe stondes, 
 
 )OR bede was off aszure, 
 
 Cditb testur and celure, 
 
 UXitb a brygbt bordure 
 Compasyd f ul dene; 
 Hnd all a story e as bit was 
 Of Ydoyne and Hmadas, 
 perreye in y Ike a plas, 
 Hnd papageyes of grene* 
 
 63
 
 The TTbe scocbenus of many knygbt 
 fairness Of gold and Cyprus was idygbt, 
 oftbc Brodebesauntusandbrygbt, 
 bed Hnd trewelovus by twene ; 
 
 Tber was at bur testere 
 
 Tbe kyngus owne ban ere: 
 
 Cdas nevere bede ryebere 
 
 Of empryce ne qwene f 
 
 ?HYRB scbetus of sy Ik 
 Cbalk/wbygbtb as tbe my Ik, 
 Quy Itus poyned of tbat ylk, 
 TTouseled tbey ware; 
 Coddys of sendall, 
 Knoppus of crystal, 
 Tbat was mad in ftlestfal 
 Cditb women of lare* 
 F)y t was a mervelous tbing 
 Ho se tbe rydalus byng, 
 Cditb mony a rede gold ryng, 
 XTbat borne up bare; 
 Tbe cordes tbat tbei one ran, 
 TTbe duk Betyse bom wan, 
 JVIayd JMedyore bom span 
 Of meremaydenus bare* 
 64
 
 YGFVC abougbt mydnygbt, JMelidore 
 
 Seyd syre Degrivaunt the hnygbt, wilt wed 
 <GClbenwolttbou,tbewortbelywygbt, Sir 
 
 kysten me ty 11 ? Degre- 
 
 f or love my bert wyl tobrest, vaunt 
 
 Cdben wylt tbou bryng me to rest? 
 
 kady,wysseme tbe best, 
 
 Gyf bytbetbiwylL 
 
 j^'Cbe burde answered f ulle yare, 
 
 ]Sevene tbou tbat eny mare, 
 
 T^bou scbalt rew bit f ul sare, 
 
 Hndlykebitfulyllef 
 
 Sertes tbo tbou were a hyng, 
 
 X^bou toucbestnon swycb tbing, 
 
 Or tbou wed me witb a ryng, 
 
 Hndmaryage f ulfyllef 
 
 >Sf f tbou well, witbouten lette, 
 X^be f erste tyme y tbe mette, 
 JVIyn bert on tbe was sette, 
 Hnd my love on tbe lygbtb f 
 X tbougbtbe never to bave non 
 llord notbur lemman, 
 Bot onely tbe allon ; 
 Caysere ne hnygbtb, 
 
 f 65
 
 Their Kyngnenonconquerour, 
 troth is J^e no lord of honour, 
 plight Hnd gyflf hit were the emperour, 
 JMost proved of mygbtb f 
 f ortby, syre, bald the stylle, 
 SIbyle thou get my fadyr wylle, 
 j^Tbo knygbt sentus tbertylle, 
 Hnd trouthus thei plygbtb* 
 
 f]SD whan here trouthus was plygbt, 
 'Chan here hertus were lygbt, 
 Cdas never faukons off fly gbt 
 So fayn as thei waref 
 Thai lay doun in ther bede, 
 In ryche clothus was spred, 
 C&y tte ye wel, or thei were wed, 
 Thei synnyd nat tbare* 
 Than spekus tho burd bryghth 
 To syre Degrivaunt the knygbtb, 
 Swet syre, come ylke nyghth, 
 Hnd loke how we fare* 
 j^Hnd the bold bachylere 
 Toke the damysele clere; 
 This thei dured that y ere, 
 Tbre quarterus and mare. 
 66
 
 ^Cmissomereinanygbtb, H 
 
 'Cbc mone scbone wondur brygbt, forester 
 Sire Degrivaunt and bys knygbt espies Sir 
 Bushed to wend* Degre- 
 
 TTbe dougbty knygbtbus so fre vaunt 
 
 kygbtb doun by a tre; 
 H prout fostere gane tbam se 
 H/laund tber tbei lende, 
 Hnd folewes bom tborw tbe wode, 
 Hlle tbe wyes tbat tbei yode, 
 Hnd bow tbei passed tbe flode, 
 XTbe knygbtbus so bende: 
 So dud tbe wey t one tbe walle, 
 TTbe eorlus owne mynstralle, 
 Sey tbam wende to tbe balle, 
 Hndwystneverewbatbytmende. 
 
 'f)G pypere baldus bys pays, 
 
 Ty I no man be by t says ; 
 
 JVIynstralus sbuld be cortays, 
 Hnd skyl tbat tbei ben, 
 'Cbe foster tolde anone/rygbtbus 
 To tbe eorle and bys knygbtbus, 
 Row tbei come arm ede a/nygbtbus, 
 Hsbebaddeysen* 
 
 f 2 67
 
 Hn Tbe sty ward was cbyvalrous, 
 
 ambush Syre Gymour the kayous, 
 is set Cditb off ycyrus of that bous, 
 
 Cruel and kene, 
 
 H gret buscbement badde be sette, 
 
 Tber tbe fostere bom mette, 
 
 Hnd tbougbtb syre Oegrivaunt lette 
 
 Tbe way es f ul grene. 
 
 ifJG stywarde beyle batb swornne, 
 Hnd be come be tbis tbornne, 
 I Ulc bryng bys bed on tbe mornne, 
 Hndnon otburmedef 
 J& Dam e ]My Idor wist rigbte nougbtb 
 Cdbat al tbis folkys bad tbougbtb, 
 Sbe wende no man tbat bad bene wrougbtb 
 fiadde wy ten of bore dede ; 
 Hnd syre Oegrivaunt badde ybigbtb, 
 Rygbtb as be was trew knygbtb, 
 To speke witb JMyldore tbat nygbtb, 
 Hnd lette for no drede* 
 God, as ye are mucbel of mygbt, 
 Save syre Degrivaunt tbe knygbt, 
 Hnd lene bym grace in tbat fygbt 
 CClelfortospedef 
 68
 
 l\RG Degrivaunt at evene4ygbtb XZbey fall 
 Hrmede bym and bys knygbtb, on Sir 
 Hnd toke on privayly for sygbtb Degre- 
 
 TTwo gowncs off grene; vaunt 
 
 JSTotbur scbcldc nc spere, 
 
 JSe no wepen of werre, 
 
 Bot twey swerdus tbci bcrrc 
 
 Off f lorcnce f ill bene. 
 
 Cdban tbei come to tbc slac, 
 
 XTbc boldc buscbament brae 
 
 JMounte opone stedus blake 
 
 Hrmede fulclene* 
 
 Sire Degrivaunt, ys nat to layne, 
 
 Blyve bys swerde bad ydrayne, 
 
 f>e tbat come formast was slayne 
 
 In tbescbawscbenef 
 
 ,F>H|^ tbei syre Degrivaunt mett, 
 
 Sevene sperus one bym ysett 
 
 Gvene in bys bassonett 
 Bras ten a/ two* 
 
 Some bare bym tborw tbe gowne, 
 Some brast one bys baberjowne; 
 F>ys sqwyere was borne downe, 
 FVps swerd cast bym frof 
 
 69
 
 fje Tben syre Degrivaunt lygbtb, 
 
 scatters Hnd rescowede bys fcnygbtb, 
 bis way- Hnd cryed to bym an bygbtb, 
 layers <8by wolt tbou ly en so ? 
 
 j^Tbe beste stedes tbat tbei bade 
 By tbe scbolders be tbem scbarde, 
 Re was never so bard ystade 
 forweleneforwof 
 
 F)6 sty ward syre By mere 
 Com a ly tyl to nere, 
 fiys bede by tbe colere 
 Reserves away f 
 
 Tbe body sy ttys opon tbe bors, 
 f)yt was uncomely to tbe cors, 
 Tbe stede stert over a fosse, 
 Hnd stry fcys astray ; 
 Y wyst never bow by t f erde* 
 F>e betus bom fast to tbe ertbe; 
 Slitb bys two/bonde swerde 
 Y)c made swyebe pay e, 
 Tbat syxty lay one tbe f eld, 
 Botbe witb spere and witb scbelde, 
 Tbat never wepen mygbtb welde 
 Sen tbat y Ike day f 
 70
 
 'f)£ panter, the botelere, F>e slays 
 
 The eorlus cbeff sqwyere, many 
 
 They lyes slay yf ere 
 
 In the scbawe scbencf 
 
 Than tberemenauntfles 
 
 On tbc sort tbat tbet sees, 
 
 Hnd some lorkus undur tres 
 
 In slowes unsbene. 
 
 Tbonfcede be Godes grace, 
 
 Re bas venhest bys face, 
 
 Hnd made a cby valrous cbace, 
 
 Tbat crewel an d U en e f 
 
 JNougbtb f ourty fot f ram tbe wal, 
 
 Re slowe tbe marcbal of tbe bal, 
 
 Hnd otber gode sqwy ers witbal, 
 
 JMotbenfyf tenet 
 
 fY tbat byt dawed ney day, 
 By tbat be bade endyd tbis play, 
 Some scaped away, 
 Hnd many one was slayne* 
 Than sayd syre Oegrivaunt tbe fcnygbt, 
 f>ere my troutbe y tbe plygbt, 
 I sbal speke witb JVIy Idore to nygbt, 
 To dey in tbe payne* 
 
 7*
 
 j&Tlbzi set here stedus tber tbei stock, 
 comes to Hnd f ayre passede the flode, 
 JVIelidore To the corlus castel tbei yode 
 
 TTbe gatus f ul gayn : 
 
 T^ban tbe lady so brygbtb, 
 
 f ayre sbe welcomed tbe fcnygbtb ; 
 
 Sbe bad nat bard of bore f ygbtb, 
 
 Tberof were tbei f ayn* 
 
 ;F)£ bad wondur in byrwyt, 
 <Oby bere clotbus ware tosly t, 
 Hs tbei in boltus bad ben by t 
 
 <&Utb dyntus of spere: 
 
 TTbere gay gownus of grene 
 
 Cdere f ul scbamely besene; 
 
 JP keve syre, wbere bave ye bene, 
 
 Youre clotbus to tere? 
 
 j&'Cbc knygbtb sat semely, 
 
 Hnd seide ty I byre prevely, 
 
 UXz sey never selly 
 
 XTbat sboulde us augbtb dere; 
 
 Bu t as we cam e by a tborn e, 
 
 TTbus wer oure gownus totorne ; 
 
 Sle sballe nave new tomorne, 
 
 3Cle cownte by t not a payre* 
 7^
 
 |f>6 knigbtb bath fougbtcn as a bare, Cbey 
 Tberfore bym f crstcd f ul sarc ; bring 
 
 'Cbe mayde brougbtb bym f ul yare bomc 
 
 Tbespycesandtbewyn. tbe dead 
 
 Dy verse spices tbei ete, men 
 
 Hnd of te witb mowtbus tbei mete ; 
 
 Scbe brougbtbe bem Vernage and Crete, 
 
 Hnd wyne of tbe Reyne* 
 
 F)e toke bis leve at tbe day 
 
 Ht mayde JMy Idore tbe may, 
 
 Yet wyste bo note of tbe fray 
 
 Cbat sbe bard setbyne* 
 
 TTbe knygbtb one wendys bis way, 
 
 XTber tbe dede men lay, 
 
 Hnd seyde souff t one bis play, 
 
 Yondur was stout byne f 
 
 TJGI brougbtbe borne on bere 
 
 Cbe stywarde syre Gym ere, 
 
 Hnd otber gode sqwyere, 
 Off frytbtbus unfayne; 
 Hnd cryide out over alle, 
 Botb gret and smalle. 
 'Cbe mayde wyndus to tbe balle 
 Cytbyngus to frayne* 
 
 73
 
 The Sari TTbe yorle spekus to that f re, 
 accuses Y wy tt syr Degrivaunt and the 
 JVIelidore ^beslaugbtbturof rnymene; 
 
 'Cbis is yowrc false treynef 
 
 By F)ym tbat dyede one tre, 
 
 Tbis day sball tbou dede bet 
 
 Iwatwellebitesbe 
 
 TTbatbasetbebelaynef 
 
 rftG mayde answerd agayne, 
 Hnd seis, peter Ham fayne 
 Hnd tbat knygbtb be not slayne ; 
 mbat bote is tbat I lye ? 
 Sene be was cbosene my f yrst make, 
 Sball X bym never forsake, 
 SIbatkyns detbe tbat I take, 
 Ordooltbatldryef 
 j$?t:ban e tbe yorle wax wode, 
 Hnd swore be bonus and blode, 
 JMete ne drynk sball do me gode, 
 HrXsetbedyef 
 
 j^XIbe contasse knelyd tbo anone, 
 Gode scbylde, syr, tbat be be slone, 
 Sde bade never cbyld but byr onef 
 j^Hnd cry id f ul bye* 
 74
 
 'F)Gcontassecryed,Hlasf JMyldore 
 
 Ye Have ben to longe f oas ; confesses 
 
 Cdyckedtongebitmas, her love 
 
 God yif them shame f 
 
 I dare savely say, 
 
 TLbz fcnygbtb went one bis way, 
 
 Owe men bysett bym tbe way, 
 
 f>e was not to blame* 
 
 Sdas not bis fosteres slayne 
 
 Cdbile be werred in Spayne ? 
 
 F)ys woddys and bys waryne, 
 
 Ye made bem alle tarn e f 
 
 Y rede ye saugbtble witb tbe knygbt, 
 
 Tlbat is so bardy and wygbt, 
 
 Hnd graunte bym JMyldore tbe brygbt, 
 
 By byr ry gbtb nam e f 
 
 F>HJ^ spefcus JMyldore tbe brygbtb, 
 
 Tiber was but be and a knygbtb, 
 
 X spake witb bym tbis nygbtb, 
 Sdbysbuldelspare? 
 Re is my love and my lorde, 
 JMyne bele and my counf orde, 
 f)y t is gode ye be acorde, 
 Hnd yowre wyllus ware: 
 
 75
 
 Sir Hnd giff ye bolde us a/gret, 
 
 Degre- SbalU never ete mete* 
 vaunt ^T^beyorlforangurganeswet, 
 comes Hndsygbtbefulsare; 
 openly to Damesele.ar tbou be spylte, 
 tbe castle Iforgiff tbetbegylte, 
 
 f)it is alle as tbou wy Ite ; 
 
 X cane say na mare f 
 
 JYJvYVe a lettur bo sent, 
 'Cborwtbeyorlus comandment; 
 H messengere bas bit bent, 
 3Clitb tytbingus fulnewe* 
 Sbe bad bym cume prively 
 Slitb bys best cbyvalry, 
 Hs be was gode and doughty, 
 Hnd boldene for trewe; 
 Hnd boe sbuld make swycb acord 
 Bytwene bym and bur lorde, 
 Tbat sbulde be a coumf orde 
 T^ylalle tbat bym ever fcnewe* 
 Yet syr Degrivant bym drade, 
 Syxty knygbtbus be clade, 
 T^yl tbe yorlus castel be spede 
 By tbe day dewe* 
 76
 
 JF)6yorlemetusbymwitboute, HU 
 
 3ditb stcrnc knygbtbus and stoute, wrongs 
 l<KIonderlowganebeloute, are 
 
 Hndbaylustbatbende; rigbted 
 
 Hnd says, Syr, by Goddys grace, 
 
 Slelcome to tbis place, 
 
 <KIe bave ben to longe fase, 
 
 ]Sow wy I X be tbi f rende* 
 
 jp prively tbat no man wyste, 
 
 Hlle wrongus was redressyde, 
 
 ^be yorle and be bade keste, 
 
 Hnd to cbaumbur tbei wende* 
 
 Sditboutyne more rebersynge 
 
 JMade was tbe saugbtblynge, 
 
 f>e grauntyd bym JMyldore tbe yinge 
 
 TTille bys lyves ende* 
 
 \JiS never sycb a purvyaunce 
 In Gnglond ne in f raunce, 
 Hs was at sir Degrivaunce 
 Hnd JMyldore tbe scbene; 
 'Cber com ty I bir weddyng 
 Hn emperoure and a kyng, 
 Grcbebyscbopbz witb ryng 
 JMotbenfyf tenet 
 
 77
 
 Of the T,be mayster of bospitalle 
 company Come over with a cardinalle, 
 at the Tbegrctkyngof portyngalle, 
 wedding SXitbknygbtbusfulhene; 
 HUe tbe lordys of tbat lond 
 3dar boly at tbat offorand, 
 Hnd ladyes,y undyrstond, 
 Gmperyceandqwenef 
 
 ? JN"G tbe Trim te day, 
 Tbus in romance berd y say, 
 F)e tofce byr in Godus lay 
 Tylle bys lyvys ende* 
 Solempnely a cardinal, 
 Revescyd witb a pontifical, 
 Sang tbe masse ryal, 
 Hnd wedded tbat bend* 
 Hnd tbe ryebe Gmperoure 
 Gaff byre at tbe kyrke dore, 
 Olitb worscbyp and bonoure, 
 Hs for bis owne f rend; 
 Hnd saw gold in tbat stonde, 
 Slelle a tbowsand pounde, 
 kay gly terynge in tbe gronde, 
 By tbe way as tbei wende f 
 78
 
 RHJ^B tbei semelede in sale, 
 Kyng and cardynale, 
 Hndtbeemperoureryale, 
 
 Cditb bamus f ul boldc; 
 
 So dud ladies bydene, 
 
 Both contasse and qwene, 
 
 Brygbtb burdys and scbene, 
 
 3das joye to beboldef 
 
 fro tbe mangery bygane, 
 
 Cttyne in condytrane 
 
 Redy tyllylke mane, 
 
 Takebosowolde* 
 
 'Cber com in a daunse 
 
 ix, doseperus of f raunce, 
 
 JVIetbowgbtb syebe a countynaunce 
 
 Cdas joy e to bebolde f 
 
 Of tbe 
 feast and 
 merri- 
 ment 
 tbereat 
 
 K^ecClS never mane so wys, 
 That coutb telle tbe servise, 
 J^c scrye tbe metys of prys 
 
 Slas servyd in tbat sale ; 
 
 JVIynstrallus bade in balle 
 
 Grete gyf tys witballe, 
 
 Rycbe robus of palle, 
 
 <KUtb garnementus bale. 
 
 79
 
 i:be Ylke day that fourtynygbtb 
 
 Garl and lustyng of seryd knygbtbus, 
 
 Countess TTorevelebobestmygbtb, 
 
 die; Sir Sditbwyneandwitbale; 
 
 Degre- Hnd one tbe f yf tetbe day, 
 
 vaunt TbusinromaunceberdXsay, 
 
 takes tbe TTbey toke bere leve and went bere way, 
 
 beritage t:bys wortbely to w 
 
 \L tbeimaketb tberavaunt 
 Off tbe lord syre Degrivaunt, 
 Cortays and avenaunt, 
 kadyes and knygbtus* 
 Re gaff stedus tbat stound 
 Sdortb a thousand pound, 
 3ditbouten baukes and bound, 
 Hnd f aukun of flygbtbus f 
 T^be yorle dyede tbat same yere, 
 Hnd tbe contasse clere; 
 Botbe bore beryelus yffere 
 3das gayly bydygbtb* 
 Syr Degrivaunt bylef te tber eyre, 
 3ditb brod londus and faire, 
 3CIas never perus mygbtb bym peyre 
 By resone ne rygbtb* 
 80
 
 IfiRYCXY wyntur and marc Of the 
 
 'Cbei lyvede togydur without care, ending 
 I Hnd sevene cbyldur she bym bare, of tbose 
 
 That wortbly in wede ; twain 
 
 Hnd senc scbe dyed, y undurstond, 
 
 Re seysed bys eyre witb bys bond, 
 
 Hnd went into tbe fioly kond, 
 
 fievene be bys medc f 
 
 Ht port/gaff was be slonc, 
 
 f or/justyd witb a Soudone : 
 
 Thus to Gode is be gone, 
 
 t:bus dougbty in dedet 
 
 kord Gode in Trinite 
 
 GyflP bem F)even for to see, 
 
 Tlbat loves gamene and gle, 
 
 Hndgestustofedef 
 
 Hmen, explicit syr Degrevaunt. 
 
 81
 
 j^Gdited by f   S, Gllis after the edition 
 printed by 7. O. f>alliwell from the Cam- 
 bridge JMS*, with some additions & varia- 
 tions from that in the library of Jvincoln 
 Cathedral* printed by Cdilliam JVIorris at 
 the Kelmscott press, tipper JMall, F)am- 
 mersmitb, in tbe County of JVIiddlesex, 
 and finished on tbe 14th day of JMarcb, 
 1896* 
 
 Sold by Cdilliam JMorris at tbe Kelmscott 
 press. 

 
 
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