Arthur | Page 9

[th]y lyf,
Fulfylle [th]ys wy_t_houte stryff." 232
[Arthur's Answer to Lucius.]
The Britons When [th]is lettre was open & rad;?purpose to kill [Th]e bretoun_s & all_e_ men wer_e mad, the messengers, And wolde [th]e messager scle:--?but Arthur "Nay," seyd Arthour, "per de, 236 forbids it, That were a[gh]enst alle kynde,
A messager to bete or bynde;
y charge alle men here
for to make ham good chere." 240
And after Mete sanz fayl
Wy[th] hys lordes he hadde cou_n_sayl;
And alle asented [th]er to,
and resolves to Arthour to Rome scholde go; 244
invade Rome. And [th]ey ne wolde in hys trauayle
Wy[th] strenk[th] & good neuer fayle.
Than Arthour_ wroot to Rome a l_ettre,
Was sentence was som_m-what bytter_e, 248
And sayde i_n_ [th]is manere
As [gh]e may hure here:--
L_ite_ra Reg_is "Knowe[th] well_e_ [gh]e of Romayne,?Arthuri._ Y am kyng Arthour of Bretayne. 252 Arthur's answer Frau_n_ce, y haue conquered hyt,?to the Emperor Y schall_e_ defende & kepe hyt [Gh]ut, [Fol. 44,
Lucius, Y come to Rome, as y am tryw, col. 2.]
claiming tribute To take my trybut (.) to me dywe, 256
from him. But noon [th]ere-for to paye,
By my werk [gh]e schall_e_ asay;
For [th]e Emperour Constantyne
[Th]at was [th]e Soone of Elyne, 260
[Th]at was a Breton_e_ of [th]is lond,
Con_quered Rome w_y_t_h hys hond,
And so [gh]e owe[th] me tribut:
Y charge [gh]ow [th]at [gh]e pay me hyt. 264
Also Maximian kyng of Bretaigne
Co[_n_]quered al frau_n_ce & Almayne,
Lombardye Rome & ytalye--

[The Messenger's Report of Arthur.]

By [gh]oure bokis [gh]e may a-spye.