119Orþare; but see l. 2954.120MS. mi. Cf. l. 2204.121MS.hasþe, ƿe, oryein both places.But see l. 1888.Havelok meets them boldly,2620Hauelok, þat hauede spired welOf here fare, eueril del,With al his ferd cam hem a-geyn,For-bar he noþer knith ne sweyn.and kills the foremost knight.2624Þe firste knith þat he þer mette,With þe swerd so he him grette,For his heued of he plette,Wolde he nouth for sinne lette.Robert kills a second.2628Roberd saw þat dint so hende,Wolde he neuere þeþe[n] wende,Til þat he hauede anoþer slawen,With þe swerd he held ut-drawen.William disables a third.2632Willamwendut his swerd vt-drow,And þe þredde so sore he slow,Þat he made up-on the feldHis lift arm fleye, with the swerd.122122Cf. l. 1825. We should otherwise be tempted to readsheld; especially as theshieldis more appropriate to theleftarm.COMBAT BETWEEN UBBE AND GODRICH.Hugh Raven seizes his sword,2636Huwe rauenne forgat nouthÞe swerd he hauede þider brouth,He kipte it up, and smot ful soreAn erl, þat he saw priken þore,2640Ful noblelike upon a stede,Þat with him wolde al quic wede.and cleaves an earl’s head in two.He smot him on þe heued so,Þat he þe heued clef a-two,2644And þat bi þe shu[l]dre-bladeÞe sharpe swerd let [he] wade,Þorw the brest unto þe herte;Þe dint bigan ful sore to smerte,2648Þat þe erl fel dun a-non,Al so ded so ani ston.Ubbe attacks Godrich.Quoth ubbe, “nu dwelle ich to longe,”And leth his stede sone gonge2652To godrich, with a god spere,Þat he saw a-noþer bere,And smoth godrich, and Godrichhim,Hetelike with herte grim,Both fall.2656So þat he boþe felle dune,To þe erþe first þe croune.Þanne he worenfallendun boþen,Grundlike here swerdes ut-drowen,[Fol. 217b, col. 2.]2660Þat werenswiþe sharp and gode,They fight on foot.And fouhten so þei worenwode,Þat þe swot ran fro þe crune[To the fet rith þere adune.]123GODRICH DISPLAYS GREAT PROWESS.2664Þer mouthe men se to knithes beteAyþer on oþer dintes grete,So þat with alþer-lest[e] dintWere al to-shiuered a flint,The fight lasts from morn to night.2668So was bi-twenenhema fiht,Fro þe morwen ner to þe niht,So þat þei nouth nebl[u]nne,*Til þat to sette bigan þe sunne.Godrich wounds Ubbe sorely.2672Þo yaf godrich þorw þe sideVbbe a wunde ful un-ride,So þat þorw þat ilke woundeHauede ben brouth to þe grunde,2676And his heued al of-slawen,Hugh Raven rescues him.Yif god ne were, and huwe rauen,Þat drow him fro godrich awey,And barw him so þat ilke day.2680But er he were fro godrich drawen,A thousand knights slain.Þer were a þousind knihtes slawenBi boþe halue, and mo y-nowe,Þer þe ferdes to-gidere slowe.2684Þer was swilk dreping of þe folk,The pools are full of blood.Þat on þe feld was neuere a polkÞat it ne stod of blod so ful,Þat þe strem ran intil þe hul.Godrich attacks the Danes like lightning.2688Þo tarst124bigan godrich to goVp-on þe danshe, and faste to slo,And forth rith also leuin fares,Þat neuere kines best ne spares,2692Þanne his [he] gon, for he garte alleÞe denshe men biforn him falle.He felde browne, he felde blake,Þat he mouthe ouer-take.2696Was neuere non þat mouhte þaueHise dintes, noyþer knith ne knaue,He mows them down like grass.Þat he felden so dos þe gresCOMBAT BETWEEN GODRICH AND HAVELOK.Bi-forn þe syþe þat ful sharp is.2700Hwan hauelok saw his folk so brittene,And his ferd so swiþe littene,He cam driuende up-on a stede,And bigan til him to grede,2704And seyde, “godrich, wat is þeÞat þou fare þus with me?[Fol. 218, col. 1.]And mine gode knihtes slos,Siker-like þou mis-gos.Havelok reproves Godrich,2708Þou wost ful wel, yif þu wilt wite,Þat aþelwold þe dide siteOn knes, and sweren on messe-bok,On caliz, and on [pateyn]125hok2712Þat þou hise douhter sholdest yelde,Þan she were winnan126of elde,Engelond eueril del:Godrich þe erl, þou wost it wel.and bids him perform his oaths.2716Do nu wel with-uten fiht,Yeld hire þe lond, for þat is rith.Wile ich forgiue þe þe lathe,Al mi dede and al mi wrathe,2720For y se þu art so with,And of þi bodi so god knith.”Godrich refuses.“Þat ne wile ich neuere mo,”Quoth erl godrich, “for ich shal slo2724Þe, and hire for-henge heye.I shal þrist ut þi rith eyeÞat þou lokes with on me,But þu swiþe heþen fle.”2728He grop þe swerd ut sone anon,And hew on hauelok, ful god won,He cleaves Havelok’s shield in two.So þat he clef his sheld on two:Hwan hauelok saw þat shame do2732His bodi þer bi-forn his ferd,He drow ut sone his gode swerd,Havelok smites him down.And smot him so up-on þe crune,Þat godrich fel to þe erþe adune.2736But godrich stirt up swiþe sket,Lay he nowth longe at hise fet,Godrich rises, and wounds Havelok in the shoulder.And smot him on þe sholdre so,Þat he dide þare undo2740Of his brinie ringes mo,Þan þat ich kan tellen fro;And woundede himrith inþe flesh,Þat tendre was, and swiþe nesh,2744So þat þe blod ran til his to:Havelok is enraged,Þo was hauelok swiþe wo,Þat he hauede of him drawenBlod, and so sore him slawen.2748Hertelike til him he wente,and cuts off his foe’s hand.And godrich þer fulike shente;For his swerd he hof up heye,[Fol. 218, col. 2.]And þe hand he dide of fleye,2752Þat he smot him with so sore:Hw mithe he don him shame more?123Cf. l. 1904.*The MS. readingblinneshould clearly beblunne. A few other suggestions of emendations will be found in theGlossarial Index. See the wordsArwe,Birþe,Felde,Sor,Tauhte,Þenne,Thit,Werewed,Wreken, &c. See also the suggestions in the preface, pp. xxxix, xli, xlvi, xlvii.124So in MS.Qu.faste, as in next line.125MS.here repeatsmesse,by mistake. Readpateyn. Cf. l. 187.126MS. wīman,i.e.winmanorwimman;but we are sure, froml. 174,thatwinnanis meant.GODRICH IS BOUND AND FETTERED.Hwan he hauede him so shamed,His hand of plat, and yuele lamed,2756He tok him sone bi þe neckeAls a traytour, daþeyt wo recke!He has him bound and fettered,And dide him binde and fetere welWith gode feteres al of stel,and sends him to the queen.2760And to þe quen he sende him,Þat birde wel to him ben grim;And Bad she sholde don him gete,And þat non ne sholde him bete,2764Ne shame do, for he was knith,Til knithes hauedendemd him Rith.When the English find out that Goldborough is the heiress,Þan þe englishe men þat sawe,Þat þei wisten, heye and lawe,2768Þat Goldeboru, þat was so fayr,Was of engeland rith eyr,And þat þe king hire hauede wedded,And haueden ben samen bedded,they submit to Havelok.2772He comen alle to crie merci,Vnto þe king, at one cri,And beden him sone manrede and oth,Þat he ne sholden, for lef ne loth,2776Neuere more ageyn him go,Ne ride, for wel ne for wo.THE ENGLISH SUBMIT TO GOLDBOROUGH.Þe king ne wolde nouth for-sake,Þat he ne shulde of hem take2780Manrede þat he beden, and okHold oþes swerenon þe bok;Havelok wishes to show Goldborough to the English.But or bad he, þat þider were brouthÞe quen, for hem, swilk was his þouth,2784For to se, and forto shawe,Yif þat he hire wolde knawe.Þoruth hem witenwolde he,Yif þat she aucte quen to be.Six earls fetch her in.2788Sixe erles weren sone yare,After hire for to fare.He nomen on-on, and comensone,And brouthenhire, þat under mone2792In al þe werd ne hauede per,Of hende-leik, fer ne ner.Hwan she was come þider, alleÞe englishe men bi-gunne to falle[Fol. 218b, col. 1.]2796O knes, and gretenswiþe sore,And seyden, “leuedi, k[r]istes ore,The English ask her pardon.And youres! we hauenmisdo mikel,Þat we ayen you haue be fikel,2800For englond auhte forto ben youres,And we youre menand youres.Is non of us, yung ne old,Þat we ne wot, þat aþelwold2804Was king of þis kunerike,They admit she is heiress.And ye his eyr, and þat þe swikeHaues it halden with mikel wronge:God leue him sone to honge!”GODRICH IS CONDEMNED TO BE BURNT.2808Quot127hauelok, “hwan þat ye it wite.Havelok says they must pass judgment on Godrich.Nu wile ich þat ye doun site,And after godrich haues wrouht,Þat haues in sorwe him-self brouth,2812Lokes þat ye demenhim rith,For dom ne spared128clerk ne knith,And siþen shal ich under-stondeOf you, after lawe of londe,2816Manrede, and holde oþes boþe,Yif ye it wilen, and ek rothe.”Anon þer dune he hem sette,For non þe dom ne durste lette,They say he is to be bound on an ass’s back,2820And demden him to bindenfasteVp-on an asse swiþe un-wraste,Andelong, nouht ouer-þwert,His nose went unto þe stert;taken to Lincoln,2824And so to lincolne lede,Shamelike in wicke wede,And hwan he cam un-to þe borw,Shamelike ben led þer-þoru,2828Bisouþe þe borw, un-to a grene,Þat þare is yet, als[o] y wene,bound to a stake, and burnt.And þere be bundentil a stake,Aboutenhim ful gret fir make,2832And al to dust be brend Rith þere;And yet demdenhe þer more,Oþer swikes for to warne,Þat hise childrensulde þarne2836Euere more þat eritage,Þat his was, for hise utrage.127MS. Guot. Cf. l. 1954.128Qu.spares.Hwan þe dom was demd and seyd,So he is laid on the ass, and burnt.Sket was þe swike on þe asse leyd,2840And [led vn-]til129þat ilke grene,[Fol. 218b, col. 2.]And brend til asken al bidene.Þo was Goldeboru ful bliþe,She þanked god fele syþe,2844Þat þe fule swike was brend,Þat wende wel hire bodi haue shend,Goldborough rejoices.And seyde, “nu is time to takeManrede of brune and of blake,2848Þat ich se ride[n] and go:Nu ich am wreke[n]130of mi fo.”129MS. “And him til,” which is nonsense. See l. 2827.130See l. 2992.Havelok makes the English swear fealty.Hauelok anon manrede tokOf alle englishe, on þe bok,2852And dide hem grete oþes swere,Þat he sholdenhim god feyth bereAgeyn alle þat worenliues,And þat sholde ben born of wiues.THE EARL OF CHESTER MARRIES GUNILD.2856Þanne he hauede131sikernesseTaken of more and of lesse,Al at hise wille, so dide he calleHe proposes that Earl Reyner of ChesterÞe erl of cestre, and hise men alle,2860Þat was yung knith wit-utenwif,And seyde, “sire erl, bi mi lif,And þou wile miconseyl tro,Ful wel shal ich with þe do,2864For ich shal yeue þe to wiueÞe fairest þing that is oliue.HAVELOK REMEMBERS BERTRAM’S KINDNESS.shall marry Gunild, Grim’s daughter;Þat is gunnild of grimesby,Grimes douther, bi seint dauy!2868Þat me forth broute, and wel fedde,And ut of denemark with me fledde,Me for to burwe fro mi ded:Sikerlike, þoru his red2872Haue ich liued in-to þis day,Blissed worþe his soule ay!I rede þat þu hire take,And spuse, and curteyse make,2876For she is fayr, and she is fre,And al so hende so she may be.Þertekene she is wel with me,and he will then always be his friend.Þat shal ich ful wel shewe þe,2880For ich giue þe a giue,Þat euere more hwil ich liue,For hire shal-tu be with me dere,Þat wile ich þat þis folc al here.”2884Þe erl ne wolde nouth ageynÞe king[e] be, for knith ne sweyn,[Fol. 219, col. 1.]Ne of þe spusing seyen nay,But spusede [hire] þat ilke day.2888Þat spusinge was god time maked,They are married,For it ne were neuere clad ne naked,In a þede samened twoÞat cam to-gidere, liuede so,2892So þey dide[n] al here liue:and have five sons.He geten samensones fiue,Þat were þe beste menat nede,Þat mouthe ridenon ani stede.2896Hwan gunnild was to cestre brouth,Havelok remembers Bertram, the earl’s cook,Hauelok þe gode ne for-gat nouthBertram, þat was the erles kok,Þat he ne dide callenok,2900And seyde, “frend, so god me rede!Nu shaltu haue riche mede,BERTRAM MARRIES GRIM’S SECOND DAUGHTER.For wissing, and þi gode dede,Þat tu me dides in ful gret nede.2904For þanne y yede in mi cuuel,And ich ne haue[de] bred, ne sowel,Ne y ne hauede no catel,Þou feddes and claddes me ful wel.and makes him Earl of Cornwall.2908Haue nu for-þi of cornwayleÞe erldom ildel, with-uten fayle,And al þe lond þat godrich held,Boþe in towne, and ek in feld;2912And þerto wile ich, þat þu spuse,And fayre bring hire un-til huse,He is to marry Levive, Grim’s daughter,Grimes douther, leuiue þe hende,For þider shal she with þe wende.2916Hire semes curteys forto be,For she is fayr so flour on tre;Þe heu is swilk in hire lerwho is as fair as a rose.So [is] þe rose in roser,2920Hwan it is fayr sprad ut neweAgeyn þe sunne, brith and lewe.”And girde him sone with þe swerdOf þe erldom, bi-forn his ferd,2924And with his hond he made himknith,And yaf him armes, for þat was rith,They are married.And dide him þere sone wedde2927Hire þat was ful swete in bedde.131MS. haueden.2928After þat he spused wore,Wolde þe erl nouth dwelle þore,Havelok and Goldborough lived 100 years, and had many children.But sone namuntil his lond,[Fol. 219, col. 2.]And seysed it al in his hond,2932And liuede þer-inne, he and his wif,An hundred winter in god lif,132And gaten mani childrensamen,And liueden ay in blisse and gamen.2936Hwanþe maydens were spused boþe,Hauelok anon bigan ful ratheThe Danes are enriched.His denshe men to feste welWit riche landes and catel,2940So þat he weren alle riche:For he was large and nouth chinche.132Between this line and the next are inserted in the MS. the words:For he saw þat he, which have been subsequently struck out by the same hand, and the wordvacataffixed.HAVELOK IS CROWNED KING OF ENGLAND.Þer-after sone, with his here,Havelok is crowned at London.For he to lundone, forto bere2944Corune, so þat [alle] it sawe,Henglishe ant denshe, heye and lowe,Hwou he it bar with mikel pride,For his barnage þat was un-ride.The feast lasts 40 days.2948Þe feste of his coruni[n]g133Laste[de] with gret ioyingFourti dawes, and sumdel mo;Þo bigunnen þe denshe to go2952Vn-to þe king, to aske leue,And he ne wolde hem nouth greue,The Danes return home.For he saw þat he woren yareIn-to denemark for to fare,2956But gaf hem leue sone anon,And bitauhte hem seint Johan;Ubbe is to rule Denmark.And bad ubbe, his iustise,Þat he sholde on ilke wise2960Denemark yeme and gete so,Þat no pleynte come him to.133MS. corunig.Havelok remained in England for sixty years.Hwan he wore parted alle samen,Hauelok bi-lefte wit ioie and gamen2964In engelond, and was þer-inneSixti winter king with winne,And Goldeboru quen, þat I wene:So mikel loue was hem bitwene,2968Þat al þe werd spak of hem two:He louede hire, and she him so,He and Goldborough were never apart.Þat neyþer oþe[r] mithe beFor134oþer, ne no ioie se,2972But yf he were to-gidere135boþe;Neuere yete ne werenhe wroþe,For here loue was ay newe,[Fol. 219b, col. 1.]Neuere yete wordes ne grewe2976Bitwene hem, hwar-of ne latheMithe rise, ne no wrathe.134Qu.Fro.135MS. togidede.SUCH IS THE “GESTE” OF HAVELOK.They had 15 children, all kings and queens.He geten childrenhem bi-tweneSones and douthres rith fiuetene,2980Hwar-of þe sones were kinges alle,So wolde god it sholde bifalle;And þe douhtres alle quenes:Him stondes wel þat god child strenes.Such is thegesteof Havelok and Goldborough.2984Nu haue ye herd þe gest al þoruOf hauelok and of goldeborw.Hw he werenborn, and hw fedde,And hwou he worenwith wronge ledde2988In here youþe, with trecherie,With tresoun, and with felounye,2990And hwou þe swikes hauedenthitReuen hem þat was here rith,2992And hwou he werenwreken wel,Haue ich sey you euerildel;SAY A PATERNOSTER FOR THE AUTHOR.And forþi ich wolde biseken you,Þat hauenherd þe rim[e] nu,Each of you say apater-nosterfor the author.2996Þat ilke of you, with gode wille,Seye a pater-nosterstille,For him þat haueth þe rym[e] maked,And þer-fore fele nihtes waked;3000Þat ihesu crist his soule bringeBi-forn his fader at his endinge.Amen.
119Orþare; but see l. 2954.120MS. mi. Cf. l. 2204.121MS.hasþe, ƿe, oryein both places.But see l. 1888.Havelok meets them boldly,2620Hauelok, þat hauede spired welOf here fare, eueril del,With al his ferd cam hem a-geyn,For-bar he noþer knith ne sweyn.and kills the foremost knight.2624Þe firste knith þat he þer mette,With þe swerd so he him grette,For his heued of he plette,Wolde he nouth for sinne lette.Robert kills a second.2628Roberd saw þat dint so hende,Wolde he neuere þeþe[n] wende,Til þat he hauede anoþer slawen,With þe swerd he held ut-drawen.William disables a third.2632Willamwendut his swerd vt-drow,And þe þredde so sore he slow,Þat he made up-on the feldHis lift arm fleye, with the swerd.122122Cf. l. 1825. We should otherwise be tempted to readsheld; especially as theshieldis more appropriate to theleftarm.COMBAT BETWEEN UBBE AND GODRICH.Hugh Raven seizes his sword,2636Huwe rauenne forgat nouthÞe swerd he hauede þider brouth,He kipte it up, and smot ful soreAn erl, þat he saw priken þore,2640Ful noblelike upon a stede,Þat with him wolde al quic wede.and cleaves an earl’s head in two.He smot him on þe heued so,Þat he þe heued clef a-two,2644And þat bi þe shu[l]dre-bladeÞe sharpe swerd let [he] wade,Þorw the brest unto þe herte;Þe dint bigan ful sore to smerte,2648Þat þe erl fel dun a-non,Al so ded so ani ston.Ubbe attacks Godrich.Quoth ubbe, “nu dwelle ich to longe,”And leth his stede sone gonge2652To godrich, with a god spere,Þat he saw a-noþer bere,And smoth godrich, and Godrichhim,Hetelike with herte grim,Both fall.2656So þat he boþe felle dune,To þe erþe first þe croune.Þanne he worenfallendun boþen,Grundlike here swerdes ut-drowen,[Fol. 217b, col. 2.]2660Þat werenswiþe sharp and gode,They fight on foot.And fouhten so þei worenwode,Þat þe swot ran fro þe crune[To the fet rith þere adune.]123GODRICH DISPLAYS GREAT PROWESS.2664Þer mouthe men se to knithes beteAyþer on oþer dintes grete,So þat with alþer-lest[e] dintWere al to-shiuered a flint,The fight lasts from morn to night.2668So was bi-twenenhema fiht,Fro þe morwen ner to þe niht,So þat þei nouth nebl[u]nne,*Til þat to sette bigan þe sunne.Godrich wounds Ubbe sorely.2672Þo yaf godrich þorw þe sideVbbe a wunde ful un-ride,So þat þorw þat ilke woundeHauede ben brouth to þe grunde,2676And his heued al of-slawen,Hugh Raven rescues him.Yif god ne were, and huwe rauen,Þat drow him fro godrich awey,And barw him so þat ilke day.2680But er he were fro godrich drawen,A thousand knights slain.Þer were a þousind knihtes slawenBi boþe halue, and mo y-nowe,Þer þe ferdes to-gidere slowe.2684Þer was swilk dreping of þe folk,The pools are full of blood.Þat on þe feld was neuere a polkÞat it ne stod of blod so ful,Þat þe strem ran intil þe hul.Godrich attacks the Danes like lightning.2688Þo tarst124bigan godrich to goVp-on þe danshe, and faste to slo,And forth rith also leuin fares,Þat neuere kines best ne spares,2692Þanne his [he] gon, for he garte alleÞe denshe men biforn him falle.He felde browne, he felde blake,Þat he mouthe ouer-take.2696Was neuere non þat mouhte þaueHise dintes, noyþer knith ne knaue,He mows them down like grass.Þat he felden so dos þe gresCOMBAT BETWEEN GODRICH AND HAVELOK.Bi-forn þe syþe þat ful sharp is.2700Hwan hauelok saw his folk so brittene,And his ferd so swiþe littene,He cam driuende up-on a stede,And bigan til him to grede,2704And seyde, “godrich, wat is þeÞat þou fare þus with me?[Fol. 218, col. 1.]And mine gode knihtes slos,Siker-like þou mis-gos.Havelok reproves Godrich,2708Þou wost ful wel, yif þu wilt wite,Þat aþelwold þe dide siteOn knes, and sweren on messe-bok,On caliz, and on [pateyn]125hok2712Þat þou hise douhter sholdest yelde,Þan she were winnan126of elde,Engelond eueril del:Godrich þe erl, þou wost it wel.and bids him perform his oaths.2716Do nu wel with-uten fiht,Yeld hire þe lond, for þat is rith.Wile ich forgiue þe þe lathe,Al mi dede and al mi wrathe,2720For y se þu art so with,And of þi bodi so god knith.”Godrich refuses.“Þat ne wile ich neuere mo,”Quoth erl godrich, “for ich shal slo2724Þe, and hire for-henge heye.I shal þrist ut þi rith eyeÞat þou lokes with on me,But þu swiþe heþen fle.”2728He grop þe swerd ut sone anon,And hew on hauelok, ful god won,He cleaves Havelok’s shield in two.So þat he clef his sheld on two:Hwan hauelok saw þat shame do2732His bodi þer bi-forn his ferd,He drow ut sone his gode swerd,Havelok smites him down.And smot him so up-on þe crune,Þat godrich fel to þe erþe adune.2736But godrich stirt up swiþe sket,Lay he nowth longe at hise fet,Godrich rises, and wounds Havelok in the shoulder.And smot him on þe sholdre so,Þat he dide þare undo2740Of his brinie ringes mo,Þan þat ich kan tellen fro;And woundede himrith inþe flesh,Þat tendre was, and swiþe nesh,2744So þat þe blod ran til his to:Havelok is enraged,Þo was hauelok swiþe wo,Þat he hauede of him drawenBlod, and so sore him slawen.2748Hertelike til him he wente,and cuts off his foe’s hand.And godrich þer fulike shente;For his swerd he hof up heye,[Fol. 218, col. 2.]And þe hand he dide of fleye,2752Þat he smot him with so sore:Hw mithe he don him shame more?123Cf. l. 1904.*The MS. readingblinneshould clearly beblunne. A few other suggestions of emendations will be found in theGlossarial Index. See the wordsArwe,Birþe,Felde,Sor,Tauhte,Þenne,Thit,Werewed,Wreken, &c. See also the suggestions in the preface, pp. xxxix, xli, xlvi, xlvii.124So in MS.Qu.faste, as in next line.125MS.here repeatsmesse,by mistake. Readpateyn. Cf. l. 187.126MS. wīman,i.e.winmanorwimman;but we are sure, froml. 174,thatwinnanis meant.GODRICH IS BOUND AND FETTERED.Hwan he hauede him so shamed,His hand of plat, and yuele lamed,2756He tok him sone bi þe neckeAls a traytour, daþeyt wo recke!He has him bound and fettered,And dide him binde and fetere welWith gode feteres al of stel,and sends him to the queen.2760And to þe quen he sende him,Þat birde wel to him ben grim;And Bad she sholde don him gete,And þat non ne sholde him bete,2764Ne shame do, for he was knith,Til knithes hauedendemd him Rith.When the English find out that Goldborough is the heiress,Þan þe englishe men þat sawe,Þat þei wisten, heye and lawe,2768Þat Goldeboru, þat was so fayr,Was of engeland rith eyr,And þat þe king hire hauede wedded,And haueden ben samen bedded,they submit to Havelok.2772He comen alle to crie merci,Vnto þe king, at one cri,And beden him sone manrede and oth,Þat he ne sholden, for lef ne loth,2776Neuere more ageyn him go,Ne ride, for wel ne for wo.THE ENGLISH SUBMIT TO GOLDBOROUGH.Þe king ne wolde nouth for-sake,Þat he ne shulde of hem take2780Manrede þat he beden, and okHold oþes swerenon þe bok;Havelok wishes to show Goldborough to the English.But or bad he, þat þider were brouthÞe quen, for hem, swilk was his þouth,2784For to se, and forto shawe,Yif þat he hire wolde knawe.Þoruth hem witenwolde he,Yif þat she aucte quen to be.Six earls fetch her in.2788Sixe erles weren sone yare,After hire for to fare.He nomen on-on, and comensone,And brouthenhire, þat under mone2792In al þe werd ne hauede per,Of hende-leik, fer ne ner.Hwan she was come þider, alleÞe englishe men bi-gunne to falle[Fol. 218b, col. 1.]2796O knes, and gretenswiþe sore,And seyden, “leuedi, k[r]istes ore,The English ask her pardon.And youres! we hauenmisdo mikel,Þat we ayen you haue be fikel,2800For englond auhte forto ben youres,And we youre menand youres.Is non of us, yung ne old,Þat we ne wot, þat aþelwold2804Was king of þis kunerike,They admit she is heiress.And ye his eyr, and þat þe swikeHaues it halden with mikel wronge:God leue him sone to honge!”GODRICH IS CONDEMNED TO BE BURNT.2808Quot127hauelok, “hwan þat ye it wite.Havelok says they must pass judgment on Godrich.Nu wile ich þat ye doun site,And after godrich haues wrouht,Þat haues in sorwe him-self brouth,2812Lokes þat ye demenhim rith,For dom ne spared128clerk ne knith,And siþen shal ich under-stondeOf you, after lawe of londe,2816Manrede, and holde oþes boþe,Yif ye it wilen, and ek rothe.”Anon þer dune he hem sette,For non þe dom ne durste lette,They say he is to be bound on an ass’s back,2820And demden him to bindenfasteVp-on an asse swiþe un-wraste,Andelong, nouht ouer-þwert,His nose went unto þe stert;taken to Lincoln,2824And so to lincolne lede,Shamelike in wicke wede,And hwan he cam un-to þe borw,Shamelike ben led þer-þoru,2828Bisouþe þe borw, un-to a grene,Þat þare is yet, als[o] y wene,bound to a stake, and burnt.And þere be bundentil a stake,Aboutenhim ful gret fir make,2832And al to dust be brend Rith þere;And yet demdenhe þer more,Oþer swikes for to warne,Þat hise childrensulde þarne2836Euere more þat eritage,Þat his was, for hise utrage.127MS. Guot. Cf. l. 1954.128Qu.spares.Hwan þe dom was demd and seyd,So he is laid on the ass, and burnt.Sket was þe swike on þe asse leyd,2840And [led vn-]til129þat ilke grene,[Fol. 218b, col. 2.]And brend til asken al bidene.Þo was Goldeboru ful bliþe,She þanked god fele syþe,2844Þat þe fule swike was brend,Þat wende wel hire bodi haue shend,Goldborough rejoices.And seyde, “nu is time to takeManrede of brune and of blake,2848Þat ich se ride[n] and go:Nu ich am wreke[n]130of mi fo.”129MS. “And him til,” which is nonsense. See l. 2827.130See l. 2992.Havelok makes the English swear fealty.Hauelok anon manrede tokOf alle englishe, on þe bok,2852And dide hem grete oþes swere,Þat he sholdenhim god feyth bereAgeyn alle þat worenliues,And þat sholde ben born of wiues.THE EARL OF CHESTER MARRIES GUNILD.2856Þanne he hauede131sikernesseTaken of more and of lesse,Al at hise wille, so dide he calleHe proposes that Earl Reyner of ChesterÞe erl of cestre, and hise men alle,2860Þat was yung knith wit-utenwif,And seyde, “sire erl, bi mi lif,And þou wile miconseyl tro,Ful wel shal ich with þe do,2864For ich shal yeue þe to wiueÞe fairest þing that is oliue.HAVELOK REMEMBERS BERTRAM’S KINDNESS.shall marry Gunild, Grim’s daughter;Þat is gunnild of grimesby,Grimes douther, bi seint dauy!2868Þat me forth broute, and wel fedde,And ut of denemark with me fledde,Me for to burwe fro mi ded:Sikerlike, þoru his red2872Haue ich liued in-to þis day,Blissed worþe his soule ay!I rede þat þu hire take,And spuse, and curteyse make,2876For she is fayr, and she is fre,And al so hende so she may be.Þertekene she is wel with me,and he will then always be his friend.Þat shal ich ful wel shewe þe,2880For ich giue þe a giue,Þat euere more hwil ich liue,For hire shal-tu be with me dere,Þat wile ich þat þis folc al here.”2884Þe erl ne wolde nouth ageynÞe king[e] be, for knith ne sweyn,[Fol. 219, col. 1.]Ne of þe spusing seyen nay,But spusede [hire] þat ilke day.2888Þat spusinge was god time maked,They are married,For it ne were neuere clad ne naked,In a þede samened twoÞat cam to-gidere, liuede so,2892So þey dide[n] al here liue:and have five sons.He geten samensones fiue,Þat were þe beste menat nede,Þat mouthe ridenon ani stede.2896Hwan gunnild was to cestre brouth,Havelok remembers Bertram, the earl’s cook,Hauelok þe gode ne for-gat nouthBertram, þat was the erles kok,Þat he ne dide callenok,2900And seyde, “frend, so god me rede!Nu shaltu haue riche mede,BERTRAM MARRIES GRIM’S SECOND DAUGHTER.For wissing, and þi gode dede,Þat tu me dides in ful gret nede.2904For þanne y yede in mi cuuel,And ich ne haue[de] bred, ne sowel,Ne y ne hauede no catel,Þou feddes and claddes me ful wel.and makes him Earl of Cornwall.2908Haue nu for-þi of cornwayleÞe erldom ildel, with-uten fayle,And al þe lond þat godrich held,Boþe in towne, and ek in feld;2912And þerto wile ich, þat þu spuse,And fayre bring hire un-til huse,He is to marry Levive, Grim’s daughter,Grimes douther, leuiue þe hende,For þider shal she with þe wende.2916Hire semes curteys forto be,For she is fayr so flour on tre;Þe heu is swilk in hire lerwho is as fair as a rose.So [is] þe rose in roser,2920Hwan it is fayr sprad ut neweAgeyn þe sunne, brith and lewe.”And girde him sone with þe swerdOf þe erldom, bi-forn his ferd,2924And with his hond he made himknith,And yaf him armes, for þat was rith,They are married.And dide him þere sone wedde2927Hire þat was ful swete in bedde.131MS. haueden.2928After þat he spused wore,Wolde þe erl nouth dwelle þore,Havelok and Goldborough lived 100 years, and had many children.But sone namuntil his lond,[Fol. 219, col. 2.]And seysed it al in his hond,2932And liuede þer-inne, he and his wif,An hundred winter in god lif,132And gaten mani childrensamen,And liueden ay in blisse and gamen.2936Hwanþe maydens were spused boþe,Hauelok anon bigan ful ratheThe Danes are enriched.His denshe men to feste welWit riche landes and catel,2940So þat he weren alle riche:For he was large and nouth chinche.132Between this line and the next are inserted in the MS. the words:For he saw þat he, which have been subsequently struck out by the same hand, and the wordvacataffixed.HAVELOK IS CROWNED KING OF ENGLAND.Þer-after sone, with his here,Havelok is crowned at London.For he to lundone, forto bere2944Corune, so þat [alle] it sawe,Henglishe ant denshe, heye and lowe,Hwou he it bar with mikel pride,For his barnage þat was un-ride.The feast lasts 40 days.2948Þe feste of his coruni[n]g133Laste[de] with gret ioyingFourti dawes, and sumdel mo;Þo bigunnen þe denshe to go2952Vn-to þe king, to aske leue,And he ne wolde hem nouth greue,The Danes return home.For he saw þat he woren yareIn-to denemark for to fare,2956But gaf hem leue sone anon,And bitauhte hem seint Johan;Ubbe is to rule Denmark.And bad ubbe, his iustise,Þat he sholde on ilke wise2960Denemark yeme and gete so,Þat no pleynte come him to.133MS. corunig.Havelok remained in England for sixty years.Hwan he wore parted alle samen,Hauelok bi-lefte wit ioie and gamen2964In engelond, and was þer-inneSixti winter king with winne,And Goldeboru quen, þat I wene:So mikel loue was hem bitwene,2968Þat al þe werd spak of hem two:He louede hire, and she him so,He and Goldborough were never apart.Þat neyþer oþe[r] mithe beFor134oþer, ne no ioie se,2972But yf he were to-gidere135boþe;Neuere yete ne werenhe wroþe,For here loue was ay newe,[Fol. 219b, col. 1.]Neuere yete wordes ne grewe2976Bitwene hem, hwar-of ne latheMithe rise, ne no wrathe.134Qu.Fro.135MS. togidede.SUCH IS THE “GESTE” OF HAVELOK.They had 15 children, all kings and queens.He geten childrenhem bi-tweneSones and douthres rith fiuetene,2980Hwar-of þe sones were kinges alle,So wolde god it sholde bifalle;And þe douhtres alle quenes:Him stondes wel þat god child strenes.Such is thegesteof Havelok and Goldborough.2984Nu haue ye herd þe gest al þoruOf hauelok and of goldeborw.Hw he werenborn, and hw fedde,And hwou he worenwith wronge ledde2988In here youþe, with trecherie,With tresoun, and with felounye,2990And hwou þe swikes hauedenthitReuen hem þat was here rith,2992And hwou he werenwreken wel,Haue ich sey you euerildel;SAY A PATERNOSTER FOR THE AUTHOR.And forþi ich wolde biseken you,Þat hauenherd þe rim[e] nu,Each of you say apater-nosterfor the author.2996Þat ilke of you, with gode wille,Seye a pater-nosterstille,For him þat haueth þe rym[e] maked,And þer-fore fele nihtes waked;3000Þat ihesu crist his soule bringeBi-forn his fader at his endinge.Amen.
119Orþare; but see l. 2954.120MS. mi. Cf. l. 2204.121MS.hasþe, ƿe, oryein both places.But see l. 1888.
119Orþare; but see l. 2954.
120MS. mi. Cf. l. 2204.
121MS.hasþe, ƿe, oryein both places.But see l. 1888.
Havelok meets them boldly,
Hauelok, þat hauede spired wel
Of here fare, eueril del,
With al his ferd cam hem a-geyn,
For-bar he noþer knith ne sweyn.
and kills the foremost knight.
Þe firste knith þat he þer mette,
With þe swerd so he him grette,
For his heued of he plette,
Wolde he nouth for sinne lette.
Robert kills a second.
Roberd saw þat dint so hende,
Wolde he neuere þeþe[n] wende,
Til þat he hauede anoþer slawen,
With þe swerd he held ut-drawen.
William disables a third.
Willamwendut his swerd vt-drow,
And þe þredde so sore he slow,
Þat he made up-on the feld
His lift arm fleye, with the swerd.122
122Cf. l. 1825. We should otherwise be tempted to readsheld; especially as theshieldis more appropriate to theleftarm.
COMBAT BETWEEN UBBE AND GODRICH.
Hugh Raven seizes his sword,
Huwe rauenne forgat nouth
Þe swerd he hauede þider brouth,
He kipte it up, and smot ful sore
An erl, þat he saw priken þore,
Ful noblelike upon a stede,
Þat with him wolde al quic wede.
and cleaves an earl’s head in two.
He smot him on þe heued so,
Þat he þe heued clef a-two,
And þat bi þe shu[l]dre-blade
Þe sharpe swerd let [he] wade,
Þorw the brest unto þe herte;
Þe dint bigan ful sore to smerte,
Þat þe erl fel dun a-non,
Al so ded so ani ston.
Ubbe attacks Godrich.
Quoth ubbe, “nu dwelle ich to longe,”
And leth his stede sone gonge
To godrich, with a god spere,
Þat he saw a-noþer bere,
And smoth godrich, and Godrichhim,
Hetelike with herte grim,
Both fall.
So þat he boþe felle dune,
To þe erþe first þe croune.
Þanne he worenfallendun boþen,
Grundlike here swerdes ut-drowen,
[Fol. 217b, col. 2.]
Þat werenswiþe sharp and gode,
They fight on foot.
And fouhten so þei worenwode,
Þat þe swot ran fro þe crune
[To the fet rith þere adune.]123
GODRICH DISPLAYS GREAT PROWESS.
Þer mouthe men se to knithes bete
Ayþer on oþer dintes grete,
So þat with alþer-lest[e] dint
Were al to-shiuered a flint,
The fight lasts from morn to night.
So was bi-twenenhema fiht,
Fro þe morwen ner to þe niht,
So þat þei nouth nebl[u]nne,*
Til þat to sette bigan þe sunne.
Godrich wounds Ubbe sorely.
Þo yaf godrich þorw þe side
Vbbe a wunde ful un-ride,
So þat þorw þat ilke wounde
Hauede ben brouth to þe grunde,
And his heued al of-slawen,
Hugh Raven rescues him.
Yif god ne were, and huwe rauen,
Þat drow him fro godrich awey,
And barw him so þat ilke day.
But er he were fro godrich drawen,
A thousand knights slain.
Þer were a þousind knihtes slawen
Bi boþe halue, and mo y-nowe,
Þer þe ferdes to-gidere slowe.
Þer was swilk dreping of þe folk,
The pools are full of blood.
Þat on þe feld was neuere a polk
Þat it ne stod of blod so ful,
Þat þe strem ran intil þe hul.
Godrich attacks the Danes like lightning.
Þo tarst124bigan godrich to go
Vp-on þe danshe, and faste to slo,
And forth rith also leuin fares,
Þat neuere kines best ne spares,
Þanne his [he] gon, for he garte alle
Þe denshe men biforn him falle.
He felde browne, he felde blake,
Þat he mouthe ouer-take.
Was neuere non þat mouhte þaue
Hise dintes, noyþer knith ne knaue,
He mows them down like grass.
Þat he felden so dos þe gres
COMBAT BETWEEN GODRICH AND HAVELOK.
Bi-forn þe syþe þat ful sharp is.
Hwan hauelok saw his folk so brittene,
And his ferd so swiþe littene,
He cam driuende up-on a stede,
And bigan til him to grede,
And seyde, “godrich, wat is þe
Þat þou fare þus with me?
[Fol. 218, col. 1.]
And mine gode knihtes slos,
Siker-like þou mis-gos.
Havelok reproves Godrich,
Þou wost ful wel, yif þu wilt wite,
Þat aþelwold þe dide site
On knes, and sweren on messe-bok,
On caliz, and on [pateyn]125hok
Þat þou hise douhter sholdest yelde,
Þan she were winnan126of elde,
Engelond eueril del:
Godrich þe erl, þou wost it wel.
and bids him perform his oaths.
Do nu wel with-uten fiht,
Yeld hire þe lond, for þat is rith.
Wile ich forgiue þe þe lathe,
Al mi dede and al mi wrathe,
For y se þu art so with,
And of þi bodi so god knith.”
Godrich refuses.
“Þat ne wile ich neuere mo,”
Quoth erl godrich, “for ich shal slo
Þe, and hire for-henge heye.
I shal þrist ut þi rith eye
Þat þou lokes with on me,
But þu swiþe heþen fle.”
He grop þe swerd ut sone anon,
And hew on hauelok, ful god won,
He cleaves Havelok’s shield in two.
So þat he clef his sheld on two:
Hwan hauelok saw þat shame do
His bodi þer bi-forn his ferd,
He drow ut sone his gode swerd,
Havelok smites him down.
And smot him so up-on þe crune,
Þat godrich fel to þe erþe adune.
But godrich stirt up swiþe sket,
Lay he nowth longe at hise fet,
Godrich rises, and wounds Havelok in the shoulder.
And smot him on þe sholdre so,
Þat he dide þare undo
Of his brinie ringes mo,
Þan þat ich kan tellen fro;
And woundede himrith inþe flesh,
Þat tendre was, and swiþe nesh,
So þat þe blod ran til his to:
Havelok is enraged,
Þo was hauelok swiþe wo,
Þat he hauede of him drawen
Blod, and so sore him slawen.
Hertelike til him he wente,
and cuts off his foe’s hand.
And godrich þer fulike shente;
For his swerd he hof up heye,
[Fol. 218, col. 2.]
And þe hand he dide of fleye,
Þat he smot him with so sore:
Hw mithe he don him shame more?
123Cf. l. 1904.*The MS. readingblinneshould clearly beblunne. A few other suggestions of emendations will be found in theGlossarial Index. See the wordsArwe,Birþe,Felde,Sor,Tauhte,Þenne,Thit,Werewed,Wreken, &c. See also the suggestions in the preface, pp. xxxix, xli, xlvi, xlvii.124So in MS.Qu.faste, as in next line.125MS.here repeatsmesse,by mistake. Readpateyn. Cf. l. 187.126MS. wīman,i.e.winmanorwimman;but we are sure, froml. 174,thatwinnanis meant.
123Cf. l. 1904.
*The MS. readingblinneshould clearly beblunne. A few other suggestions of emendations will be found in theGlossarial Index. See the wordsArwe,Birþe,Felde,Sor,Tauhte,Þenne,Thit,Werewed,Wreken, &c. See also the suggestions in the preface, pp. xxxix, xli, xlvi, xlvii.
124So in MS.Qu.faste, as in next line.
125MS.here repeatsmesse,by mistake. Readpateyn. Cf. l. 187.
126MS. wīman,i.e.winmanorwimman;but we are sure, froml. 174,thatwinnanis meant.
GODRICH IS BOUND AND FETTERED.
Hwan he hauede him so shamed,
His hand of plat, and yuele lamed,
He tok him sone bi þe necke
Als a traytour, daþeyt wo recke!
He has him bound and fettered,
And dide him binde and fetere wel
With gode feteres al of stel,
and sends him to the queen.
And to þe quen he sende him,
Þat birde wel to him ben grim;
And Bad she sholde don him gete,
And þat non ne sholde him bete,
Ne shame do, for he was knith,
Til knithes hauedendemd him Rith.
When the English find out that Goldborough is the heiress,
Þan þe englishe men þat sawe,
Þat þei wisten, heye and lawe,
Þat Goldeboru, þat was so fayr,
Was of engeland rith eyr,
And þat þe king hire hauede wedded,
And haueden ben samen bedded,
they submit to Havelok.
He comen alle to crie merci,
Vnto þe king, at one cri,
And beden him sone manrede and oth,
Þat he ne sholden, for lef ne loth,
Neuere more ageyn him go,
Ne ride, for wel ne for wo.
THE ENGLISH SUBMIT TO GOLDBOROUGH.
Þe king ne wolde nouth for-sake,
Þat he ne shulde of hem take
Manrede þat he beden, and ok
Hold oþes swerenon þe bok;
Havelok wishes to show Goldborough to the English.
But or bad he, þat þider were brouth
Þe quen, for hem, swilk was his þouth,
For to se, and forto shawe,
Yif þat he hire wolde knawe.
Þoruth hem witenwolde he,
Yif þat she aucte quen to be.
Six earls fetch her in.
Sixe erles weren sone yare,
After hire for to fare.
He nomen on-on, and comensone,
And brouthenhire, þat under mone
In al þe werd ne hauede per,
Of hende-leik, fer ne ner.
Hwan she was come þider, alle
Þe englishe men bi-gunne to falle
[Fol. 218b, col. 1.]
O knes, and gretenswiþe sore,
And seyden, “leuedi, k[r]istes ore,
The English ask her pardon.
And youres! we hauenmisdo mikel,
Þat we ayen you haue be fikel,
For englond auhte forto ben youres,
And we youre menand youres.
Is non of us, yung ne old,
Þat we ne wot, þat aþelwold
Was king of þis kunerike,
They admit she is heiress.
And ye his eyr, and þat þe swike
Haues it halden with mikel wronge:
God leue him sone to honge!”
GODRICH IS CONDEMNED TO BE BURNT.
Quot127hauelok, “hwan þat ye it wite.
Havelok says they must pass judgment on Godrich.
Nu wile ich þat ye doun site,
And after godrich haues wrouht,
Þat haues in sorwe him-self brouth,
Lokes þat ye demenhim rith,
For dom ne spared128clerk ne knith,
And siþen shal ich under-stonde
Of you, after lawe of londe,
Manrede, and holde oþes boþe,
Yif ye it wilen, and ek rothe.”
Anon þer dune he hem sette,
For non þe dom ne durste lette,
They say he is to be bound on an ass’s back,
And demden him to bindenfaste
Vp-on an asse swiþe un-wraste,
Andelong, nouht ouer-þwert,
His nose went unto þe stert;
taken to Lincoln,
And so to lincolne lede,
Shamelike in wicke wede,
And hwan he cam un-to þe borw,
Shamelike ben led þer-þoru,
Bisouþe þe borw, un-to a grene,
Þat þare is yet, als[o] y wene,
bound to a stake, and burnt.
And þere be bundentil a stake,
Aboutenhim ful gret fir make,
And al to dust be brend Rith þere;
And yet demdenhe þer more,
Oþer swikes for to warne,
Þat hise childrensulde þarne
Euere more þat eritage,
Þat his was, for hise utrage.
127MS. Guot. Cf. l. 1954.128Qu.spares.
127MS. Guot. Cf. l. 1954.
128Qu.spares.
Hwan þe dom was demd and seyd,
So he is laid on the ass, and burnt.
Sket was þe swike on þe asse leyd,
And [led vn-]til129þat ilke grene,
[Fol. 218b, col. 2.]
And brend til asken al bidene.
Þo was Goldeboru ful bliþe,
She þanked god fele syþe,
Þat þe fule swike was brend,
Þat wende wel hire bodi haue shend,
Goldborough rejoices.
And seyde, “nu is time to take
Manrede of brune and of blake,
Þat ich se ride[n] and go:
Nu ich am wreke[n]130of mi fo.”
129MS. “And him til,” which is nonsense. See l. 2827.130See l. 2992.
129MS. “And him til,” which is nonsense. See l. 2827.
130See l. 2992.
Havelok makes the English swear fealty.
Hauelok anon manrede tok
Of alle englishe, on þe bok,
And dide hem grete oþes swere,
Þat he sholdenhim god feyth bere
Ageyn alle þat worenliues,
And þat sholde ben born of wiues.
THE EARL OF CHESTER MARRIES GUNILD.
Þanne he hauede131sikernesse
Taken of more and of lesse,
Al at hise wille, so dide he calle
He proposes that Earl Reyner of Chester
Þe erl of cestre, and hise men alle,
Þat was yung knith wit-utenwif,
And seyde, “sire erl, bi mi lif,
And þou wile miconseyl tro,
Ful wel shal ich with þe do,
For ich shal yeue þe to wiue
Þe fairest þing that is oliue.
HAVELOK REMEMBERS BERTRAM’S KINDNESS.
shall marry Gunild, Grim’s daughter;
Þat is gunnild of grimesby,
Grimes douther, bi seint dauy!
Þat me forth broute, and wel fedde,
And ut of denemark with me fledde,
Me for to burwe fro mi ded:
Sikerlike, þoru his red
Haue ich liued in-to þis day,
Blissed worþe his soule ay!
I rede þat þu hire take,
And spuse, and curteyse make,
For she is fayr, and she is fre,
And al so hende so she may be.
Þertekene she is wel with me,
and he will then always be his friend.
Þat shal ich ful wel shewe þe,
For ich giue þe a giue,
Þat euere more hwil ich liue,
For hire shal-tu be with me dere,
Þat wile ich þat þis folc al here.”
Þe erl ne wolde nouth ageyn
Þe king[e] be, for knith ne sweyn,
[Fol. 219, col. 1.]
Ne of þe spusing seyen nay,
But spusede [hire] þat ilke day.
Þat spusinge was god time maked,
They are married,
For it ne were neuere clad ne naked,
In a þede samened two
Þat cam to-gidere, liuede so,
So þey dide[n] al here liue:
and have five sons.
He geten samensones fiue,
Þat were þe beste menat nede,
Þat mouthe ridenon ani stede.
Hwan gunnild was to cestre brouth,
Havelok remembers Bertram, the earl’s cook,
Hauelok þe gode ne for-gat nouth
Bertram, þat was the erles kok,
Þat he ne dide callenok,
And seyde, “frend, so god me rede!
Nu shaltu haue riche mede,
BERTRAM MARRIES GRIM’S SECOND DAUGHTER.
For wissing, and þi gode dede,
Þat tu me dides in ful gret nede.
For þanne y yede in mi cuuel,
And ich ne haue[de] bred, ne sowel,
Ne y ne hauede no catel,
Þou feddes and claddes me ful wel.
and makes him Earl of Cornwall.
Haue nu for-þi of cornwayle
Þe erldom ildel, with-uten fayle,
And al þe lond þat godrich held,
Boþe in towne, and ek in feld;
And þerto wile ich, þat þu spuse,
And fayre bring hire un-til huse,
He is to marry Levive, Grim’s daughter,
Grimes douther, leuiue þe hende,
For þider shal she with þe wende.
Hire semes curteys forto be,
For she is fayr so flour on tre;
Þe heu is swilk in hire ler
who is as fair as a rose.
So [is] þe rose in roser,
Hwan it is fayr sprad ut newe
Ageyn þe sunne, brith and lewe.”
And girde him sone with þe swerd
Of þe erldom, bi-forn his ferd,
And with his hond he made himknith,
And yaf him armes, for þat was rith,
They are married.
And dide him þere sone wedde
Hire þat was ful swete in bedde.
131MS. haueden.
After þat he spused wore,
Wolde þe erl nouth dwelle þore,
Havelok and Goldborough lived 100 years, and had many children.
But sone namuntil his lond,
[Fol. 219, col. 2.]
And seysed it al in his hond,
And liuede þer-inne, he and his wif,
An hundred winter in god lif,132
And gaten mani childrensamen,
And liueden ay in blisse and gamen.
Hwanþe maydens were spused boþe,
Hauelok anon bigan ful rathe
The Danes are enriched.
His denshe men to feste wel
Wit riche landes and catel,
So þat he weren alle riche:
For he was large and nouth chinche.
132Between this line and the next are inserted in the MS. the words:For he saw þat he, which have been subsequently struck out by the same hand, and the wordvacataffixed.
HAVELOK IS CROWNED KING OF ENGLAND.
Þer-after sone, with his here,
Havelok is crowned at London.
For he to lundone, forto bere
Corune, so þat [alle] it sawe,
Henglishe ant denshe, heye and lowe,
Hwou he it bar with mikel pride,
For his barnage þat was un-ride.
The feast lasts 40 days.
Þe feste of his coruni[n]g133
Laste[de] with gret ioying
Fourti dawes, and sumdel mo;
Þo bigunnen þe denshe to go
Vn-to þe king, to aske leue,
And he ne wolde hem nouth greue,
The Danes return home.
For he saw þat he woren yare
In-to denemark for to fare,
But gaf hem leue sone anon,
And bitauhte hem seint Johan;
Ubbe is to rule Denmark.
And bad ubbe, his iustise,
Þat he sholde on ilke wise
Denemark yeme and gete so,
Þat no pleynte come him to.
133MS. corunig.
Havelok remained in England for sixty years.
Hwan he wore parted alle samen,
Hauelok bi-lefte wit ioie and gamen
In engelond, and was þer-inne
Sixti winter king with winne,
And Goldeboru quen, þat I wene:
So mikel loue was hem bitwene,
Þat al þe werd spak of hem two:
He louede hire, and she him so,
He and Goldborough were never apart.
Þat neyþer oþe[r] mithe be
For134oþer, ne no ioie se,
But yf he were to-gidere135boþe;
Neuere yete ne werenhe wroþe,
For here loue was ay newe,
[Fol. 219b, col. 1.]
Neuere yete wordes ne grewe
Bitwene hem, hwar-of ne lathe
Mithe rise, ne no wrathe.
134Qu.Fro.135MS. togidede.
134Qu.Fro.
135MS. togidede.
SUCH IS THE “GESTE” OF HAVELOK.
They had 15 children, all kings and queens.
He geten childrenhem bi-twene
Sones and douthres rith fiuetene,
Hwar-of þe sones were kinges alle,
So wolde god it sholde bifalle;
And þe douhtres alle quenes:
Him stondes wel þat god child strenes.
Such is thegesteof Havelok and Goldborough.
Nu haue ye herd þe gest al þoru
Of hauelok and of goldeborw.
Hw he werenborn, and hw fedde,
And hwou he worenwith wronge ledde
In here youþe, with trecherie,
With tresoun, and with felounye,
And hwou þe swikes hauedenthit
Reuen hem þat was here rith,
And hwou he werenwreken wel,
Haue ich sey you euerildel;
SAY A PATERNOSTER FOR THE AUTHOR.
And forþi ich wolde biseken you,
Þat hauenherd þe rim[e] nu,
Each of you say apater-nosterfor the author.
Þat ilke of you, with gode wille,
Seye a pater-nosterstille,
For him þat haueth þe rym[e] maked,
And þer-fore fele nihtes waked;
Þat ihesu crist his soule bringe
Bi-forn his fader at his endinge.
Amen.