652

Zupitza.

with  alle  his  lordis
5  to  liave  a  counsayll
som  remedye
ag-eyn  the  malys
wrouht  by  tbe  Danys
13  Off  al  the  lond
remedye
pryncys,  barouns,
in  that  cyte
5  hap  and  ffortune
ther  liope  turned
knyg'hthood  of  armes
so  destitute
14  In  tliat  party
redres  to  ffynde
Mars  set  a  bak
tlius  stood  the  lond
5  strong  wer  the  Danys
kyng  Ethelstan
held  with  his  lordis
to  ffynde  a  mene
15  By  grace  of  god
recure  to  ffynde
breeffly  to  teile:
benbassatrie
5  streyghtly  driven
the  kyng  of  Denmark
or  under  tribute
as  a  sojet,
16  Or  ellis  pleynly
kyng  Ethelstan
with  Colybrond
day  assigned
5  ffor  to  darreyne
who  slial  rejoisshe
to  holde  a  septre
and  liave  poscessioun
17  The  kyng,  the  lordis
13,  2  Cäsur  hinter  schapen  Hs,

of  hih  and  louhe  degre
at  Wynchestre  the  cyte
in  all  haste  to  provyde
and  ffurious  cruelte
in  ther  marcyal  pride.
gadryd  were  the  statys
to  schapen  in  tliis  mateere:
bysshopis  and  prelatys
assembled  wern  in  ffeere.
schewyd  hem  lievy  cheere,
to  dysesperaunce.
had  lost  the  maneere:
they  were  of  spere  and  launce.
was  no  remedye,
nor  consolacyoun.
all  ther  chevalrye:
in  desolacyoun.
proud  by  ambucioun.
by  constreynt  and  distresse
a  counsayll  in  that  toun
his  myschef  to  redresse,
how  this  myht  ben  amendyd
of  ther  adversyte.
they  were  thus  condescendyd
or  mene  of  som  tretee
off  necessyte
with  homage  for  to  queme
to  liave  this  liberte,
rejoysshe  his  dyademe,
of  partyes  covenaunt
for  hym  to  ffynde  a  knyght
of  Denmark,  the  geauiit,
to  entre  with  hym  in  ffyght
atween  hem  to  the  right,
with  strong  and  myhty  liond
by  manhood  and  by  myght
in  quyete  of  this  londe;
beyng  there  present