Arthurisfolk had ben, vith-outen vere;1116Set thei var good, thei var of ſmal powere.GAWANE BEHOLDS THE RED KNIGHT.Gawane is led to the parapet,And gawan, wich gart bryng hyme-ſelf beforTo the bertes, set he was vondit sore,Whar the qwen vas, and whar that he mycht see1120The manere of the oſt and aſſemble;And when that he the gret manhed haith senand saith to the queen, that none ever did better than yon red knight.Of the red knycht, he ſaith one to the qwen,“Madem, ȝone knyght in to the armys Rede,1124Nor neuerI hard nore ſaw in to no ſtedO knycht, the wich that in to ſchortar ſpaceIn armys haith mor forton nore mor grace;Nore bettir doith boith with ſper and ſcheild,[Fol. 15.]1128He is the hed and comfort of our feild.”The queen prays for Lancelot.“Now, ſir, I traiſt that neuermore vas ſenNo man in feild more knyghtly hymeconten;I pray to hyme that euery thing hath cure,1132Saif hyme fro deth or wykit aduenture.”The field was perilous on both sides,The feild It was rycht perellus and ſtrongOn boith the ſydis, and continewit long,from early morn till the sun had gone down.Ay from the ſone the varldisface gan licht1136Whill he was goneandcumyne vas the nycht;And than o forß thei mycht It not aſſtart,On euery ſyd behouit them depart.Every knight then returns home, and the red knight privily goes back to the city.The feild is don and ham goith euery knycht,1140And prevaly, unwiſt of any wicht,The way the red knycht to the cete taiis,As he had hecht,andin hischambre gais.When arthure hard how the knycht Is gon,1144He blamyt ſore his lordis euerilk-one;And oft he haith remembrit in his thoght,Arthur, seeing the multitude of Galiot’s men, recalls his dream, saying,What multitud that galiot had broght;Seing his folk that ware so ewil arayt,1148In to his mynd he ſtondith al affrayt,And ſaith, “I traiſt ful ſuth It ſal be foundeMy drem Richt as the clerkisgan expounde;“My men now fail me at need.”For why my men failȝeis now at neid,1152My-ſelf, my londe, in perell and in dreide.”GALIOT PROPOSES A TRUCE.Galiot tells his councilAnd galiot vpone hie worſchip set,And his conſell anon he gart be fet,To them he ſaith, “with arthur weil ȝe see1156How that It ſtant, and to qwhat degre,Aȝanis ws that he is no poware;that there is no honour in conquering Arthur,Wharfor, me think, no worſchip to ws wareIn conqueryng of hyme, nor of his londe,1160He haith no ſtrenth, he may ws not vithſtonde.Wharfor, me think It beſt is to delay,and proposes a twelvemonth’s truce.And reſput hyme for a tuelmoñeth day,Whill that he may aſſemble al his myght;1164Than is mor worſchip aȝanis hyme to ficht;”And thus concludit thoght hyme for the beſt.The very knychtispaſſing to there Reſt;Of melyholt the ladeis knychtisilkone1168Went home, and to hir presens ar thei gon;The lady of Melyholt asks her knights who hath won most honour.At qwhome ful ſone than gan ſcho to Inquere,And al the maner of the oſtistill spere;How that It went, and in what manerwyß,1172Who haith moſt worſchip,andwho is moſt to pryß?[Fol. 15b.]“Madem,” quodthei, “O knycht was In the feild,They reply, that a red knight had exceeded all others.Of Red was al his armour and his ſheld,Whois manhed can al otheris to exced,1176May nan report in armys half his deid;Ne wor his worſchip, ſhortly to conclud,Our folk of help had ben al deſtitud.He haith the thonk, the vorſchip in hyme lyis,1180That we the feld defendit in ſich wyß.”The lady wonders if her prisoner is meant.The lady thane one to hir-ſelf haith thocht,“Whether Is ȝone my preſonar, ore noght?The ſuthfaſtneß that ſhal y wit onon.”THE LADY VISITS LANCELOT.1184When euery wight vn to ther Reſt war gon,She calls her cousin,She clepith one hir cwſynes ful nereWich was to hir moſt ſpeciall and dere,And ſaith to hir, “qwheyar if yone bee1188Our preſoner, my consell Is we see.”who takes a torch, and they go to the stable,With that the maden In hir hand hath tonO torche, and to the ſtabille ar thei gon;and find his steed wounded.And fond his ſted lying at the ground,1192Wich wery was, ywet withmony wounde.The maden ſaith, “vpone this horß is ſen,He in the place quhar strokiswas hath beñ;And ȝhit the horß It is nocht wich that hee1196Furthwithhyme hade;”—the lady ſaid, “perdee,He vſyt haith mo horß than one or two;Next they view his armour,I red one to his armys at we go.”Tharwith one to his armys ar thei went;and find his hauberk rent, and his shield frushed all to naught.1200Thei fond his helm, thei fond his hawbrek rent,Thei fond his ſcheld was fruſchit al to nocht;At ſchort, his armour In sich wyß vas vrochtIn euery place, that no thing was left haill,1204Nore neuereft accordith to bataill.They think he has well used his armour.Than ſaith the lady to hir cuſyneß,“What ſal we ſay, what of this matergeß?”“Madem, I ſay, thei have nocht ben abwsyt;1208He that them bur ſchortly he has them vſyt.”“That may ȝe ſay, ſuppos the beſt that lewis,Or moſt of worſchip in til armys prewis,Or ȝhit haith ben in ony tyme beforñ,1212Had them in feld in his maſt curag borñ.”They next visit the knight himself,“Now,” quod the lady, “will we paß, and seeThe knycht hyme-self, and ther the ſuthmay we27“then” (?).[Fol. 16.]Knaw of this thing.” Incontynent them27boith1216Thir ladeis vn to his chambre goith.who was now asleep.The knycht al wery fallyng was on ſlep;This maden paſſith In,andtakith kep.The lady’s cousin observes his breast and shoulders bloody, his face hurt, and his fists swollen.Sche ſauch his breſt withal his ſchowderis bare,1220That bludy war and woundit her and thare;His face was al to-hurt and al to-ſchent,His newis ſwellyng war and al to-Rent.Sche ſmylyt a lyt, and to hir lady ſaid,1224“It ſemyth weill this knycht hath ben aſſaid.”THE LADY IS LOVE-SMITTEN.The lady next observes him,The lady ſauch, and rewit in hir thoghtThe knychtisworſchip wich that he haith vroght.and is smitten to the heart by the dart of love,In hire Remembrance loues fyre dart1228Withhot deſyre hir ſmat one to the hart;And then a quhill, with-outen wordismo,In to hir mynd thinking to and fro,She ſtudeit ſo, and at the laſt abraidand prays her cousin to draw aside, while she kisses the knight.1232Out of hir thocht, and ſudandly thus ſaid,28MS. “alyt.”“With-draw,” quodſhe, “one ſyd a lyt28the lyght,Or that I paß that I may kyß the knyght.”HER COUSIN REPROVES HER.Her cousin reproves her,“Madem,” quodſche, “what is It at ȝe meñ?1236Of hie worſchip our mekill have ȝe señSo sone to be ſuppriſit witho thoght.lest the knight should awake.What is It at ȝhe think? preſwm ȝe noghtThat if yon knycht wil walkin, and perſaif,1240He ſhal yarof no thing bot ewill conſaif;In his entent Ruput yow therbyThe ablare to al lychtneß and foly?And blam the more al vtherisin hismynd,1244If your gret wit in ſich deſire he fynde?”The lady replies.“Nay,” quodthe lady, “no thing may I doFor ſich o knycht may be defam me to.”Her cousin next argues the point;“Madem, I wot that for to loue yone knycht,1248Conſidir his fame, his worſchip, and hismycht;And to begyne as worſchip wil dewyß,Syne he ayaine mycht lowe yow one ſuch wyß,And hold yow for his lady and his loue,1252It war to yow no maner of Reprwe.“What if he loves another?”But quhat if he appelit be and thretHis hart to lowe, and ellis whar y-ſet?And wel y wot, madem, if It be so,1256His hart hyme sal not ſuffir to loue two,[Fol. 16b.]For noble hart wil have no dowbilneß;If It be ſo, ȝhe tyne yowr low, I geß;Than is your-ſelf, than is your loue Refuſit,1260Your fam is hurt, your gladneß is concluſit.My conſell is, therfore, you to abſtenWhill that to yow the werray Rycht be ſeñOf his entent, the wich ful ſon ȝhe may1264Have knawlag, If yow lykith to aſſay.”She persuades the lady to return to her chamber, without further delay.So mokil to hir lady haith ſhe vroghtThat at that tyme ſhe haith Returnyt hirthocht,And to hir chambre went, withouten more,1268Whar loue of new aſſaith hir ful sore.So well long thei ſpeking of the knycht,Her cousin labours to expel her love for Lancelot from her thoughts, but her labour is in vain.Hir cuſynace hath don al at ſhe mychtFor to expel that thing out of hir thocht;1272It wil not be, hir labour Is for nocht.Now leif we hir In to hir neweſt pan,And to arthur we wil retwrn agañ.EXPLICIT PRIMUSLIBER, INCIPIT SECUNDUS.ARTHUR’S GREAT ANXIETY.[BOOK II.]Night.The clowdy nyght, wndir whois obſcure1276The reſt and quiet of euery criaturLyith ſauf, quhare the goſt withbeſyneßIs occupiit, withthoghtfull hewynes;And, for that thocht furth ſchewing vil hismycht,1280Go fare-wel reſt and quiet of the nycht.Arthur cannot rest.Artur, I meyne, to whome that reſt is nocht,But al the nycht ſuppriſit is with thocht;In to his bed he turnyth to and fro,1284Remembryng the apperans of his wo,That is to ſay, his deith, his confuſioune,And of his realme the opin diſtruccioune.That in his wit he can no thing prowide,1288Bot tak his forton thar for to abyd.The sun goeth up.Vp goith the ſon, vp goith the hot morow;The thoghtful king al the nycht to ſorow,[Fol. 17.]That ſauch the day, vpone his feit he ſtart,Arthur goeth forth.1292And furth he goith, diſtrublit in his hart.A quhill he walkith in his penſyf goſt,He hears that a clerk has arrived,So was he ware thar cummyne to the oſtO clerk, with whome he was aqwynt befor,1296In to his tyme non betterwas y-bore;Of qwhois com he gretly vas Reioſit,For in to hyme ſum comfort he ſuppoſit;between whom and himself there was a hearty affection.Betuex them was one hartly affeccioune.1300Non orderis had he of Relegioune,Famushe was, and of gret excellence,He was expert in the seven sciences,And rycht expert in al the vij. ſcience;Contemplatif and chaſt in gouernance,and was named Amytans.1304And clepit was the maiſteramytans.The king befor his palȝoune one the gren,That knew hyme well,andhaith his cummyn ſeñ,Arthur welcomes him.Velcummyt hyme, and maid hyme rycht gud chere,AMYTANS REPROVES ARTHUR.1308And he agan, agrewit as he were,He recks nothing of Arthur’s salutation.Saith, “nothir of thi ſaloſing, nor the,Ne rak I nocht, ne charg I nocht,” quod hee.The king inquires what trespass he has committed.Than quodthe king, “maiſter,andfor what why1312Ar ȝe agrewit? or quhat treſſpas have ICommytit, ſo that I ſhal yow diſples?”He replies, “It is not against me, but against thyself.Quod he, “no thing It is ayane myn eß,But onlycontrare of thi-ſelf alway;1316So fare the courß yow paſſith of the way.Thy ship is almost drowned in the whirlpool.Thi ſchip, that goth apone the ſtormy vall,Ney of thi careldis in the ſwelf it fall,Whar ſhe almoſt is in the perell drent;1320That is to ſay, yow art ſo far myſwentOf wykitneß vpone the vrechit dans,29So in MS. Is it necessary to alter it to “strong”?That yow art fallyng in the storng29vengansThat is, God’s wrath shall soon devour thee.Of goddis wreth, that ſhal the ſon deuour;1324For of his ſtrok approchit now the hourThat boith thi Ringe, thi ceptre,andthi crovñ,Frome hie eſtat he ſmyting ſhal adoune.And that accordith well, for in thi thochtBecause thou knowest Him not, who set thee up in this high estate,1328Yow knawith not hyme, the wich that haith the wrocht,And ſet the vp in to this hie eſtatFrom powert; for, as the-ſelwyne wat,It cummyth al bot only of his myght,1332And not of the, nor of thi elderis RichtTo the diſcending, as in heritage,though not begotten in spousage.For yow was not byget in to spouſag.[Fol. 17b.]Wharfor yow aucht his biding to obſerf,1336And at thy mycht yow ſhuld hyme pleßandſerf;That dois yow nat, for yow art ſo confuſſitWith this fals warld, that thow haith hyme Refuſit,And brokine haith his reul and ordynans,1340The wich to the he gave in gouernans.THE TYRANNY OF KINGS.He made thee king,He maid the king, he maid the gouernour,He maid the ſo, and ſet in hie honourOf Realmys and of [diuerß] peplis ſere;1344Efterhis loue thow ſhuld them Reulandſtere,And wnoppreſſit kep in to Iuſtice,The wykit men and pwnyce for ther wice.Yow dois no thing, bot al in thecontrare,and thou sufferest thy people to fare ill.1348And ſuffrith al thi puple to forfare;Yow haith non Ey but one thyne awn delyt,Or quhat that pleſing ſhall thyne appetyt.In the defalt of law and of Iuſtice,1352Wndir thi hond is ſufferyt gret ſupprißOf fadirleß, and modirleß alſo,And wedwis ek ſuſtenit mekill wo.The poor are oppressed.With gret myſchef oppreſſit ar the pure;1356And thow art cauß of al this hol Iniure,Whar-of that god a raknyng ſal crafAt the, and a ſore Raknyng ſal hafe;For thyne eſtat is gewyne to Redreß1360Thar ned, and kep them torychtwyneß;And thar is non that ther complantisheris;The mychty folk, and ek the flattererisAr cheif with the, and doith this oppreſſioun;If they complain, it is their confusion.1364If thai complen, It is ther confuſſioune.And daniell ſaith that who doith to the pure,Or faderleß, or modirleß, EnIure,Or to the puple, that ilke to god doth hee;1368And al this harme ſuſtenit Is throw the.Yow ſufferith them, oppreſſithandanoyith;So yow art cauß, throw the thei ar diſtroyth;Than, at thi mycht, god ſo diſtroys yow.What wilt thou do, when God destroys sinners off the visage of the earth?1372What ſhal he do aȝane? quhat ſhal yow,When he diſtroys by vengance of his ſuerdThe ſynarisfra the vysagisof the Erde?Than vtraly yow ſhall diſtroyt bee;1376And that Richt weill apperisnow of thee,For yow allon byleft art ſolitere;Solomon saith, ‘Wo to him who is left alone! He hath no help.’And the wyß salamon can duclar,‘Wo be to hyme that is byleft alone,[Fol. 18.]1380He haith no help;’ so Is thi forton goñe;For he is callit, withquhom that god is nocht,Allone; and ſo thi wykitneß haith wrochtThat god hyme-ſelf he is bycummyn thi fo,Thou hast lost thy people’s hearts,1384Thi pupleis hartishaith thow tynt alſo;Thi wykitneß thus haith the maid alon,That of this erth thi fortone Is y-goñ.Yow mone thi lyf, yow mone thi vorſchip tyne,and shalt come to death that hath no end.”1388And eft to deth that neuerſhal haf fyne.”ARTHUR ASKS ADVICE.“Maister,” quod he, “of yowre beneuolens,Y yow beſech that tueching mynoffens,Ȝhe wald wichſaif your conſell to me IfArthur asks how he shall amend,1392How I ſal mend, and ek her-eftir leif.”“Now,” quod the maiſter, “and I have merwell qwhyYow aſkith conſail, and wil in non affy,Nor wyrk thar-by; and ȝhit yow may In tym,1396If yow lykith to amend the cryme.”“Ȝhis,” ſaith the king, “and ſuthfaſtly I willand promises to fulfil his bidding.Ȝour ordynans in euery thing fulfyll.”“And if the liſt at conſail to abide,The master replies, “Thou must first dread the Lord.1400The remed of thi harme to prouyde—Firſt, the begyning is of ſapiens,To dreid the lord and his magnificens;And what thow haith in contrar hyme ofendit,30MS. “amendit.”1404Whill yow haith mycht, of fre deſir amend it;30Repent thy guilt.Repent thi gilt, repent thi gret treſpaß,And remembir one goddis richwyſneß;How for to hyme that wykitneß anoyt,1408And how the way of ſynaris he diſtroit;And if ye lyk to ryng wnderhis peß,Ye wengans of his mychty hond yow ſeß,This ſchalt yow do, if yow wil be perfit.1412Firſt, mone yow be penitent and contritOf euery thing that tuechith thi conſiens,Done of fre will, or ȝhit of neglygens.Thy need requireth full contrition.Thi neid requirith ful contretioune,1416Princepaly with-out concluſioune;With humble hart and goſtly byſyneß,Syne ſhalt yow go deuotly the confeßConfess to some holy confessor.Ther-of vnto ſum haly confeſſour,1420That the wil conſail tueching thin arour;And to fulfill his will and ordynans,Do penance, and amend all wrong.”In ſatiſfaccione and doing of penans,And to amend al wrang and al Iniure,1424By the ydone til euery Creature;[Fol. 18b.]If yow can In to thi hart fynde,Contretioune well degeſt In to thi mynd.Now go thi weie, for if it leful were,1428Confeſſioune to me, I ſhuld It here.”ARTHUR CONFESSES HIS SINS,Arthur tries to remember every sin done since his years of innocence,Than arthur, Richt obedientandmek,In to his wit memoratyvecan ſeikOf euery gilt wich that he can pens,1432Done frome he paſſith the ȝerisof Innocens;And as his maiſter hyme commandithade,and made his confession with lamentable cheer.He goith and his confeſſione haith he maadRicht deuotly with lementable chere;1436The manerwich quho lykith for to hereHe may It fynd In to the holl romans,Of confeſſione o paſing cercumſtans.I can It not, I am no confeſſour,1440My wyt haith ewill conſat of that labour,Quharof I wot I aucht repent me ſore.The king wich was confeſſit, what is more,Goith and til his maiſtertellith hee,1444How euery ſyne In to his awn degreeHe shew, that mycht occuryng to his mynde.“Leftest thou aught behind,” quoth the master, “about Ban, king of Albanak, and his disinherited wife?”“Now,” quod the maiſtere, “left thow aght behyndeOf albenak the vorſchipful king ban,1448The wich that vas in to my ſeruice ſlan,And of his wif diſheriſt eft alſo?Bot of ther ſone, the wich was them fro,31MS. apparently has “srpek;” but a comparison with line 1543 shews that the apparentris due to the meeting of two slight flourishes belonging to thesandp.Ne ſpek31y not;”—the king in his entent1452Abaſyt was, and furthwithis he wentThe king again confesses, and returns,Aȝane, and to his confeſſour declarith;Syne to his maiſterhe ayane Reparith,AND AGAIN ASKS FOR ADVICE.To quhome he ſaith, “I aftir my cunyng1456Your ordinans fulfillit in al thing;And now right hartly y beſeich and prey,Ȝhe wald withſchaif ſum thing to me ſay,prays for comfort,That may me comfort in my gret dreid,1460And how my men ar falȝet in my Neid,and inquires about his dream.And of my dreme, the wich that is ſo dirk.”The master saith, “If thou art bound to work by my counsel,This maiſterſaith, “and thow art bound to virk32This line (though it should not) begins with an illuminated letter.32AT my conſail, and if yow has maad1464Thi confeſſione, as yow before hath ſaid,And in thi conciens thinkith perſeuere,As I preſume that thow onon ſhalt hereThat god hyme-ſelf ſhal ſo for yeprouide,thou shalt abide in thy kingdom.1468Thow ſhal Remayne and In thi Ring abyd.[Fol. 19.]And why thi men ar falȝet At this nede,At ſhort this is the cauß, ſhalt yow nocht dred,Fore thow to gode was frawart and perwert;1472Thi ryngne and the he thocht for to ſubwart;And yow ſal knaw na power may reciſt,In contrar quhat god lykith to aſſi[ſ]t.KINGS DERIVE THEIR POWER FROM GOD.Strength of victory cometh from God only.The vertw nore the ſtrenth of victory1476It cummyth not of man, bot anerlyOf hyme, the wich haith euery ſtrinth;andthan,If that the waiis pleſſit hyme of man,He ſhal have forß aȝane his ennemys.1480A-ryght agan apone the ſamyne vyß,Whoso displeases Him shall be subject to his enemies, as we read in the Bible concerning the Jews.If he diſpleß vn to the lord, he ſhallBe to his fais a ſubiet or a thrall,As that we may In to the bible red,1484Tueching the folk he tuk hyme-ſelf to ledIn to the lond, the wich he them byhicht.Ay when thei ȝhed in to his ways Richt,Ther fois gon befor there ſuerd to nocht;When they wrought against Him, they were so full of fear that the sound of a falling leaf made a thousand flee.1488And when that thei ayanis hyme hath vrocht,Thei war ſo full of radur and diſſpare,That of o leif fleing in the air,The ſound of It haith gart o thouſand tak1492At onys apone them-ſelf the bak,And al ther manhed vterly foryhet;Sich dreid the lord apone ther hartisset.So ſhalt yow know no powar may withſtond,1496Ther god hyme-ſelf hath ton the cauß on hond.Thine own offence is the reason why thy people fail thee.And ye quhy ſtant in thyne awn offens,That al thi puple falȝhet off defens.And ſum ar falȝeing magre ther entent;1500Thei ar to quhom thow yewyne hath thi rent,Thi gret Reuard, thi richeß and thi gold,And cheriſſith and held in thi houſhold.Bot the moſt part ar falȝheit the at wyll,Thou hast shewn some of them unkindness,1504To quhome yow haith wnkyndneß ſchawin till;Wrong and inIure, and ek defalt of law,And pwnyſing of qwhich that thei ſtand aw;And makith ſeruice but reward or fee,1508Syne haith no thonk bot fremmytneß of the.Such folk to the cummyth bot for dred,Not of fre hart the for to help at nede.And what awalith owthir ſheld or ſper,1512Or horß or armoure according for ye were,[Fol. 19b.]Vith-outen man them for to ſtere and led?and a man that wanteth heart is dead.And man, yow wot, that vantith hart is ded,That in to armys ſeruith he of noght;1516A cowart oft ful mekil harm haith vroght.In multitude nore ȝhit in confluensOf ſich, is nowther manhed nore defens.Thou hast so conducted thyself as to lose all thy people’s hearts.And ſo thow hath the rewlyt, that almoſt1520Of al thi puple the hartisben ylost;And tynt richt throw thyne awn myſgouernansOf auerice and of thyne errogans.What is a prince without honour?What is o prince? quhat is o gouernoure1524Withouten fame of worſchip and honour?What is his mycht, ſuppos he be A lorde,If that his folk ſal nocht to hyme accorde?Can he by himself sustain his kingdom, by serving his own appetite?May he his Rigne, may he his holl Empire1528Suſten al only of his owne deſyre,In ſerwyng of his wrechit appetitOf awerice and of his awn delyt,And hald his men, wncheriſt, in thraldome?His oppression of his people consumes his high estate, and makes other kings war on them.UNJUST KINGS ARE PUNISHED.1532Nay! that ſhal ſone his hie eſtat conſome.33“king” (?).For many o knycht33therby is broght ydoune,All vtraly to ther confuſioune;For oft it makith vther kingisby1536To wer on them In traſt of victory;And oft als throw his peple is diſtroyth,That fyndith them agrewit or anoyth;God also punishes their vices.”And god alſo oft withhis awn ſwerd,1540Punyſith ther wyſis one this erd.Thus falith not o king but gouernans,Boith realme and he goith one to myſchans.”A MESSAGE FROM GALIOT.Meanwhile, the king of a hundred knights and the first-conquest king come from Galiot,AS thai war thus ſpeking of this thinge,1544Frome galiot cam two knychtisto the king;That one the king of hundereth knychtiswas;34MS. “kinghe,” a spelling due to confusion with “knight.” Seel. 1533.That other to nome the fyrst-conqueſt king34has,At firſt that galyot conquerit of one.1548The nereſt way one to the king thei gon,And vp he roß, as he that wel couthdoHonor, to quhome that It afferith to;And ȝhit he wiſt not at thei kingiswere;35“then” (?).1552So them35thei boith and vythrycht knyghtly cherReuerendly thei ſaluſt hyme, and thaneand the former delivers his message, to the effect thatThe king of hunderknyghtishe beganAnd ſaid hyme, “ſir, to ȝow my lord ws ſende,[Fol. 20.]1556Galiot, whilk bad ws ſay he wende,That of this world the vorthieſt king wor ȝhe,Greteſt of men and of awtoritee.Galiot wonders at the feebleness of Arthur’s folk,Wharof he has gret wonderthat ȝhe ar1560So feble cummyne In to his contrare,For to defend your cuntreandyour londe,And knowith well ȝhe may hyme nocht withſtonde.Wharfor he thinkith no worſchip to conquere,1564Nore in the werismore to perſyuere;Conſiddir yowr wakneß and yowr Indegens,Aȝanis hyme as now to mak defens.A TRUCE PROPOSED AND ACCEPTED.and is willing to grant a year’s truce,Wharfore, my lord haith grantit by vs here1568Trewis to yhow and reſput for o ȝhere,if Arthur will return to fight against him in a year’s time;If that yhow lykith by the ȝherisſpaceFor to retwrn ayane In to this place,Her to manteine yhour cuntre and withſtond1572Hyme withthe holl power of yhour lond.And for the tyme the trewis ſhal endure,Yhour cuntre and yhour lond he will aſſurre;And wit ȝhe ȝhit his powar is nocht here.1576And als he bad ws ſay yhow by the yhere,and desires to have the red knight in his household.The gud knycht wich that the Red armys bureAnd in the feild maid the diſcumfiture,The whilk the flour of knychthed may be cold,1580He thinkith hyme to haue of his houſhold.”“Well,” quod the king, “I have hard quhat yhe ſay,But if god will, and ek if that I may,In to ſich wyß I think for to withſtond,1584Yhour lord ſhall have no powar of my londe.”Arthur rejoices at the truce,Of this meſag the king Reioſing haß,And of the trewis wich that grantit was,Bot anoyt ȝhit of the knycht was he,1588Wich thei awant to have in ſuch dogre.Ther leif thei tuk; and when at thei war gon,36The initial T is illuminated.which the master attributes to God’s providence, and exhorts him, saying,36This maiſterſaith, “how lykith god diſpone!Now may yhow ſeandſuth is my recorde;1592For by hyme now is makith this accord;And by non vthir worldly providens,Sauf only grant of his bynewolans,To ſe if that the lykith to amend,1596And to prouid thi cuntre to defend.Wharfor yow ſhalt in to thi lond home fair,And gowerne the as that I ſhall declaire.[Fol. 20b.]“First, serve God with humble heart, and let the wand of law pass through the land.Firſt, thi god with humble hart yow ſerfe,1600And his comand at al thi mycht obſerf;And ſyne, lat paß the ilk bleſſit wondeOf lowe withmercy Iuſtly throw thi londe;And y beſeich—to quhome yow ſal direke1604The rewle vpone, the wrangisto correk—That yow be nocht in thi electioune blynde;For writin It Is and yow ſal trew It fynde.That, be thei for to thonk or ellisblame,1608And towart god thi part ſhal be the ſam̅;Of Ignorans ſhalt yow nocht be excuſit,Bot in ther werkisſorly be accuſit,For thow ſhuld euercheß apone ſich wyßHOW TO CHOOSE JUDGES.Thus shalt thou choose the ministers of justice.37MS. “mīſteris.”1612The miniſteris37that rewll haith of Iustice:—Firſt, that he be deſcret til wnderſtondAnd lowe and ek the materof the londe;And be of mycht and ek Autoritee,1616(For puple aycontempnith low degre,)And that of trouth he folow furth the way;That is als mych as he louyth trewth alway,And haitith al them the wich ſal pas therfro.1620Syne, that he god dreid and lowe al-so.Avoid avaricious and wrathful men.Of auerice be-war with the deſyre,And of hyme full of haſtynesandfyre;Be-war thar-for of malice and deſire,1624And hyme alſo that lowith no medyre;For al this abhominable was hold,When Iuſtice was in to the tymis olde.For qwho that is of an of thir by-know,1628The leſt of them ſubuertith all the low,38MS. “w Iustly.”And makith It w[n]Iustly38to procede;Eschew unfit men, for this shall be thy meed in the day of judgment.Eſchew tharfor, for this ſal be thi meidApone the day when al thing goith aright,1632Whar none excuß hidyng ſchal ye lyght;But he the Iug, that no man may ſuſſpek,Euery thing ful Iuſtly ſal correk.Be-war thar-with, as before have I told,1636And cheß them wyſly that thi low ſhal hold.And als I will that it well oft be sen,Richt to thi-self how thei thi lowconten;Be diligent to inquire how judgment is given.KINGS MUST BE JUST AND TRUE.And how the Right, and how the dom is went,1640For to Inquer that yow be delygent.[Fol. 21.]And punyßfor, for o thing ſhal yow know,The most treſpas is to ſubuert the low,So that yow be not in thar gilt accuſit,1644And frome the froit of bliſſit folk refuſit.Visit every chief town throughout the bounds of thy kingdom.And pas yow ſhalt to euery chef toune,Throw-out the boundis of thi RegiouneWhar yow ſall be, that Iuſtice be Elyk1648With-out diuiſione baith to purandryk.And that thi puple have [ane] awdiensWiththar complantis, and alſo thi presens;For qwho his eris frome the puple ſtekith,1652And not his hond in ther ſupport furth rekith,His dom ſall be ful grewous & ful hard,When he ſal cry and he ſal nocht be hard.Give thine ears to the poor.Wharfor thyne eris ifith to the pwre,1656Bot in redreß of ned, & not of inIure;Thus ſall thei don of Reſſone & knawlag.Kings, while minors, may be excused;But kingiswhen thei ben of tenderag,Y wil not ſay I traſt thei ben excuſit,1660Bot ſchortly thei ſall be ſar accuſit,but, when of age, they must punish those that have wrested justice.When ſo thei cum to yheris of Reſone,If thei tak not full contriſioune,And pwnyß them that hath ther low myſgyit.1664That this is trouth it may not be denyit;For vther ways thei ſal them not diſcharg,39A blank space here occurs, just sufficient to contain one line.[Excep thei pwnyß them that have the charg]39One eſtatis of ther realm, that ſhold40MS. “behold.”1668With-in his ȝouth ſe that his low be hold.40Temper justice with mercy.And thus thow the, withmercy, kep alwayOf Iuſtice furththe ilk bleſſit way.Be true and stable in thy words.And of thi wordis beis trew and ſtable,
Arthurisfolk had ben, vith-outen vere;
1116Set thei var good, thei var of ſmal powere.
GAWANE BEHOLDS THE RED KNIGHT.
Gawane is led to the parapet,
And gawan, wich gart bryng hyme-ſelf befor
To the bertes, set he was vondit sore,
Whar the qwen vas, and whar that he mycht see
1120The manere of the oſt and aſſemble;
And when that he the gret manhed haith sen
and saith to the queen, that none ever did better than yon red knight.
Of the red knycht, he ſaith one to the qwen,
“Madem, ȝone knyght in to the armys Rede,
1124Nor neuerI hard nore ſaw in to no ſted
O knycht, the wich that in to ſchortar ſpace
In armys haith mor forton nore mor grace;
Nore bettir doith boith with ſper and ſcheild,
[Fol. 15.]
1128He is the hed and comfort of our feild.”
The queen prays for Lancelot.
“Now, ſir, I traiſt that neuermore vas ſen
No man in feild more knyghtly hymeconten;
I pray to hyme that euery thing hath cure,
1132Saif hyme fro deth or wykit aduenture.”
The field was perilous on both sides,
The feild It was rycht perellus and ſtrong
On boith the ſydis, and continewit long,
from early morn till the sun had gone down.
Ay from the ſone the varldisface gan licht
1136Whill he was goneandcumyne vas the nycht;
And than o forß thei mycht It not aſſtart,
On euery ſyd behouit them depart.
Every knight then returns home, and the red knight privily goes back to the city.
The feild is don and ham goith euery knycht,
1140And prevaly, unwiſt of any wicht,
The way the red knycht to the cete taiis,
As he had hecht,andin hischambre gais.
When arthure hard how the knycht Is gon,
1144He blamyt ſore his lordis euerilk-one;
And oft he haith remembrit in his thoght,
Arthur, seeing the multitude of Galiot’s men, recalls his dream, saying,
What multitud that galiot had broght;
Seing his folk that ware so ewil arayt,
1148In to his mynd he ſtondith al affrayt,
And ſaith, “I traiſt ful ſuth It ſal be founde
My drem Richt as the clerkisgan expounde;
“My men now fail me at need.”
For why my men failȝeis now at neid,
1152My-ſelf, my londe, in perell and in dreide.”
GALIOT PROPOSES A TRUCE.
Galiot tells his council
And galiot vpone hie worſchip set,
And his conſell anon he gart be fet,
To them he ſaith, “with arthur weil ȝe see
1156How that It ſtant, and to qwhat degre,
Aȝanis ws that he is no poware;
that there is no honour in conquering Arthur,
Wharfor, me think, no worſchip to ws ware
In conqueryng of hyme, nor of his londe,
1160He haith no ſtrenth, he may ws not vithſtonde.
Wharfor, me think It beſt is to delay,
and proposes a twelvemonth’s truce.
And reſput hyme for a tuelmoñeth day,
Whill that he may aſſemble al his myght;
1164Than is mor worſchip aȝanis hyme to ficht;”
And thus concludit thoght hyme for the beſt.
The very knychtispaſſing to there Reſt;
Of melyholt the ladeis knychtisilkone
1168Went home, and to hir presens ar thei gon;
The lady of Melyholt asks her knights who hath won most honour.
At qwhome ful ſone than gan ſcho to Inquere,
And al the maner of the oſtistill spere;
How that It went, and in what manerwyß,
1172Who haith moſt worſchip,andwho is moſt to pryß?
[Fol. 15b.]
“Madem,” quodthei, “O knycht was In the feild,
They reply, that a red knight had exceeded all others.
Of Red was al his armour and his ſheld,
Whois manhed can al otheris to exced,
1176May nan report in armys half his deid;
Ne wor his worſchip, ſhortly to conclud,
Our folk of help had ben al deſtitud.
He haith the thonk, the vorſchip in hyme lyis,
1180That we the feld defendit in ſich wyß.”
The lady wonders if her prisoner is meant.
The lady thane one to hir-ſelf haith thocht,
“Whether Is ȝone my preſonar, ore noght?
The ſuthfaſtneß that ſhal y wit onon.”
THE LADY VISITS LANCELOT.
1184When euery wight vn to ther Reſt war gon,
She calls her cousin,
She clepith one hir cwſynes ful nere
Wich was to hir moſt ſpeciall and dere,
And ſaith to hir, “qwheyar if yone bee
1188Our preſoner, my consell Is we see.”
who takes a torch, and they go to the stable,
With that the maden In hir hand hath ton
O torche, and to the ſtabille ar thei gon;
and find his steed wounded.
And fond his ſted lying at the ground,
1192Wich wery was, ywet withmony wounde.
The maden ſaith, “vpone this horß is ſen,
He in the place quhar strokiswas hath beñ;
And ȝhit the horß It is nocht wich that hee
1196Furthwithhyme hade;”—the lady ſaid, “perdee,
He vſyt haith mo horß than one or two;
Next they view his armour,
I red one to his armys at we go.”
Tharwith one to his armys ar thei went;
and find his hauberk rent, and his shield frushed all to naught.
1200Thei fond his helm, thei fond his hawbrek rent,
Thei fond his ſcheld was fruſchit al to nocht;
At ſchort, his armour In sich wyß vas vrocht
In euery place, that no thing was left haill,
1204Nore neuereft accordith to bataill.
They think he has well used his armour.
Than ſaith the lady to hir cuſyneß,
“What ſal we ſay, what of this matergeß?”
“Madem, I ſay, thei have nocht ben abwsyt;
1208He that them bur ſchortly he has them vſyt.”
“That may ȝe ſay, ſuppos the beſt that lewis,
Or moſt of worſchip in til armys prewis,
Or ȝhit haith ben in ony tyme beforñ,
1212Had them in feld in his maſt curag borñ.”
They next visit the knight himself,
“Now,” quod the lady, “will we paß, and see
The knycht hyme-self, and ther the ſuthmay we
27“then” (?).
[Fol. 16.]
Knaw of this thing.” Incontynent them27boith
1216Thir ladeis vn to his chambre goith.
who was now asleep.
The knycht al wery fallyng was on ſlep;
This maden paſſith In,andtakith kep.
The lady’s cousin observes his breast and shoulders bloody, his face hurt, and his fists swollen.
Sche ſauch his breſt withal his ſchowderis bare,
1220That bludy war and woundit her and thare;
His face was al to-hurt and al to-ſchent,
His newis ſwellyng war and al to-Rent.
Sche ſmylyt a lyt, and to hir lady ſaid,
1224“It ſemyth weill this knycht hath ben aſſaid.”
THE LADY IS LOVE-SMITTEN.
The lady next observes him,
The lady ſauch, and rewit in hir thoght
The knychtisworſchip wich that he haith vroght.
and is smitten to the heart by the dart of love,
In hire Remembrance loues fyre dart
1228Withhot deſyre hir ſmat one to the hart;
And then a quhill, with-outen wordismo,
In to hir mynd thinking to and fro,
She ſtudeit ſo, and at the laſt abraid
and prays her cousin to draw aside, while she kisses the knight.
1232Out of hir thocht, and ſudandly thus ſaid,
28MS. “alyt.”
“With-draw,” quodſhe, “one ſyd a lyt28the lyght,
Or that I paß that I may kyß the knyght.”
HER COUSIN REPROVES HER.
Her cousin reproves her,
“Madem,” quodſche, “what is It at ȝe meñ?
1236Of hie worſchip our mekill have ȝe señ
So sone to be ſuppriſit witho thoght.
lest the knight should awake.
What is It at ȝhe think? preſwm ȝe noght
That if yon knycht wil walkin, and perſaif,
1240He ſhal yarof no thing bot ewill conſaif;
In his entent Ruput yow therby
The ablare to al lychtneß and foly?
And blam the more al vtherisin hismynd,
1244If your gret wit in ſich deſire he fynde?”
The lady replies.
“Nay,” quodthe lady, “no thing may I do
For ſich o knycht may be defam me to.”
Her cousin next argues the point;
“Madem, I wot that for to loue yone knycht,
1248Conſidir his fame, his worſchip, and hismycht;
And to begyne as worſchip wil dewyß,
Syne he ayaine mycht lowe yow one ſuch wyß,
And hold yow for his lady and his loue,
1252It war to yow no maner of Reprwe.
“What if he loves another?”
But quhat if he appelit be and thret
His hart to lowe, and ellis whar y-ſet?
And wel y wot, madem, if It be so,
1256His hart hyme sal not ſuffir to loue two,
[Fol. 16b.]
For noble hart wil have no dowbilneß;
If It be ſo, ȝhe tyne yowr low, I geß;
Than is your-ſelf, than is your loue Refuſit,
1260Your fam is hurt, your gladneß is concluſit.
My conſell is, therfore, you to abſten
Whill that to yow the werray Rycht be ſeñ
Of his entent, the wich ful ſon ȝhe may
1264Have knawlag, If yow lykith to aſſay.”
She persuades the lady to return to her chamber, without further delay.
So mokil to hir lady haith ſhe vroght
That at that tyme ſhe haith Returnyt hirthocht,
And to hir chambre went, withouten more,
1268Whar loue of new aſſaith hir ful sore.
So well long thei ſpeking of the knycht,
Her cousin labours to expel her love for Lancelot from her thoughts, but her labour is in vain.
Hir cuſynace hath don al at ſhe mycht
For to expel that thing out of hir thocht;
1272It wil not be, hir labour Is for nocht.
Now leif we hir In to hir neweſt pan,
And to arthur we wil retwrn agañ.
ARTHUR’S GREAT ANXIETY.
Night.
The clowdy nyght, wndir whois obſcure
1276The reſt and quiet of euery criatur
Lyith ſauf, quhare the goſt withbeſyneß
Is occupiit, withthoghtfull hewynes;
And, for that thocht furth ſchewing vil hismycht,
1280Go fare-wel reſt and quiet of the nycht.
Arthur cannot rest.
Artur, I meyne, to whome that reſt is nocht,
But al the nycht ſuppriſit is with thocht;
In to his bed he turnyth to and fro,
1284Remembryng the apperans of his wo,
That is to ſay, his deith, his confuſioune,
And of his realme the opin diſtruccioune.
That in his wit he can no thing prowide,
1288Bot tak his forton thar for to abyd.
The sun goeth up.
Vp goith the ſon, vp goith the hot morow;
The thoghtful king al the nycht to ſorow,
[Fol. 17.]
That ſauch the day, vpone his feit he ſtart,
Arthur goeth forth.
1292And furth he goith, diſtrublit in his hart.
A quhill he walkith in his penſyf goſt,
He hears that a clerk has arrived,
So was he ware thar cummyne to the oſt
O clerk, with whome he was aqwynt befor,
1296In to his tyme non betterwas y-bore;
Of qwhois com he gretly vas Reioſit,
For in to hyme ſum comfort he ſuppoſit;
between whom and himself there was a hearty affection.
Betuex them was one hartly affeccioune.
1300Non orderis had he of Relegioune,
Famushe was, and of gret excellence,
He was expert in the seven sciences,
And rycht expert in al the vij. ſcience;
Contemplatif and chaſt in gouernance,
and was named Amytans.
1304And clepit was the maiſteramytans.
The king befor his palȝoune one the gren,
That knew hyme well,andhaith his cummyn ſeñ,
Arthur welcomes him.
Velcummyt hyme, and maid hyme rycht gud chere,
AMYTANS REPROVES ARTHUR.
1308And he agan, agrewit as he were,
He recks nothing of Arthur’s salutation.
Saith, “nothir of thi ſaloſing, nor the,
Ne rak I nocht, ne charg I nocht,” quod hee.
The king inquires what trespass he has committed.
Than quodthe king, “maiſter,andfor what why
1312Ar ȝe agrewit? or quhat treſſpas have I
Commytit, ſo that I ſhal yow diſples?”
He replies, “It is not against me, but against thyself.
Quod he, “no thing It is ayane myn eß,
But onlycontrare of thi-ſelf alway;
1316So fare the courß yow paſſith of the way.
Thy ship is almost drowned in the whirlpool.
Thi ſchip, that goth apone the ſtormy vall,
Ney of thi careldis in the ſwelf it fall,
Whar ſhe almoſt is in the perell drent;
1320That is to ſay, yow art ſo far myſwent
Of wykitneß vpone the vrechit dans,
29So in MS. Is it necessary to alter it to “strong”?
That yow art fallyng in the storng29vengans
That is, God’s wrath shall soon devour thee.
Of goddis wreth, that ſhal the ſon deuour;
1324For of his ſtrok approchit now the hour
That boith thi Ringe, thi ceptre,andthi crovñ,
Frome hie eſtat he ſmyting ſhal adoune.
And that accordith well, for in thi thocht
Because thou knowest Him not, who set thee up in this high estate,
1328Yow knawith not hyme, the wich that haith the wrocht,
And ſet the vp in to this hie eſtat
From powert; for, as the-ſelwyne wat,
It cummyth al bot only of his myght,
1332And not of the, nor of thi elderis Richt
To the diſcending, as in heritage,
though not begotten in spousage.
For yow was not byget in to spouſag.
[Fol. 17b.]
Wharfor yow aucht his biding to obſerf,
1336And at thy mycht yow ſhuld hyme pleßandſerf;
That dois yow nat, for yow art ſo confuſſit
With this fals warld, that thow haith hyme Refuſit,
And brokine haith his reul and ordynans,
1340The wich to the he gave in gouernans.
THE TYRANNY OF KINGS.
He made thee king,
He maid the king, he maid the gouernour,
He maid the ſo, and ſet in hie honour
Of Realmys and of [diuerß] peplis ſere;
1344Efterhis loue thow ſhuld them Reulandſtere,
And wnoppreſſit kep in to Iuſtice,
The wykit men and pwnyce for ther wice.
Yow dois no thing, bot al in thecontrare,
and thou sufferest thy people to fare ill.
1348And ſuffrith al thi puple to forfare;
Yow haith non Ey but one thyne awn delyt,
Or quhat that pleſing ſhall thyne appetyt.
In the defalt of law and of Iuſtice,
1352Wndir thi hond is ſufferyt gret ſuppriß
Of fadirleß, and modirleß alſo,
And wedwis ek ſuſtenit mekill wo.
The poor are oppressed.
With gret myſchef oppreſſit ar the pure;
1356And thow art cauß of al this hol Iniure,
Whar-of that god a raknyng ſal craf
At the, and a ſore Raknyng ſal hafe;
For thyne eſtat is gewyne to Redreß
1360Thar ned, and kep them torychtwyneß;
And thar is non that ther complantisheris;
The mychty folk, and ek the flattereris
Ar cheif with the, and doith this oppreſſioun;
If they complain, it is their confusion.
1364If thai complen, It is ther confuſſioune.
And daniell ſaith that who doith to the pure,
Or faderleß, or modirleß, EnIure,
Or to the puple, that ilke to god doth hee;
1368And al this harme ſuſtenit Is throw the.
Yow ſufferith them, oppreſſithandanoyith;
So yow art cauß, throw the thei ar diſtroyth;
Than, at thi mycht, god ſo diſtroys yow.
What wilt thou do, when God destroys sinners off the visage of the earth?
1372What ſhal he do aȝane? quhat ſhal yow,
When he diſtroys by vengance of his ſuerd
The ſynarisfra the vysagisof the Erde?
Than vtraly yow ſhall diſtroyt bee;
1376And that Richt weill apperisnow of thee,
For yow allon byleft art ſolitere;
Solomon saith, ‘Wo to him who is left alone! He hath no help.’
And the wyß salamon can duclar,
‘Wo be to hyme that is byleft alone,
[Fol. 18.]
1380He haith no help;’ so Is thi forton goñe;
For he is callit, withquhom that god is nocht,
Allone; and ſo thi wykitneß haith wrocht
That god hyme-ſelf he is bycummyn thi fo,
Thou hast lost thy people’s hearts,
1384Thi pupleis hartishaith thow tynt alſo;
Thi wykitneß thus haith the maid alon,
That of this erth thi fortone Is y-goñ.
Yow mone thi lyf, yow mone thi vorſchip tyne,
and shalt come to death that hath no end.”
1388And eft to deth that neuerſhal haf fyne.”
ARTHUR ASKS ADVICE.
“Maister,” quod he, “of yowre beneuolens,
Y yow beſech that tueching mynoffens,
Ȝhe wald wichſaif your conſell to me If
Arthur asks how he shall amend,
1392How I ſal mend, and ek her-eftir leif.”
“Now,” quod the maiſter, “and I have merwell qwhy
Yow aſkith conſail, and wil in non affy,
Nor wyrk thar-by; and ȝhit yow may In tym,
1396If yow lykith to amend the cryme.”
“Ȝhis,” ſaith the king, “and ſuthfaſtly I will
and promises to fulfil his bidding.
Ȝour ordynans in euery thing fulfyll.”
“And if the liſt at conſail to abide,
The master replies, “Thou must first dread the Lord.
1400The remed of thi harme to prouyde—
Firſt, the begyning is of ſapiens,
To dreid the lord and his magnificens;
And what thow haith in contrar hyme ofendit,
30MS. “amendit.”
1404Whill yow haith mycht, of fre deſir amend it;30
Repent thy guilt.
Repent thi gilt, repent thi gret treſpaß,
And remembir one goddis richwyſneß;
How for to hyme that wykitneß anoyt,
1408And how the way of ſynaris he diſtroit;
And if ye lyk to ryng wnderhis peß,
Ye wengans of his mychty hond yow ſeß,
This ſchalt yow do, if yow wil be perfit.
1412Firſt, mone yow be penitent and contrit
Of euery thing that tuechith thi conſiens,
Done of fre will, or ȝhit of neglygens.
Thy need requireth full contrition.
Thi neid requirith ful contretioune,
1416Princepaly with-out concluſioune;
With humble hart and goſtly byſyneß,
Syne ſhalt yow go deuotly the confeß
Confess to some holy confessor.
Ther-of vnto ſum haly confeſſour,
1420That the wil conſail tueching thin arour;
And to fulfill his will and ordynans,
Do penance, and amend all wrong.”
In ſatiſfaccione and doing of penans,
And to amend al wrang and al Iniure,
1424By the ydone til euery Creature;
[Fol. 18b.]
If yow can In to thi hart fynde,
Contretioune well degeſt In to thi mynd.
Now go thi weie, for if it leful were,
1428Confeſſioune to me, I ſhuld It here.”
ARTHUR CONFESSES HIS SINS,
Arthur tries to remember every sin done since his years of innocence,
Than arthur, Richt obedientandmek,
In to his wit memoratyvecan ſeik
Of euery gilt wich that he can pens,
1432Done frome he paſſith the ȝerisof Innocens;
And as his maiſter hyme commandithade,
and made his confession with lamentable cheer.
He goith and his confeſſione haith he maad
Richt deuotly with lementable chere;
1436The manerwich quho lykith for to here
He may It fynd In to the holl romans,
Of confeſſione o paſing cercumſtans.
I can It not, I am no confeſſour,
1440My wyt haith ewill conſat of that labour,
Quharof I wot I aucht repent me ſore.
The king wich was confeſſit, what is more,
Goith and til his maiſtertellith hee,
1444How euery ſyne In to his awn degree
He shew, that mycht occuryng to his mynde.
“Leftest thou aught behind,” quoth the master, “about Ban, king of Albanak, and his disinherited wife?”
“Now,” quod the maiſtere, “left thow aght behynde
Of albenak the vorſchipful king ban,
1448The wich that vas in to my ſeruice ſlan,
And of his wif diſheriſt eft alſo?
Bot of ther ſone, the wich was them fro,
31MS. apparently has “srpek;” but a comparison with line 1543 shews that the apparentris due to the meeting of two slight flourishes belonging to thesandp.
Ne ſpek31y not;”—the king in his entent
1452Abaſyt was, and furthwithis he went
The king again confesses, and returns,
Aȝane, and to his confeſſour declarith;
Syne to his maiſterhe ayane Reparith,
AND AGAIN ASKS FOR ADVICE.
To quhome he ſaith, “I aftir my cunyng
1456Your ordinans fulfillit in al thing;
And now right hartly y beſeich and prey,
Ȝhe wald withſchaif ſum thing to me ſay,
prays for comfort,
That may me comfort in my gret dreid,
1460And how my men ar falȝet in my Neid,
and inquires about his dream.
And of my dreme, the wich that is ſo dirk.”
The master saith, “If thou art bound to work by my counsel,
This maiſterſaith, “and thow art bound to virk
32This line (though it should not) begins with an illuminated letter.
32AT my conſail, and if yow has maad
1464Thi confeſſione, as yow before hath ſaid,
And in thi conciens thinkith perſeuere,
As I preſume that thow onon ſhalt here
That god hyme-ſelf ſhal ſo for yeprouide,
thou shalt abide in thy kingdom.
1468Thow ſhal Remayne and In thi Ring abyd.
[Fol. 19.]
And why thi men ar falȝet At this nede,
At ſhort this is the cauß, ſhalt yow nocht dred,
Fore thow to gode was frawart and perwert;
1472Thi ryngne and the he thocht for to ſubwart;
And yow ſal knaw na power may reciſt,
In contrar quhat god lykith to aſſi[ſ]t.
KINGS DERIVE THEIR POWER FROM GOD.
Strength of victory cometh from God only.
The vertw nore the ſtrenth of victory
1476It cummyth not of man, bot anerly
Of hyme, the wich haith euery ſtrinth;andthan,
If that the waiis pleſſit hyme of man,
He ſhal have forß aȝane his ennemys.
1480A-ryght agan apone the ſamyne vyß,
Whoso displeases Him shall be subject to his enemies, as we read in the Bible concerning the Jews.
If he diſpleß vn to the lord, he ſhall
Be to his fais a ſubiet or a thrall,
As that we may In to the bible red,
1484Tueching the folk he tuk hyme-ſelf to led
In to the lond, the wich he them byhicht.
Ay when thei ȝhed in to his ways Richt,
Ther fois gon befor there ſuerd to nocht;
When they wrought against Him, they were so full of fear that the sound of a falling leaf made a thousand flee.
1488And when that thei ayanis hyme hath vrocht,
Thei war ſo full of radur and diſſpare,
That of o leif fleing in the air,
The ſound of It haith gart o thouſand tak
1492At onys apone them-ſelf the bak,
And al ther manhed vterly foryhet;
Sich dreid the lord apone ther hartisset.
So ſhalt yow know no powar may withſtond,
1496Ther god hyme-ſelf hath ton the cauß on hond.
Thine own offence is the reason why thy people fail thee.
And ye quhy ſtant in thyne awn offens,
That al thi puple falȝhet off defens.
And ſum ar falȝeing magre ther entent;
1500Thei ar to quhom thow yewyne hath thi rent,
Thi gret Reuard, thi richeß and thi gold,
And cheriſſith and held in thi houſhold.
Bot the moſt part ar falȝheit the at wyll,
Thou hast shewn some of them unkindness,
1504To quhome yow haith wnkyndneß ſchawin till;
Wrong and inIure, and ek defalt of law,
And pwnyſing of qwhich that thei ſtand aw;
And makith ſeruice but reward or fee,
1508Syne haith no thonk bot fremmytneß of the.
Such folk to the cummyth bot for dred,
Not of fre hart the for to help at nede.
And what awalith owthir ſheld or ſper,
1512Or horß or armoure according for ye were,
[Fol. 19b.]
Vith-outen man them for to ſtere and led?
and a man that wanteth heart is dead.
And man, yow wot, that vantith hart is ded,
That in to armys ſeruith he of noght;
1516A cowart oft ful mekil harm haith vroght.
In multitude nore ȝhit in confluens
Of ſich, is nowther manhed nore defens.
Thou hast so conducted thyself as to lose all thy people’s hearts.
And ſo thow hath the rewlyt, that almoſt
1520Of al thi puple the hartisben ylost;
And tynt richt throw thyne awn myſgouernans
Of auerice and of thyne errogans.
What is a prince without honour?
What is o prince? quhat is o gouernoure
1524Withouten fame of worſchip and honour?
What is his mycht, ſuppos he be A lorde,
If that his folk ſal nocht to hyme accorde?
Can he by himself sustain his kingdom, by serving his own appetite?
May he his Rigne, may he his holl Empire
1528Suſten al only of his owne deſyre,
In ſerwyng of his wrechit appetit
Of awerice and of his awn delyt,
And hald his men, wncheriſt, in thraldome?
His oppression of his people consumes his high estate, and makes other kings war on them.
UNJUST KINGS ARE PUNISHED.
1532Nay! that ſhal ſone his hie eſtat conſome.
33“king” (?).
For many o knycht33therby is broght ydoune,
All vtraly to ther confuſioune;
For oft it makith vther kingisby
1536To wer on them In traſt of victory;
And oft als throw his peple is diſtroyth,
That fyndith them agrewit or anoyth;
God also punishes their vices.”
And god alſo oft withhis awn ſwerd,
1540Punyſith ther wyſis one this erd.
Thus falith not o king but gouernans,
Boith realme and he goith one to myſchans.”
A MESSAGE FROM GALIOT.
Meanwhile, the king of a hundred knights and the first-conquest king come from Galiot,
AS thai war thus ſpeking of this thinge,
1544Frome galiot cam two knychtisto the king;
That one the king of hundereth knychtiswas;
34MS. “kinghe,” a spelling due to confusion with “knight.” Seel. 1533.
That other to nome the fyrst-conqueſt king34has,
At firſt that galyot conquerit of one.
1548The nereſt way one to the king thei gon,
And vp he roß, as he that wel couthdo
Honor, to quhome that It afferith to;
And ȝhit he wiſt not at thei kingiswere;
35“then” (?).
1552So them35thei boith and vythrycht knyghtly cher
Reuerendly thei ſaluſt hyme, and thane
and the former delivers his message, to the effect that
The king of hunderknyghtishe began
And ſaid hyme, “ſir, to ȝow my lord ws ſende,
[Fol. 20.]
1556Galiot, whilk bad ws ſay he wende,
That of this world the vorthieſt king wor ȝhe,
Greteſt of men and of awtoritee.
Galiot wonders at the feebleness of Arthur’s folk,
Wharof he has gret wonderthat ȝhe ar
1560So feble cummyne In to his contrare,
For to defend your cuntreandyour londe,
And knowith well ȝhe may hyme nocht withſtonde.
Wharfor he thinkith no worſchip to conquere,
1564Nore in the werismore to perſyuere;
Conſiddir yowr wakneß and yowr Indegens,
Aȝanis hyme as now to mak defens.
A TRUCE PROPOSED AND ACCEPTED.
and is willing to grant a year’s truce,
Wharfore, my lord haith grantit by vs here
1568Trewis to yhow and reſput for o ȝhere,
if Arthur will return to fight against him in a year’s time;
If that yhow lykith by the ȝherisſpace
For to retwrn ayane In to this place,
Her to manteine yhour cuntre and withſtond
1572Hyme withthe holl power of yhour lond.
And for the tyme the trewis ſhal endure,
Yhour cuntre and yhour lond he will aſſurre;
And wit ȝhe ȝhit his powar is nocht here.
1576And als he bad ws ſay yhow by the yhere,
and desires to have the red knight in his household.
The gud knycht wich that the Red armys bure
And in the feild maid the diſcumfiture,
The whilk the flour of knychthed may be cold,
1580He thinkith hyme to haue of his houſhold.”
“Well,” quod the king, “I have hard quhat yhe ſay,
But if god will, and ek if that I may,
In to ſich wyß I think for to withſtond,
1584Yhour lord ſhall have no powar of my londe.”
Arthur rejoices at the truce,
Of this meſag the king Reioſing haß,
And of the trewis wich that grantit was,
Bot anoyt ȝhit of the knycht was he,
1588Wich thei awant to have in ſuch dogre.
Ther leif thei tuk; and when at thei war gon,
36The initial T is illuminated.
which the master attributes to God’s providence, and exhorts him, saying,
36This maiſterſaith, “how lykith god diſpone!
Now may yhow ſeandſuth is my recorde;
1592For by hyme now is makith this accord;
And by non vthir worldly providens,
Sauf only grant of his bynewolans,
To ſe if that the lykith to amend,
1596And to prouid thi cuntre to defend.
Wharfor yow ſhalt in to thi lond home fair,
And gowerne the as that I ſhall declaire.
[Fol. 20b.]
“First, serve God with humble heart, and let the wand of law pass through the land.
Firſt, thi god with humble hart yow ſerfe,
1600And his comand at al thi mycht obſerf;
And ſyne, lat paß the ilk bleſſit wonde
Of lowe withmercy Iuſtly throw thi londe;
And y beſeich—to quhome yow ſal direke
1604The rewle vpone, the wrangisto correk—
That yow be nocht in thi electioune blynde;
For writin It Is and yow ſal trew It fynde.
That, be thei for to thonk or ellisblame,
1608And towart god thi part ſhal be the ſam̅;
Of Ignorans ſhalt yow nocht be excuſit,
Bot in ther werkisſorly be accuſit,
For thow ſhuld euercheß apone ſich wyß
HOW TO CHOOSE JUDGES.
Thus shalt thou choose the ministers of justice.
37MS. “mīſteris.”
1612The miniſteris37that rewll haith of Iustice:—
Firſt, that he be deſcret til wnderſtond
And lowe and ek the materof the londe;
And be of mycht and ek Autoritee,
1616(For puple aycontempnith low degre,)
And that of trouth he folow furth the way;
That is als mych as he louyth trewth alway,
And haitith al them the wich ſal pas therfro.
1620Syne, that he god dreid and lowe al-so.
Avoid avaricious and wrathful men.
Of auerice be-war with the deſyre,
And of hyme full of haſtynesandfyre;
Be-war thar-for of malice and deſire,
1624And hyme alſo that lowith no medyre;
For al this abhominable was hold,
When Iuſtice was in to the tymis olde.
For qwho that is of an of thir by-know,
1628The leſt of them ſubuertith all the low,
38MS. “w Iustly.”
And makith It w[n]Iustly38to procede;
Eschew unfit men, for this shall be thy meed in the day of judgment.
Eſchew tharfor, for this ſal be thi meid
Apone the day when al thing goith aright,
1632Whar none excuß hidyng ſchal ye lyght;
But he the Iug, that no man may ſuſſpek,
Euery thing ful Iuſtly ſal correk.
Be-war thar-with, as before have I told,
1636And cheß them wyſly that thi low ſhal hold.
And als I will that it well oft be sen,
Richt to thi-self how thei thi lowconten;
Be diligent to inquire how judgment is given.
KINGS MUST BE JUST AND TRUE.
And how the Right, and how the dom is went,
1640For to Inquer that yow be delygent.
[Fol. 21.]
And punyßfor, for o thing ſhal yow know,
The most treſpas is to ſubuert the low,
So that yow be not in thar gilt accuſit,
1644And frome the froit of bliſſit folk refuſit.
Visit every chief town throughout the bounds of thy kingdom.
And pas yow ſhalt to euery chef toune,
Throw-out the boundis of thi Regioune
Whar yow ſall be, that Iuſtice be Elyk
1648With-out diuiſione baith to purandryk.
And that thi puple have [ane] awdiens
Withthar complantis, and alſo thi presens;
For qwho his eris frome the puple ſtekith,
1652And not his hond in ther ſupport furth rekith,
His dom ſall be ful grewous & ful hard,
When he ſal cry and he ſal nocht be hard.
Give thine ears to the poor.
Wharfor thyne eris ifith to the pwre,
1656Bot in redreß of ned, & not of inIure;
Thus ſall thei don of Reſſone & knawlag.
Kings, while minors, may be excused;
But kingiswhen thei ben of tenderag,
Y wil not ſay I traſt thei ben excuſit,
1660Bot ſchortly thei ſall be ſar accuſit,
but, when of age, they must punish those that have wrested justice.
When ſo thei cum to yheris of Reſone,
If thei tak not full contriſioune,
And pwnyß them that hath ther low myſgyit.
1664That this is trouth it may not be denyit;
For vther ways thei ſal them not diſcharg,
39A blank space here occurs, just sufficient to contain one line.
[Excep thei pwnyß them that have the charg]39
One eſtatis of ther realm, that ſhold
40MS. “behold.”
1668With-in his ȝouth ſe that his low be hold.40
Temper justice with mercy.
And thus thow the, withmercy, kep alway
Of Iuſtice furththe ilk bleſſit way.
Be true and stable in thy words.
And of thi wordis beis trew and ſtable,