Mc< Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924096849702 V \^^mw^ In compliance with current copyright law, Cornell University Library produced this replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Standard Z39.48-1992 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. 2003 BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Henrg m. Sage 1S91 i/^//^ I.; in Btgarre. g)ire ©eprre ^ iHetrtml B^omame ^f tje enti of d)e 'Ct)irteenti) Century. ("i. JDoc|<:i^-'C: (^1 i , v^r'/'wi-. !i- c:, I eijinburgl^: jK.i9eeexs.)!x. /\. \ 1.^1^ I KDINBimOH: ALEX. LAUIirE AND CO. PRINTETIS TO HJCR MAJBSTY. te'3lc^ PRESENTED TO THE MEMBERS OF mt mumovn eittti AS A CONTRIBUTION FROM THE LATE ^IS^iiaatn Urnrsi Milltv, (B^qnivt, OF CKAIGENTINNY. CJe ^bljotsforti Cluli. MARCH, M.PCCC.XLIX. RI&HT HON. JOHN HOPE, LOED JUSTIOE-CLERK. RI&HT HON. THE EARL OF ABERDEEN. ADAM ANDERSON, ESQ. DAVID BALFOUR, ESQ. CHARLES BAXTER, ESQ. ROBERT BELL, ESQ. ROBERT BLACKWOOD, ESQ. BINDON BLOOD, ESQ. BERIAH BOTFIELD, ESQ. JAMES BURN, ESQ. HON. HENRY COCKBURN, LORD COOKBURN. JOHN PAYNE COLLIER, ESQ. THOMAS CONSTABLE, ESQ. JAMES CROSSLEY, ESQ. JAMES DENNISTOUN, ESQ. JOHN DUNN, ESQ. JOSEPH WALTER KING EYTON, ESQ. HON. JOHN HAY FORBES, LORD MEDWYN. HON. JAMES IVORY, LORD IVORY. HON. FRANCIS JEFFREY^ LORD JEFFREY. JAMES KINNEAR, ESQ. GEORGE RITCHIE KINLOCH, ESQ. DAVID LAING, ESQ. HENRY LIDDELL, ESQ. JAMES LUCAS, ESQ. JOHN WHITEFOORD MACKENZIE, ESQ. ALEXANDER MACONOCHIE, ESQ. JAMES MAOKNIGHT, ESQ. Treasurer. JAMES MAIDMENT, ESQ. WILLIAM HENRY MILLER, ESQ. (Deceased.) THEODORE MARTIN, ESQ. Secretary. REV. JAMES MORTON, B.D. ROBERT NASMYTH, ESQ. ROBERT PITOAIRN, ESQ. RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF POWIS. JOHN ROBERTSON, ESQ. RIGHT HON. ANDREW RUTHERFURD, LORD ADVOCATE. ERSKINE DOUGLAS SANDFORD, ESQ. JOHN SMITH, ESQ. LL.D. (Deceased.) WILLIAM B. D. D. TURNBULL, ESQ. EDWARD VERNON UTTERSON, ESQ. PATRICK WARNER, ESQ. RIGHT HON. SIR GEORGE WARRENDER, BART. (Deceased.) PREFACE. THE Historian of English Poetry has included SIRE DEGARRE among the popular Metrical Romances which appeared in England about the end of the Thirteenth Century ; and there seems to be no just ground for calling this opinion in question. The well-known Auchin- LECK Manuscript, preserved in the Advocates Library, is usually ascribed to the middle of the Fourteenth Century, and it furnishes the earliest and most perfect copy of this Romance, which has been discovered. As hitherto unpublished, it was considered that an accurate edition of the text from that Manuscript, with the defects and the various readings supplied from the more recent copies, might form an acceptable contribution to the Members of the Abbotsford Club. Of the later copies of this Romance, the one most entitled to notice is preserved in a Manuscript volume of the Fifteenth Century, among Bishop More's MSS. in the University Library, Cambridge. Although it contains only the first 602 lines, it serves to supply some of the deficiencies in the Auchinleck Manuscript. The late learned Archdeacon Todd, in his " Dlus- X PEEFAOE. trations of Gower and Chaucer,"^ has described a fragment on two leaves, containing 160 lines of this Romance, as forming part of a Manuscript supposed to be of the Fourteenth Century, now the property of the Earl of Ellesmere ; but the volume, at present, is unfortunately not acces- sible. A fourth copy, but probably of very little importance, is contained in Bishop Percy's Manuscript.^ The Romance of SYR DEGORE also exists in a printed form ; and three editions, printed in black letter, serve to attest its popularity dur- ing the Sixteenth Century, in England. These editions, which are probably of equal rarity, are much inferior in intrinsic value to the older Manu- scripts. The earliest is one without date, printed by Wynkyn de Worde, 4to. 18 leaves, described in Dibdin's Typographical Antiquities,^ and supposed to be unique. A mutilated transcript, apparently from this edition, made in the year 1564, is in the Douce collection in the Bodleian Library, Oxford. Among Selden's books, in that Library, there is a copy of the edition printed at London by John King, in the year 1560, 4to. 16 leaves.* The similar edition without date, but probably about 1545, " imprynted by Wyllyam Copland," 4to. 16 leaves, is preserved in the Garrick collection, in the British Museum.s No second copy of either of these editions has occurred for sale. That of Copland's was reprinted by E. V. Utterson, Esq. in his valuable and interesting collection entitled " Select Pieces of Early Popular Poetry, reprinted from the Black letter." London, 1817, 2 vols. 8vo. 1 It should evidently be regarded in no other Hght than as an inaccurate transcript from one of the black letter editions, with the name corrupted to " Sir Degree."" — (Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, edit. 1793, vol. iii. p. xli.) 2 Page 167. Lond. 1810, 8vo. and 4to. 3 Vol. ii. p. 376. * Dibdin's Typographical Antiquities, vol. iv. p. 338. 5 /J. vol. iii. p. 164. PEEFACE. xi Mr George Ellis, in his " Specimens of Early English Metrical Romances," has given an elaborate analysis, and selected passages of Sir Degore. The more concise outline of the story, by Warton, may here be given, as a suitable introduction to the Romance itself. " Sye Degoee is a Romance perhaps belonging to the same period, (with the Romances of Pris, enumerated by Chaucer.) After his education under a hermit, Sir Degore' s first adventure is against a dragon. This horrible monster is marked with the hand of a master : — " Degore went furth his waye, Through a forest half a daye : He herd no man, nor sawe none, Tyll yt past the hygh none, Then herd he grete strokes falle, That yt made grete noyse with alle. Full sone he thoght that to se, To wete what the strokes myght be : There was an erle, both stout and gaye, He was come ther that same daye, For to hunt for a dere or a do, But hys houndes were gone him fro. Then was ther a dragon grete and grymme, Full of fyre and also venymme, Wyth a wyde throte and tuskes grete, Uppon that knygte fast gan he bete. And as a lyon then was hys feete, Hys tayle was long, and full unmeete : Betwene hys head and hys tayle Was xxii fote withouten fayle ; Hys body was lyke a wyne tonne. He shone ful bryght agaynst the sunne : xii PEEFAOE. Hys eyen were bright as any glasse, His scales were hard as any brasse ; And therto he was necked lyke a horse, He bare hys hed up wyth grete force ; The breth of hys mouth that did out blow As yt had been a fyre on lowe. He was to loke on, as I you telle, As yt had bene a fiende of helle. Many a man he had shent. And many a horse he had rente.''^ " As the Minstrel profession became a science, and the audience grew more civilised, refinements began to be studied, and the romantic poet sought to gain new attention, and to recommend his story by giving it the advantage of a plan. Most of the old Metrical Romances are, from their nature, sup- posed to be incoherent rhapsodies. Yet many of them have a regular integrity, in which every part contributes to produce an intended end. Through various obstacles and difficulties one point is kept in view, till the final and general catastrophe is brought about by a pleasing and unexpected surprise. As a specimen of the rest, and as it lies in a narrow compass, I will develope the plan of the fable now before us, which preserves at least a coincidence of events, and an uniformity of design. " A King's daughter of England, extremely beautiful, is solicited in mar- riage by numerous potentates of various kingdoms. The King her father vows, that of all these suitors, that champion alone shall win his daughter who can unhorse him at a tournament. This they all attempt, but in vain. 1 This extract, it will be observed, varies considerably from the printed text, lines 333 to 354. PREFACE. xiii The King every year assisted at an anniverisary mass for the soul of his de- ceased queen, who was interred in an abbey at some distance from his castle. In the journey thither, the Princess strays from her damsels in a solitary forest : she is discovered by a Knight in rich armour, who by many solicitations i prevails over her chastity, and, at parting, gives her a sword without a point, which he charges her to keep safe ; together with a pair of gloves, which will fit no hands but her own.' At length she finds the road to her father's castle, where, after some time, to avoid discovery, she is secretly delivered of a boy. Soon after the delivery, the Princess having carefully placed the child in a cradle, with twenty pounds in gold, ten pounds in silver, the gloves given her by the strange Knight, and a letter, consigns him to one of her maidens, who carries him by night, and leaves him in a wood near a hermi- tage, which she discerned by the light of the moon. The Hermit in the morning discovers the child ; reads the letter, by which it appears that the gloves will fit no lady but the boy's mother, educates him till he is twenty years of age, and at parting gives him the gloves found with him in the cradle, telling him that they will fit no lady but his own mother. The youth, who is called Degore, sets forward to seek adventures, and saves an Earl from a terrible dragon, which he kills. The Earl invites him to his palace, dubs him a knight, gives him a horse and armour, and ofiers him half his territory. Sir Degore refuses to accept this ofier, unless the gloves, which he had received from his foster-father the Hermit, will fit any lady of his court. All 1 " Grieves were antiently a costly article of dress, and richly decorated. They were sometimes adorned with precious stones. Rot. Pip. an. 53. Henr. iii. [A.D. 1267.] " Et de i. pectine auri cum lapidibus pretiosis ponderant. xliiis. et ind. ob. Et de ii. paribus chirothecarum cum LAPIDIBUS." This golden comb, set with jewels, realises the wonders of romance." xiv PREFACE. the ladies of the Earl's court are called before him, and among the rest the Earl's daughter, but upon trial the gloves will fit none of them. He there- fore takes leave of the Earl, proceeds on his adventures, and meets with a large train of knights ; he is informed that they were going to tourney with the King of England, who had promised his daughter to that knight who could conquer him in single combat. They tell him of the many barons and earls whom the king had foiled in several trials. Sir Degore, however, enters the lists, overthrows the King, and obtains the Princess. As the Knight is a perfect stranger, she submits to her father's commands with much reluctance. He marries her ; but in the midst of the solemnities which preceded the consummation, recollects the gloves which the Hermit had given him, and proposes to make an experiment with them on the hands of his bride. The Princess, on seeing the gloves, changed colour, claimed them for her own, and drew them on with the greatest ease. She declares to Sir Degore that she was his mother, and gives him an account of his birth : she told him that the Knight his father gave her a pointless sword, which was to be delivered to no person but the son that should be born of their stolen embraces. Sir Degore draws the sword, and contemplates its breadth and length with wonder : is suddenly seized with a desire of finding out his father. He sets forward on this search, and on his way enters a castle, where he is entertained at supper by fifteen beautiful damsels. The lady of the castle invites him to her bed, but in vain ; and he is lulled asleep by the sound of a harp. Various artifices are used to divert him from his pursuit, and the lady even engages him to encounter a giant in her cause.^ 1 " All the Eomances have such an obstacle as this. They have all an enchantress who detains the knight from his quest by objects of pleasure ; and who is nothing more than the Calypso of Homer, the Dido of Virgil, and the Armida of Tasso." PREFACE. XV But Sir Degore rejects all her temptations, and pursues his journey. In a forest he meets a Knight richly accoutred, who demands the reason why Sir Degore presumed to enter his forest without permission. A combat ensues. In the midst of the contest, the combatants being both unhorsed, the strange Knight observing the sword of his adversary not only to be remarkably long and broad, but without a point, begs a truce for a moment. He fits the sword to a point which he had always kept, and which had formerly broken off in an encounter with a giant ; and by this circumstance discovers Sir Degore to be his son. They both return into England, and Sir Degore's father is married to the Princess his mother." Mr Utterson, whose opinion in such matters is of great weight, is inclined to think that the title of the Romance denotes its French origin, " the name being, if correctly spelt, D'Egare, or L'Egare, a person almost lost." In the printed copies the language is much corrupted and modernized, and, as that gentleman observes, the name " is occasionally used as two syllables, so as to rhime with ' before.' " In regard to the age of its composition, he says — " Both Warton and Ellis admit its high antiquity, as they concur in assign- ing its probable date to the beginning of the Fourteenth Century. In fact, the narrative itself affords some internal evidence of the period when it was com- posed, by speaking (at 1. 703,) of the " shone croked as a knighte." ^ The crooked or horned shoe was introduced in the reign of Wm. Rufus, and appears then to have been confined to the gentry. Strutt however supposes that this fashion did not long keep its ground ; but, he says, it was afterwards revived, and even carried to a more preposterous extent than before. He is however of opinion that the long piked shoes were not worn later than the beginning or middle of the Fifteenth Century. 1 In the present edition, (line 790,) it reads, " His schon i-couped as a knight." xvi PREFACE. " There are two printed copies of this Romance known to be in existence ; one is in the Bodleian Library, 4to. Selden C, 39. The title is over a wood- cut of a knight on horseback at full gallop ; beneath is the date MDLX. It was printed by John King. The other (from which this reprint is taken) is in the Garrick Collection of old plays, in the British Museum, and was printed by Copland, in 4to. without date. In the title-page is a wood-cut, of which the vignette here given is a reduced fac-simile,i and which was frequently used by the Coplands : it occurs in the History of Arthur and his Knights, printed by W. Copland in 1557. A wood-cut, so similar to this as scarcely to be distinguished from it, is also to be found in the old French Romance of Theseus de Coulogne, folio, Paris, 1534." In comparing the older Manuscript and printed texts, it will be found that, exclusive of the 42 lines of conclusion, where the Auchinleck Manuscript is defective, while the former extends to 1073 lines, the Latter contains only 951 lines. The various readings of the Cambridge Manuscript are subjoined from a transcript obligingly communicated to the Editor by J. O. Halliwell, Esq. Accurate fac-similes of the title-page, and of the wood-cuts, illustrative of the Romance, which are introduced at the several divisions of Wynkyn de Worde's edition, accompany this Prefatory Notice ; and it is only necessary to remark that the text presents no material variation from that of Copland's edition, as reprinted by Mr Utterson. August 1848. I A fac-simile of this spirited vignette is given in the title-page of the present volume. [ xvii ] The unique copy of Ste Degoee, imprinted by Wynkyn de Worde, was one of the many volumes of Early English Poetry which the late Mr Millee of Craigentinny acquired in 1834, at the dispersion of Mr Heber's Library. The Volume was brought by Me Millee to Scot- land last autumn, but his subsequent illness and decease rendered the delay in the publication unavoidable. The following fae-similes have been executed by Mr Netherclift from the original Romance. They exhibit most faithful copies of the title and wood- cuts of Wynkyn de Worde's Edition. In thus carrying Me Millee's wishes and intentions into effect, it is hoped this Volume will be regarded as a pleasing memorial of his devoted attach- ment to our Early Poetical Literature. March 1849. ^<^ii|i^ ej^v^^tfs^ 4 gentpu tau tcU ^ou 31 tbpll iii^r I(n^(sl)te0 of t^tscountcee ^at §at^ tcauapUD beptmDet^e fee (QPo (jeineaucntuced bot^enrs^t^Dapc 3lnDI)oto t^ef mps^t tl?ep^ ttteiig^ afCai? Kl0 O^Dc a ttnpQi^t ^i«e nam^ loasTp^l^ego^e i^neoftl)ebeac^atii}asfountie^^m before ^omcpmc tn (f nglonbe ctiece loa^ a Hpng^ ^ noble man of manere in all tbpnge ^toutetnarrmeano bnOfcf^H&e jfttU mot^t Doubteb in batapU ano UUse ; C(jet^ liia0no man tban beramente Cba J ruttb ^pm j^uiko in mcmcntc iiH)at one of bi0 llp^opc mpii^t b^pnge ^10 fote l^etbadl'Oil&congctoitbouc Doubtei Ci)e Hpngel^aD nocbploecn but one SSboag^tcrais H)^pce a^ tol^aiiee bone C^at mapDen ^e loaeD a$ 610 Ipfe l^es mooet; loas oeeo tbc quene im ttipfe 31tt twuapu ofcljpiDc ftcDpeo alas 29ut tu^an tbat mapben of aes^e.ibas I^pa£(e0 Cone^^ei; ipoo^b t^en €mpecout;e( SDutteeanOot^etrmen Co oaue tbat mapoenin macpagc foi loue of Ijec gwtc b^cptage 2Sut tban tbe fcptigcbpbE rb^m anfu>ece Cbacno man ^oibel]i}eDb(>bct; ?3utpf tljat^empiX^tttJitl) ftoutc ^luftpnge iC&cf(pn$e oucoEbi0 TaDpil b^pnge anno DovdnebprnioCebis G;m9tivajQ ^anp one aflTapeo ano mpg^ i; nought Db ^JH^ra (n Bego^etpcDdeD ^t£( mom e^eltf gr0 t)0U3l)tet; of Cngtontie/atiD OoVbe^me is^wvotf '\\Ju^£^JSa ^ B H si vtvjS^I^^^ H tels^ <~»i iTTna 8^ i^ml HHtM/^OiTi ^ffSjnlH ImI^ 1 ^ 1 ^U)tt)aniieD be goo t^an faj^D t^c k^nge j=o^ noYCie 31 tooce iDit^out urpage 11)1)0 (0 fi?}r Bcgp^es faoet in ocoe C^c lab^ fi»one2)(nt^at fieoe C^^i^npQ^ttDeO&eb t^dtlatip ^l}eanO()ct;tbn«))}a9Depatteb3[tn)pnne Jo;if ^ tlKnne ttente (pj ocgo^e Hjft^ t^e fepngeant §i« mepnc ipi0 fabec ano ^is moDct tm l^nto t^er cAi^^n tDtv tx^mtt in fece iC^at ^^^ab xootim in ft>g^ Ipnti tti^Dbeti \^tv toict^ gtete OoUniprvpc< 23efo^e all tlje lo^es of ttjat counter fC^us came t^f toipg^c out of (^t5 care (^00 gpue t!S gtaceubeii to tats ^nt t^at toe all bpon Domes Dap come to t^e bl^ITe tt^ac ladec^ ap* CC^us enDet^ t^r tteatpfe oUn ^eqm . (Cn* p^pnteoatXlonDonln jfiete ftreteat (tjerpgneoC t^e fornix Df xoy nUpn De XDo^De* ^^^$^ ^^ ixt ©egarre. ^ixt Begarre* [Lystenyth Loebinges, gent and pre', Y WYLL YOW TELLE OF SiKE DeGARE.] KNIZT[ES that were fome tyme iu londe,] Ferli fele wolde fonde And fechen aventouris,: bi rust and dai, How she miste'liere ftrengthe afai ; So did a Knyst Sire Degarree, Ich wille sou telle wat man was he. in Litel Bretaygne was a King Of gret poer in alle thing, Stif in armes vnder ffcheld, And mochel i-douted in the feld ; 10 Ther was no man verrament That mist in werre, ne in tornament, Ne in juftes, for no thing, Him out of his fadel bring, Ne out of his ftirope bringe his fot. So ftron[g] he was of bon and blod. This Kyng he hadde none hair ^^^ But a maiden child, fre and fair, Here gentireffe, and here beaute. Was moche renound in ich countre ; 20 2 ^ivt ^t^uvvt* This Maiden he loued als his Hf, Of hire was ded the Quene his wif, In trauailing here hfe she les. And tho the maidpn of age wes, Kynges fones to him fpeke, Emperours, and dukes eke, To hauen his doughter in mariage, For loue of here heritagg''»^w i'^'' ' Ac the Kyng anfwered euer That no man ffchall here halven euer 30 But sif he mai in turneying Him out of his fadel bring, And maken him lefen hife ftiropes bayne. [Many afayd, and myght not gayne. That ryche Kynge every sere wolde A folempne fafte make and holde. On hys wyvys mynnyng day, That was beryed in an Abbay. In a forefbe there befyde, With grete meyne he wolde ryde,] 40 Hire dirige do, and maffe bothe, Poure men fede, and naked clothe ; Ofiring brenge gret plente. And fede the couent with gret daynte : Towar the Abbai als he com ride. And mani knystes hi his fide. His Doughter alfo hi him rod, Amidde the foreft hii abod ; Here chaumberleyn she clepede hire to, And other dammaifeles two, 50 And feide, that hii mofle aliste. To don here nedes and hire riste. \ Thai alist adoun alle thre, Tweie damaifeles and ITche ; And long while ther abiden, Til al the folk was forht i-riden, Thai wolden vp, and after wolde, And couthen nowt here way holde ; The wode was rough, and thikke, i-wis, And thai token the wai amys ; 60 Thai mofle fouht, and riden weft, In to the thikke of the foreft, In to a launde mi ben i-come, And habbeth wel vndemome. That thai were amis i-gon, Thai hst adoun euerichon, And cleped and criede al i-fere, Ac no man arigt hem i-here. Thai mft whatTiem was beft to don, The weder was hot bifor the non, 70 Hii leien hem doun vpon a grene, Vnder a chaftein tre Ich wene ; And fiUen a flepe euerichone, Bote the damaifele alone. she wente aboute, and gaderede floures, And herknede fong of wilde foules. So fer in the launde she goht i-wis, That she ne wot neuere whare she is To hire maidenes she wolde anon, Ac hi ne wifte neuer wat wei to gon. 80 Whenne hi wende beft to hem terne, A weiward than hi goth wel seme ; Alias ! hi feide that I was boren, Nou Ich wot Ich am forloren : "Wilde befles me willeth to grinde, Er ani man me ffchulle finde. Than fegh hi fwich a figt, Toward hire comen a Knist ; Gentil, gong, and iolif man, A robe of fcarlet he hadde vpon, 90 His vifage was fair, his bodi ech weies, Of countenaunce rigt curteis, Wei farende legges, fot, and honde, Ther nas non in al the Kynges londe, More apart man than was he : " Damaifele, welcome mot thou be, Be thou afered of none wihste, I-ich am comen here a Fairi Knygtg ; Mi kynde is armes for to were, On horfe to ride, with fcheld and fpere ; 100 Forthi aferered be thou nowt, I ne haue nowt but mi fwerd i-brout ; (| I-ich haue I loued the mani a ser, | And now we beth vs felue her. Thou beft mi lemman, ar thou go, Wether the liketh wel or wo." Tho no thing ne coude do ^he, But wep, and criede, and wolde fle ; And he anon gan hire at holde, [(And dide his wille what he wolde, 110 llHe binam hire here maidenhod. And feththen vp to foren hire ftod. / " Lemman, he feide, gent, and fre. Mid fchilde I-wot that thou fchalt be ; Siker ich wot hit worht a knaue, Forthi mi fwerd thou ffchalt haue ; And whenne that he is of elde, That he mai him felf bi-welde ; Tak him the fwerd and bidde him fonde, To fechen his Fader in eche londe ; 120 The fwerd is god and auenaunt, Lo, as I faught with a geaunt, I brak the point in his hed, And fiththen when that he was ded ; I tok hit out and haue hit er, Redi in min aumener ; sit perauentoure time bith That mi Sone mete me with, Be mi fwerd, I mai him kenne : Haue god dai, I mot gon hemie." 130 The Knist paffede as he cam ; Al wepende the fwerd ghe nam, And com hom fore fikend,";" ^ ■ ■ *7 And fond here maidenes al flepend ; The fwerd she hidde als she migte, And awaked hem in histe, And doht hem to horfe anon, And gonne to, ride eu6richon : Thanne feghen hi ate laft,. Tweie fquiers come prikend faft, 140 Fram the Kyng thai weren i-fent To white whider his Doughter went. Thai browt hire in to the riste wai, And comen faire to the Abbay ; And doth the feruife, in alle thingges, Mani maffe and riche offringes ; And whanne the feruife was al i-done, And i-paffed ouer the none, The Kyng to his caftel gam ride, His Doughter rod hi his fide, 150 And he gemeth his kyngdom ouer al, Stoutliche as a god king ffchall. Ac whan ech man was glad and bHthe, His Doughter fiked an forewed l^illTe. Here wombe greted more and more, Ther while she miste ge hidde here fore. On a dai as hi wepende fet, On of hire maidenes hit vnderset, " Ma Dame, she feide, per charite, Whi wepe se now ? telleth hit me." 160 " A gentil maiden, kinde i-loren, ir Help me other Ich am forloren ; Ich haue euer sete ben meke, and milde, Lo now Ich am with quike fchilde : sif ani man hit vndersete, Men wolde fai bi fti and flrete, .^ That mi Fader the King hit wan. And I ne was neuere aqueint with man. And sif he hit him felue wite Swich forewe fchal to him fmite, 170 That neuer bhse fchal he be. For al his ioie is in me." And tolde here al to geder ther, Hon hit was bigete, and wher." " Ma Dame, quad the Maid, ne care thou nowt, Stille a wai hit ffchal be browt. No man ffchall wite in Godes riche, Whar hit bicometh but thou and Iche." Her time come, she was vnbounde. And deliured al mid founde ; 180 A knaue fchild there was i-bore, I, Glad was the Moder tharfore : The Maiden feruede here at wille, Wond that child in clothes flille And laid hit in a cradel anon ; And was al preft thar with to gon, shit is Moder was him hold ; Four pound ghe tok of gold, And ten of feluer alfo, Vnder his fote ghe laid hit tho, 190 For fwiche thing hit mihoue ; And feththen she tok a paire gloue, [That here lemman here fent of Fairi lond. That nolde on no manne bond, Ne on child, ne on womman ghe nolde, But on hire felue wel she wolde : The glouen ge put vnder his hade, And fiththen a '^^^ she wrot and made And knit hit with a felkene thred Aboute his nekke, wel god fped ; 200 That who hit founde ffcholde i-wite : Than was in the lettre thous i-write : " Par charite, sif ani god man, This helples child finde can ; Lat Criften hit with preftes honde. And bringgen hit to liue in londe : For hit is comen of gentil blod. Helpeth hit with his owen god, With trefor that vnder his fet lis. And ten ser eld when that he his 210 Taketh him this ilke glouen two, And biddeth him, whar euere he go, 8 ^Ir^ 3^t^nxxt. That he ne wiue no womman m londe But this gloues willen on hire honde, For fiker on honde nelle thai nere, But on his Moder that him here." The Maiden toke the Chil[d] here mide Stille awai in auen tide, AUe the winteres longe nigt, The weder was cler, the mone list ; 220 Than warheth ghe war anon. Of an hermitage in a fton : f An holi man had ther his wonnyng, Thider she wente on heying, An fette the cradel at his dore. And durfte abide no lengore, And paffede forth anon rigt : Horn she com in that other nist, And fond the leuedi al drupih^J Sore wepinde, and was fori, 230 And tolde hire al togeder ther Hou she had iben, and wher. The Hermite aros erliche thoj And his Knaue was uppe alfo, An feide i-fere here matines, And feruede God and his Seins ; The litil child thai herde crie, And clepede after help on hie. The holi man his dore vndede, And fond the cradel in the ftede, 240 He tok vp the clothes anon, And biheld the litel grom ; He tok the letter, and radde wel fone, That tolde him what he fcholde done? Sire Siecatte. 9 The Heremite held vp bothe his honde, An thonked God of al his fonde ; And bar that child in to his chapel, And for joie he rong his bel : He dede vp the glouen, and the trefour, And criftned the child with gret honour ; 250 In the name of the Trinite, He hit nemnede Degarre : Degarre nowt elles ne is But thing that not neuer whar hit is , O the thing that is negth forlorn al fo, For thi the fchild he nemnede thous tho. The Heremite that was holi of lif, Hadde a foller that was a wif ; A riche marchaunt of that countre, Hadde hire i-fpoufed in to that cite : 260 To hire that fchild he fente tho, Bi his knaue, and the filuer alfo ; And bad here take gode hede, Hit to forfter and to fede ; And sif God Almisti wolde, Ten ser his lif holde, Asen to him i-fcholde hit wife, He hit wolde teche of clergife. The litil child Degarre, "Was i-brout in to that cite ; 270 The wif and hire louerd i-fere. Kept hit afe hit ere owen were. Bi that hit was ten ser old, Hit was a fair child, and a bold, Wei i-noriffcher, god and hende, Was nor betere in al that ende ; 10 ^iVt ^tQUVVt. He wende wel that the gode man Had ben his fader, that him wan, And the Wif his moder al fo, And the Hermite his vnkel bo 280 And whan the ten ser was i-fpent, To the hermitage he was fent ; And he was glad him to fe, He was fo feir and fo fre. He taughte him of clerkes lore Other ten wynter other more : And he was of twenti ser ; Staleworth he was, of fwich pouer, That ther ne wan man in that lond That breid him mist a-ftond. 290 Tho the Hermite feth withouten les, Man for him felue that he wes : Staleworth to don eeh werk, And of his elde fo god a clerk : He tok him his florines and his gloues, That he had kept to hife bihoues : Ac the ten pound of ftarhngs Were i-fpended in his foftrings : He tok him the letter to rede, And biheld all the dede : 300 " O leue h'Em, per charite. Was this letter mad for me." " Ze, hi oure Lord, vs helpe fTchall, Thus hit was, and told him al. " He knelede adown al fo fwithe, And thonked the Ermite of his Hue ; And fwor he nolde ftinte no ftound. Til he his kinrede hadde i-founde. For in the lettre was thous i-write, That hi the glouen he ffcholde i-wite ; 310 Wich were his Moder, and who shif that fcho liuede tho ; For on hire honden hii wolde, And on non other hii nolde. Half the florines he saf the Hermite, And haluendel he tok him mide : And nam his leue, an wolde go, " Nai, feide the Hermite, fchaltu no, To feehe thi ken mightou nowe dure, Withouten hors and god armure." 320 " Nai, quod he, bi Heuene kyng, Ich wil haue firft another" thing." He hew a doun, bothe grete an grim, To beren in his bond with him, A god fapling of an ok ; Whan he thar with saf a ftrok, Ac wer he neuer fo ftrong a man, Ne fo gode armes hadde vpon. That he ne fcholde falle to grounde, Swich a bourdon to him he founde. 330 Tho thenne God he him bitawt, And aither fram other wepyng rawt. Child Degarre wente his wai, Thourgh the foreft al that dai : No man he ne herd, ne non he fes ; Til hit was non i-paffed heg. Thanne he herde a noife kete In o valai, an dintes grete ; Bliue thider he gan to te. What hit ware he wold i-fe. 340 12 §^itt WtQUVvt, An Herl of the countre, flout and fers^ With a Knist and four fquiers ; Hadde i-honted a der other two, And all here houndes weren a-go. Than was thar a dragon grim, -^ Ful of filth and of venim. With wide throte, and teth grete, And wynges bitere with to bete : As a lyoun he hadde fet, And his tail was long an gret : 350 The fmoke com of his nofe a wai, Afe fer out of a chimenai. The Knyst and fquiers he had to rent, Man and hors to dethe chent : The dragon the Erl affaile gan. And defended him as a man ; And floutliche leid on with his fwerd, And ftrong ftrokes on hie gerd ; Ac alle his dentes ne greued him nowt, His hide was hard fo iren wrout : 36o Therl flei fram tre to tre, Fein he wolde fram him be ; And the dragon him gan afail. The doughti Erl in that batail, Of fegh this child Degarre, " Ha ! help, he feide, per charite ! " The dragoun feth the child com, He laft the Erl and to him nom, Blowinde and semend al fo, Als he him wolde fwolewe tho : 370 Ac Degarre was ful ftrong, He tok his bat, gret and long. §^iVt ^tQUVXt, 3 3 And in the forehefd he him batereth, That al the forehefd he to fpatereth : He fil adoun anon rigt, And frapte his tail with gret mist Vpon Degarres fide, That vp fo doun he gan to glide : Ac he ftert vp afe a man, And with his bat leid vp an, 380 And al to frufft him ech a bon, That he lai ded, ftille as fton. The Erl knelede a doun biliue. And thonked the child of his Hue ; And maked him with him gon To his caflel rist anon, And wel at hefe he him made, And proferd him al that he hade ; Rentes, trefor, an eke lond, For to holden in his bond. 390 Thanne anfwerede Degarre, " Lat come ferft bifor me Thi leuedi and othir wimmen bold, Maidenes and wideues, songe and olde, And other damoifeles fwete ; sif mine glouen beth to hem mete For to done vp on here honde, Thanne Ich wil take thi londe. And sif thai ben nowt fo, I-ich wille take mi leue and go." 400 AUe wimman were forht i-browt, Wide cuntreis, and forht i-fowt ; Ech the glouen affaie bigan, Ac non ne miste don hem on. 14 ^itt ^tQUXVt. He tok his glouen, and vp hem dede, And nam his leue in that flede. The Erl was gentil man of blod, And saf him a flede ful god, And noble armure, riche and fin, When he wolde armen him ther in ; 410 And a palefrai to riden an, And a knaue to ben his man : And saf him a fwerd brist, And dubbed him ther to knyst ; And fwor hi God Almigti, That he was better worthi To vfen hors, and armes al fo, Than with his bat aboute to go. Sire Degarre was wel blithe, And thanked the Erl mani a fithe ; 420 And lepe vp on palefrai hiis, And doth him forth in his wai. Vpon his flede riste his man, And ledde his armes als he wel can. Mani a jorne thai ride and fette, So on a dai gret folke thei mette, Erles and barouns of renoun. That come fram a cite toun. He alked a feijaunt what tiding ? And whennes hii come, and what is this thing ? 430 " Sire, he feide, verrament, We come fram-ward a parlement ; The King a gret counfeil made, For nedes that he to don hade ; Whan the parlement was plener, He lette crie, fer and ner, sif ani man were of armes fo bold, That with the King juft i-wold, He flcholde haue in manage His dowter, and his heritage, 440 That is kingdom god and fair, For he ne had non other hair : Ac no man ne dar graimte ther to, For mani hit affaieth, and mai nowt do, Mani erl, and mani baroun, Kniates, and fquiers of renoun ; Ac ech man that him jufleth with tit. Hath of him a foul defpit ; Some he brekketh the nekke anon, And of fome the rig-bon : 450 Some thourgh the bodi he girt, Ech is maimed, other i-hirt ; Ac no man mai don him no thing, Swich wonder chaunce hath the King.''' Sire Degarre thous thenche gan, " Ich am a ftaleworht man : And of min owen Ich haue a ftede, Swerd, and fpere, and riche wede ; And gif Ich felle the Kyng adoun, Euere Ich haue wonnen renoun. 460 And thei that he me herte fore. No man wot wer Ich was bore ; Whether deth other lif me bitide, Agen the King Ich wille ride. " In the cite his in he taketh, And refteth him, and meri maketh. On a dai with the King he mette, And knelede adoun, and him grette : 16 ^ixt Wta^vvt. " Sire king, he faide, of muchel migt, Mi louerd me fende hider nou rist, 470 For to warne sou that he, Bi thi leue, wolde jufte with the, And winne thi Dowter sif he mai, As the cri was this ender-dai, Juftes he had to the i-nome. " *' De par deus, quath the King, he is welcome : Be he baroun, be he erl, Be he burgeis, be he cherl ; No man wil I forfake. He that winneth, al ffchal take. " 480 A morewe the juftes was i-fet. The King him purueid wel the bet ; And Degarre ne knew no man, Ac al his truft is God upon. Erliche to churche than wente he. The maffe he herde of the Trinite ; To the Fader he offreth hon florine. And to the Sone an other al fo fine, And to the Hoh Goft the thridde : The Preft for him ful seme gan bidde. 490 And to the feruife was i-don. To his in he wente wel fon ; And let him armi wel afin, In god armes to jufti in ; His gode ftede he gan biftride, His fquier bar his ffchaft bifide : In the feld the King he abide gan. As he com ridend, with mani a man, Stoutliche out of the cite toun, With mani a lord of great renoun ; 500 Ac al that in the felde beth, That the juftes i-feth Seide that hi neuer sit i-fege Sa pert a man with here egge, As was this gentil Degarre ; Ac no man wifte whennes was he. Bothe thai gonne to jufti than, Ac Degarre can nowt ther on ; The King hath the gretter fchaft, And kan inowgh of the craft, 510 To breke his nekke he had i-ment ; In the helm he fet his dent, That the fchaft al to fprong. Ac Degarre was fo ftrong, That in the fadel ftille he fet. And in the ftiropes held his fet ; For fothe I feie, withoute lefing. He ne couthe na more of jufting. " Alias ! quath the King, alias ! Me ne fil neuere fwich a cas, 520 That man that Ich migte hitte, After mi flrok miste fitte." He taketh a wel gretter tre, And fwor " So he mofte i-the, gif his nekke nel nowt a-two, His rigg fchal, ar Ich hennes go." He rod eft with gret raundoun, And thought to beren him a-doun ; And girt Degarre anon Right agein the breft bon ; 530 The fchaft was ftef and wonder god, And Degarre ftede aftod : 18 ^ixt Wt^uvvt* And al biforen he ros on heghs, And tho was he i-fallen neghs ; But as God Almisti wold, The fchaft brak, and mist nowt hold ; And Degarre his cours out ritte, And was agramed out of his witte. " Alias ! quath he, for vilaynie, The King me hath i-fmitten thrie, 540 And I ne touchede him nowt sete, Nou I fchal vife me bette." He turned his flede, with herte grim. And rod to the King, and he to him, And togider thai gert ful rist, And in the fcheldes here ftrokes pist ; That the fperes al to riues. And vprist to here honde fliues ; That alle the lordings that ther ben, That the jufting miste fen, 550 Seiden hi ne fese neuer with egse, Man that mighte fo longe dreghse. In wraththe for no thing, Sitten a flrok of here King ; Ac he his doughti for the nones, A ftrong man of bodi and bones. The King with egre mod gan fpeke, " Do bring me a fchaft that wil nowt breke ; A be mi trewthe he ffchal a-doun. Thai he be ftrengere than Sampfon. 560 And thei he be the bare qued, He ffchal a-doune maugre his heued." He tok a fchaft was gret and long. The Schild another al fo flrong ; And to the King wel euene he rit, The King faileth, and he him fmit ; His fchaft was ftrong, and god with al, And wel fcharped the coronal ; He fmot the King in the lamer, He mist flit nother fer ne ner. 570 The King was ftrong, and harde fat, The ftede ros vp bifom with that ; And Sire Degarre fo thrifte him than, That maugre who fo grochche bigan : Out of the fadel he him caft, Tail ouer top rist ate laft. Than was ther long houting and cri, The King was for affcbamed for thi. The Lordinges comen with mist and mein, And broughte the King a horfe agein, 580 An feide with o criing i-wis, " Child Degarre hath wonne the pris." Than was the Damaifele fori ; For hi wift wel for whi That hi fcholde i-fpoufed ben To a Knist that fche neuer had fen ; And lede here lif with fwich a man. That fche ne wot who him wan, No in what londe he was i-bore ; Carful was the Leuedi therfore, 590 Then feide the King to Degarre, " Min hende Sone, come hider to me. And thou were alfo gentil a man As thou femeft with fist vpan ; And afe wel coutheft wifdomes do, As thou art ftaleworht man the to ; 20 ^itt ^tQUVVt. Me thowte mi kingdoms wel bifet, Ac be thou werfe, be thou bet ; Couenaunt Ich wille the holde, Lo her biforn mi Barons bolde ; 600 Mi Douwter i-take the be the hond, And feife the her in al mi lond ; King thou fchalt ben after me, Godgraunte the godman to be." Than was the Child glad and blithe, And thonked the Kyng mani a fithe. Gret purueaunce than was ther i-wrout, To churche thai were togidere i-brout ; And fpoufed that Leuedi verrament, Vnder Holi Sacrament. 610 Lo, what chaunfe and wonder Itrong, Bitideth mani a man with wrong ; That Cometh in to an uncouthe thede, And fpoufeth wif for ani mede. And knowes no thing of hire kin, Ne fche of his, neither more ne min ; And beth i-wedded to gider to libbe, Par auenture and beth neghth fibbe. So dede Sire Degarre the bold, Spoufed there is Moder, [to hold] ; 620 And that hende Leuedi alfo, Here owene Sone was fpoufed to. That fche vpon her bodi bar ; Lo, what auenture fil hem thar ; But God, that alle thinge mai ftere, Wolde nowt that thai finned i-fere. To chirchB thai wente with barouns bolde, A riche fefte thai gonne to holde ; And wan was wel i-paffed non, And the dai was al i-don. 630 To bedde thai ffcholde wende, that fre The Dammaifele and Sire Degarre. He ftod ftille, and bithouwte him than, How the Hermite, the holi man, Bad he fcholde no womman take, For faired, ne for riches fake ; But she mist this gloues two, , Listliehe on hire hondes do. " Alias ! alias ! than faide he, What mefchaunce is comen to me ; 640 A wai witles wrechche Ich am ! Ich hadde leuere than this kingdam, That is i-feifed in to min bond. That Ich ware faire out of this lond. He wrang his hondes, and was fori, Ac no man wifte therfore wi. The King parceyued, and faide tho, " Sire Degarre wi fareft thou fo ; Is ther ani thing don ille, Spoken or feid asein thi wille ?" 650 " sa. Sire, he faide, hi Heuene King, I chal neuer, for no fpoufing ;"*^ Ther whiles I Hue with wimman dele, Widue, ne wif, ne dammeifele. But she this gloues mai take and fonde, And listlich drawen vp on hire honde." His songe bride that gan here, And al for thout chaunged hire chere ; And ate laft gan to tume here mod, Here vifage wex afe red afe blod : 660 22 ^ixt ^tQUVVt. Sche knew tho gloues that wer hire. " Sehewe them hider leue Sire." Sche tok the gloues in that flede, And listliche on hire hondes dede ; And fil a-doun with reuli cri, And feide, " God merci, Merci ! Thou art mi Sone haft fpoufed me her, And Ich am Sone thi Moder der ; Ich hadde the loren, Ich haue the founde, Bleffed be Ihefu Crift that flounde !" 670 Sire Degarre tok his Moder tho, And helde here in his armes two ; Kelle and clepte here mani a fithe, That hit was fche, he was ful blithe. The Kyng gret wonder hadde. What that noife that thai made ; And meruaile of hire crying, And feide, Doughter, what is this thing ?" " Fader, she feide, thou fchalt i-here. Thou wenefl that Ich a maiden were ; 680 Ac certes nay, Sire, Ich am non, Twenti winter non hit is gon. That mi maidenhed I les In a fforeft, as I wes ; And this is mi Sone, God hit wot, Bi this gloues wel Ich wot." Sche told him al that fothe ther, Hon the child was geten, and wher ; And hou that he was boren al fo, To the hermitage she fente him tho ; 690 And feththen herd of him no thing ; But thanked be Ihefu, Heuene King, I-ieh haue i-founde him o-Iiue, I-ich am his Moder, and ek his Wiue." " Leue Moder, feide Sire Degarre, Telle me the fothe par charite, In to what londe I mai torne, To feke mi Fader fwithe and serne." " Sone, she fdde, bi Heuene King, I can the of him telle no thing ; 700 But tho that he fram me raugt His owen fwerd he me bitaust, And bad Ich fcholde take hit the for than, sif thou huedeft, and were a man." The fwerd fche fet forht anon rigt, And Degarre hit out pligt ; Brod and long, and heui hit wes, In that kyngdom no fwich nes. Then feide Degarre, for than, " Who fo hit au5t he was a man ; *710 Now Ich haue that I kepe, Nist ne dei nel Ich flepe, Til that I mi Fader fe, sif God wile that hit fo be." In the cite he refle al nist, A morewe whan hit was dai lit, He aros and herde his maffe, He diste him and forth gan paffe. Of al that cite, than moll non Neither with him riden ne gon j 720 But his knaue, to take hede To his armoiu-, and his ftede : Forth he rod in his wai, Mani a pas, and mani jumai ; 24> §^itt ^tQUttt, So longe he paffede in to Well, That he cam in to th'eld Foreft, Ther he was bi^eten fome while ; Ther inne he rideth mani a mile ; Mani a dai he ride gan, No quick befl he fond of man ; 730 Ac mani wilde belles he feghs, And foules fingen on heghg, So longe he drouwjh to the nist, The fonne was a doune rigt ; Toward toun he wold ride, But he nill neuer hi wiche fide. Thenne he feth a water cler. And amidde a riuer A fair Caftel of lim and Hon, Other wonyng was ther non : 740 To his Knaue he feide, " Tide wat tide," O fote forther nel I ride ; Ac here abide wille we, And alke herberewe par charite, gif ani quik man be here on Hue." To the water thai come als fwithe ; The bregge was a doun tho, And the gate open al fo ; And in to the callel he gan fpede, Firll he llabled vp his llede : 750 He taiede vp his palefrai, Inowgh he fond of hole and hai : He bad his Grom on heying, Kepen wel al here thing. He paffed vp in to the halle, ^ Biheld aboute, and gan to calle ; Ac neither on lond ne on heg, No quik man he ne fes. Amidde the halle flore A fir was, bet ftark an flora ; 760 " Par fai, (he faide,) Ich am al fure, He that bette that fure Wil comen horn sit to nist, Abiden Ich wille a litel wist." He fat adoun vpon the dais, And warmed him wel eche wais ; And he biheld, and under nam, Hou in at the dore cam Four dammaifeles, gent and fre ; Ech was i-takked to the kne, 770 The two bowen and arewen here ; The other two i-charged were With venefoun, riche and god. And Degarre vpftod, And gret hem wel fair aplist ; Ac thai anfwerede no wist ; But sede in to chaumbre anon, And barred the dore after fon. Sons ther after, with alle, Ther com a dwerw in to the halle, 780 Four fet of lengthe was in him, His vifage was flout and grim ; Bothe his herd and his fax Was crifp an shalew as wax ; . Grete fTcholdres 'and quaere, Rist floutliche loked he ; Mochele were hife fet and honde, Afe the mefle man of the londe. 26 §^itt ^tQUXtt. He was i-clothed wel arist, His ffchon i-couped as a knist ; 790 He hadde on a forcot ouert, , I-forred with blaundeuer apert. ' Sire Degarre him biheld, and lowgg, And gret him fair inowgs. Ac he ne anfwerede neuere a word, But fette treftles, and laid the bord ; And torches in the halle he liste, And redi to the foper digte. Than ther com out of the hour, A Dammeifele of gret honour, 800 In the londe non fairer nas, In a diapre clothed she was ; With hire come maidenes tene. Some in fcarlet, feme in grene, Gent of bodi, of femblaunt fwete ; And Degarre hem gan gret. Ac hi ne anfwerede no wist, But sede to the foper anon rist. " Certes, (quath Sire Degarre,) Ich haue hem gret, and hi nowt me ; 810 But thai be domb, hi and hi. Thai fchul fpeke firft ar I." The Leuedi, that was of rode fo brist, Amidde she fat anon rist. And on aither half maidenes fiue ; The Dwerw hem feruede al fo bliue, With riche metes, and wel i-dist ; The coppe he filleth with alle his mist. Sire Degarre, couthe of curteifie. He fet a chaier bifore the Leuedi, 820 And ther in him felue fet, And tok a knif,-and carf his met. At the foper litel at he, But biheld the Leuedi fre ; And feg afe feir a wimman, AIs he heuere loked an, That all his herte and his thout, Hire to loue was i-browt. And tho thai hadde fouped anowg, The drew [Dwerff] com, and the cloth he drouth : 830 The Leuedis weffche euerichon, And sede to chaumhre quik anon.^ In to the chaumhre he com ful fone ; The Leuedi on here bed fet, And a maide at here fet, And harpede notes gode and fine ; Another brougte fpices and wine. Vpon the [bedde] he fet adoun, To here of the harpe foun ; For murthe of notes fo ffchiUe 840 He fel adoun on flepe ftille. So he ilep al that nist, The Leuedi wreis him warm apligt, And a pilewer vnder his heued dede, And sede to bedde in that flede. A morewe, whan hit was dai list, Sche was vppe, and redi dist. Faire fche awaked him tho, " Aris," fche feide, " graith the, an go :" And faide thus, in here game, 850 " Thou art worth to fuffri fchame, 1 Some lines in this place are evidently omitted in the MS. See page 44. 28 §^itt 3^tQUtVt. That al nist as a beft flepteft, And non of mine maidenes ne kepteft." " O, gentil Leuedi, (feide Degarre,) For Godes loue, forsif hit me ; Certes, the murie harpe hit made, Elles mifdo nowt ne hade : Ac tel me, Leuedi, fo hende, Ar Ich out of thi chaumber wende, Who is Louerd of this lond ? 860 And who this Caftel hath in hond ? Wether thou be widue, or wif, Or maiden git of clene lif ? And whi her be fo fele wimman, AUone withouten ani man ?" — . The Dameifele fore figte, And bigan to wepen anon rigte : " Sire, wel fain Ich telle the wolde, gif euere the better be me fcholde ; Mi fader was a riche Baroun, 870 And hadde mani a tour and toun, He ne hadde no child but me, Ich was his air of this cuntre. In mene Ich hadde mani a Knigt, And Squiers that were gode and list, An ftaleworht men of mefter. To ferue in court fer and ner : Ac thanne is thar here bifide, A fterne Knist, i-knawe ful wide, Ich wene in Bretaine ther be non 880 So ftrong a man, fo he is on ; He had i-loue me ful gore, Ac in herte neuere more ; Ne miste Ich louie him asein, But whenne lie feghse ther was no gein : He was aboute with maiftri, For to rauiffe me awai ; Mine Knigtes wolde defende me, And ofte fowsten hi and he : The heft he flowgh the firfle dai, 890 And fethen an othe[r], par ma fai, And fethen the thridde, and the ferthe, The befte that migte gon on erthe. Mine fquiers, that weren fo lloute, Bi fours, hi fiue, thai riden oute On hors, armed wel anowgh, His houen bodi he hem flough. Mine men of mefter he flough alle. And other pages of mine halle ; Therfore Ich am fore agaft, 900 Left he wynne me ate laft." With this word fche fil to grounde, And lai a fwone a wel gret ftounde ; Hire maidenes to hire come. And in hire armes vp hire nome. He beheld the Leuedi with gret pite, " Loueli ma Dame, (quath he,) On of thine Ich am here, Ich wille the help be mi pouere." " she Sire, (she faid,) than all mi lond 910 Ich wil the siue in to thine bond, And at thi wille bodi mine, sif thou mist wreke me of hine." Tho was he glad al for to figte, A wel gladere that he miste 30 ^ivt ^BtQaxvt* Haue the Leuedi fo brist, sif he flouth that other Knigt. And als thai ftod and fpak i-fere, A maiden cried, with reuful chere — " Her comes oure enemi fafte vs ate, 920 Drauwe the bregge, and ffchet the sate, Or he wil fleu ous euerichone." Sire Degarre ftirt vp anon, And at a window him fegh, Wei i-armed on hors hegh, A fairer bodi than he was on, In armes ne fegh he neuer non. Sire Degarre armed him bliue. And on a ftede gan out driue. With a fpere gret of gayn, 930 To the Knist he rit asein. The Kniste fpere al to fprong ; Ac Degarre was fo ftrong. And fo harde to him thraft ; But the Knist fat fo faft, That the ftede rigge to brek. And fel to grounde, and he ek : But anon ftir[t] vp the Knist, And drough out his fwerd brist. " Alist," he feid, " adoun anon, 940 To fist thou ffchalt a-fote gon. For thou haft flawe my ftede, Deth dint fchal be thi mede : Ac thine ftede fie I niUe, Ac on fote fiste Ich wille." Than on fote thai toke the fist, And hewe togidere with brondes brist ; ^itt 3Bt^nxvt. 31 The Knist gaf Sire Degarre Steme flrokes gret plente ; And he him asen al fo, 950 That helm and fchelde cleue a two. The Knigt was a greved fore, That his armour to burfte thore ; A flrok he saf Sire Degarre, That to grounde fallen is he ; But he flirt vp anon rigt, And fwich a flrok he saf the Knist, Vpon his heued, fo harde i-fet, That helm, and heued, and bacinet, That ate brefl flod the dent, 960 Ded he fil doun verrament. The Leuedi lai in o kernel. And biheld the batail eueri del ; she ne was neuer er fo blithe, Sche thankede God fele fithe. Sire Degarre com in to caflel, Asein him com the Dammaifel, And thonked him fwithe of that dede ; In to chaumber fche gan him lede. And vnarmed him anon, 970 And fet him hire bed vpon ; And faide, " Sire, par charite, I the prai dwel with me. And al mi lond Ich wil the sive, And mi felue whil that I line." " Grant merci, Dame, (faide Degarre,) Of the gode thou bedefl me ; Wende Ich wille in to other londe, More of hauentours for to fonde ; 32 ^ivt ^tQUVVt. And be this twelue moneth be go, 980 Asein Icb wil com the to." The Leuedi made moche mom-ning For the Knistes departing ; And saf him a ftede god and fur, Gold and filuer, and god armur ; And bitaust him Ihefu Heuene King, And fore thai wepen at here parting. Forht wente Sire Degarre, Thurh mani a diners cuntre ; Euer mor he rod weft, 990 So in a dale of o forefl He mette with a dousti Knigt, Vpon a ftede god and list. In armes that were riche and fur, With the fcheld of afur. And thre bor heuedes ther in, Wei i-painted with gold fin. Sire Degarre anon riat Hendeliche grette the Knist, And faid, " Sire, God with the be." 1000 And thous asein anfuerede he ; " Velaun ! wat doft thou here, In mi foreft to chafe mi dere ?" Degarre anfwerede, with wordes meke, " Sire, thine dere nougt me feke : I-ich am an aunterous Knist, For to feche werre, and fist." The Knigt faid, withouten fail, " sif thou comeft to feke batail, Here thou haft thi per i-founde, 1010 Arme the fwithe in this ftounde." Sire Degarre and his fquier Armed him in riche atir, Wis an helme riche for the nones, Was ful of precious ftones, That the Maide him gaf faun fail, For whom he did rather hatail ; A ffcheld he keft aboute his fwere, That was of armes riche and dere, With thre maidenes heuedes of filuer brigt, 1020 With crounes of gold, precious of figt ; A ffchaft he tok that was nowt fmal. With a kene coronal ; His fquier tok another fpere, Bi his Louerd he gan hit here. Lo fwiche auentoure he gan bitide. The Sone agein the Fader gan ride, And neither knew ne other no wist : Now beginnes the firfte fist. Sire Degarre tok his cours thare, 1030 Again his Fader a ffchaft he bare, To here him doun he hadde i-mint, Rist in the fcheld he fet his dint ; The ffchaft brak to peces al, And in the ffcheld fat the coronal. An other cours thai gonne take, The Fader tok, for the Sones fake, A ffchaft that was gret and long. And he an other alfo ftrong ; Togidder thai riden wis gret raundoun, 1040 And aither bar other a-doun. With dintes that thai fmiten there. Here ftede rigges to burften were ; S4 §;itt Mtg^utvt. A fote thai gonne fist i-fere, And laiden on with fwerdes clere. The Fader amerueiled was Whi his fwerd was point las, And feide to his Sone apligt, " Herkne to ma a litel wist : Wher were thou boran, in what lond ?" 1050 " In Lital Bretaigne, Ich vnderftond, Kingges doughtar Sone, witouten las, Ac I not who mi Fader was." " What is thi name?" than faida he. " Cartas, men clapas me Degarre." " O Degarre, fone mine. Cartes Ich am Fader thine ; And hi thi fwerd I knowe hit here, The point is in min aumenere." He tok the point, and fet ther to. 1060 Degarre fel i-fwone tho. And his Fader fikerh Alfo began fwonni. And whanne of fwona arifen were, The Sone arid, Merci there His owen Fader of his mifdede ; And he him to his caftal gan lede. And bad him dwelle wis him ai. " Certes, Sire, (he faide,) nai ; Ac sif hit your wille were, 1070 To mi Moder we wende i-fere. For fche is in gret mourning." " Blethelich, (quath he,) bi Heuene King." ^pr ©egore from f^i ^Utk %tntx (BtHtion.] Syr Degore, and his Father dere, Into Englande they rode in fere ; They were both armed, and wel dighte, As it behoueth euerye knyght. They rode forth on theyr journey, Many a myle of that contrey, And on theyr way they rode full faft, 1080 Into England they came at the lafte. When they myght England fe, They drewe thyther as they wold be ; When they were to the palayes come. They were welcome, all and feme. And they behelde ouer all ; The Ladye them fpyed ouer a wall. And when the Ladye faw that fyght, She went to them with all her myght, And ryght well flie them knewe, 1090 And then flie chaunged all her hewe, And fayd, " My dere fonne Degore, Thou haft thy Father brought with thee." " Trewly, Madame, (then fayd he,) Full well I wote it is he." " Nowe, thanked be God then, (fayd the Kynge, ) For nowe I knowe, without leafynge. S6 §;itt ^tQUtXt. Who is Degores Father in dede." The Lady fowned in that ftede, And foone after fykerlye 1100 The Knyght wedded that Lady. She and her Sonne was departed atwin, For he and ftie were to nye kynne. Forthe then went Syr Degore, With the Kynge, and his menye. His Father and his Mother dere, Vnto the caftell they went in fere, Where as dwelled that Lady bright, That he had wonne in right, And wedded her with great folempnite, 1110 Before all the Lordes of that countre. Thus came the Knyght out of his care : God geue us grace wel to fare, And that we, vpon Domes day. Come to the blyffe that lafteth aye ! ^Pjpentiiji:* VAEIOUS EEADOGS IN SYR DEGARRE PROM THE CAMBRIDGE MANUSCRIPT. (MS. Cantab. Ff. ii. Z^, formerly marked Q90.) (Line 1, as well as the two brackets, after the title, m/p6 supplied from the Cambridge MS. — The first Unes are as follows: — Knyztes that were some tyme in lande 1 Far they wolde them selfe fande. To sake aventurs nychte and day How that they mygt their strenkyth assay ; So dud a Knyght Sir Degare, I schall yow telle what man was he. In Bretayne the Lasse, ther was a Kyng Of grete power in alle thynge, Styffeste in armour undur sohylde, And moost doghtyest to fygt in fylde. 10 The Kynge had chyldyr noon, Sone nor doghtur but oon. 17 (Lines 19 and 20 not in the Cambridge MS.) But he myghte in justynge. 31 (Lines 34 to 40 in the text are supplied from the Cambridge MS. to fill wp the blwrik in the Auchimleck MS.: but " asayd^'' in lime 34, should have been printed " assayed C and "faste," in line 36, "feste:') To do dyryges and masses bothe, Pore to fede and naked to clothe. 41 So on a day the Kyng gede to that Abbey, 45 And many gede wyth hyra that day. And hys own doghtur be hys syde ; In the myddys of the foreste sche bad abyde : Adowne they lyght alle thoo, 53 The Damysels and schoo. They myste sowthe, and went weste, 61 Into the thyck of the foreste ; 40 VAEIOUS READINGS. Into a launde they are comen, And have ryghte welle undernomen That they have mysgone. Sohe goth abowte and gedurth flowres, 75 And heryth songe of the fowles ; So farre into the wode sche yede y-mys, That sche wyste not where sche was Y wys. When sche went to them to renne, 81 Aweywarde sche wente then, And callyd and cryed evyr more, And wepyd and wrynged hur handys sore : And seyde, " Alias that Y was borne ! For now Y wot Y am forlorne, Wylde bestys me wylle to-grynde, Or any man may me finde." Gentyll, sohe thoght, and a yoly man. 89 " Lemman, (he seyde,) welcome to me, 96 Of me be thou ferde no whyghte, I am comyn here a knyghte. My kynde ys armes for to here. And now we be togedur here, 104 Thou schalt be my lemman or thou go Whedur thou thynke wele or woo." No more then cowde do sche, But wepyd and cryed, and wolde fle. Anon in hys armys he can hm- folde, And dud hys wylle what he wolde, 110 And toke awey hur maydyn-hodd, And sythen before hur up he stode, And seyde, " Lemman, feyre and free, Wyth chylde Y wot thou schalt bee ; Well Y wote hyt schalle be a sonne. Therefore my swyrde thou schalt nome.'" (Lines 117 to 120 not in the Camiridge MS.) I toke hyt owt, and haue hyt here, 125 Lo ! hyt ys here in my pawtenere. Have gode day, my swete lemman." 130 And wakynd hur maydyns anon ryght, 136 And lepe up on ther horsys everychone. And began to ryde, and forthe they gone. To wete whodur hys Doghtur was went. 142 And hys own Doghtur be hys syde, 150 And kept hys kingdome ovyr alle. So on a day sche sore can wepe, 157 And oon of hur maydyns hyt under-gete. " O gentylle maydyn, for charyte, 161 I the beseche, now helpe me. That walkythe be way or strete. 166 And yf my fadur the Kyng hyt wyte, 169 Soche sorowe to hys herte wylle smyte, That glad wyll he nevyr bee. VARIOUS READINGS. 41 " Gode Madame (sche sayde) care th6 noghte, 175 Stylle awey hyt schalle be broghte, Ther schalle no man wyt where yt ys, But thou and Y, so have Y blyss." A feyre sonne there was borne. 181 And can hyt lappe in clothys stylle. 184 gyt hys Modur can hym beholde. 187 For moche thynge hym behoves. 191 Sythen sche toke a pere of gloves, \ That were sende hur owt of Elves lande, \ But they wolde on no womans hande. ; On chylde nor on woman the gloues nolde, But on hur hande well they wolde. The gloves sche put undur hys hede. 197 And helpe hyt for to leue in lande. 206 The tresure that undur hys hed lyes. 209 That he love no woman in lande, 213 But yf the gloves wyll on hur hande. i Q (Instead ofUnes 217 to 220 the Cambridge MS. has the following: — ) When sche had so done, The Maydyn toke the Chylde vsfelle soon : Sche toke the cradull and alle l^ynge, And stale awey In a momynge : Sche passyd ovyr a wyld hethe, Thorow felde and wode forthe sche goyth, Alle the longe wynter nyghte. The wedur was clear, the mone schone bryght./ Sche turned ageyne anon ryghte, 227 And come home in anodur nyghte : Sche fonde the Lady all drupy, Sore wepyng and swythe sory. The Armyte arose tho, 233 And hys Chylde also, And seyde togedur ther Matens, And servyd God and All Seyntys. He called the chylde Degarl. 252 For Degare no nother thyng ys But thyng that wotyth not where hyt ys. Or thyng that ys loste also, Therfore the Chylde he caUyd soo. (Lines 259 and 260 not in the Cambridge MS.) And the Ermyte hys Erne too. 280 When the ten yere were spent, To the Ermyte he was sent; The Ermyte was glad hym to see, He was so perte, feyre, and free : He taghte hym of Olerkys lore, Other ten yere and more. He toke hym hys tresure, and hys gloffe, 298 That he Iiad loken to hys behoffe. 6 42 VAEIOUS EBADINGS. " Leve Eme (he seyde), for charyt^, 301 Was thys lettur wretyn for me ? " The chylde knelyd downs belyve, 305 And thankyd the Ermyte ofte sythe. Yf he evyr myghte come hur to ; 312 For on hur hondes the gloves wolde, On no nodur womans they nolde. Haifa the florens he gaf the Ermyte, And that odur halfe up he dydd. That he schulde him dryve to grounde, 329 With that bronde, in a lyttyll stounde. The Ermyte hym God betaghte, And eyther for other wepyd, and laghte. The[n] harde he noyse grete, In a valey, and dyntys leke ; Thedurward he can hye, 337 340 What hyt were he wolde see ; A Knyght he saw, stoute and fers, Was comyn wyth two squyers, And had hunted a dere or two. And all hys howndys were fro hym goo. Then was ther a Dragon grete and grymme, Full of hature and of venym. With a wyde throte, and tethe grete, With that Knyghte harde can mete : Asa lyon he had fete, His tayle was longe and venym eke : 350 The smoke owt of hys nose can wende, As hyt were a fyre that brende : The two Squyers he had to-rende. And ther horsys to dethe spende. The Knyght well harde he assayle can. But he defendyd hym as a man ; Stowtly he smote hym with hys swyrde, And grete strokys on hym gyrde ; Of alle hys dyntes grevyd hym noon, He was harder than the ston. 360 (Lines 361 to 364 not in the Cambridge MS.) And toke hys staffe, grete and longe, 372 And on the hed he hym baturd. That hys hedd alle to-claturde. The Dragon felle downe anon ryghte. And flapped hys tayle with moche myghte. And with hys staffe he leyde hym on, 380 And also brake every bonne ; That he lay dedd stylle as a ston. The Knyght come to hym belyve, Home to hys court anon. 385 Well at ese hym he made, And profurd hym halfe that he had. Then answeryd Syr Degar6, 391 " Let feohe forthe before me The ladys, and odur maydyns bolde, Wyvys, wydows, yonge and olde. And odur damysels swete. Alle the wyvys were there broghte, 401 In that cuntr^ that myght be soghte ; Eevry oon the glovys assay can. VARIOUS EEADINGS. 43 (Lines 413 and 4:1A not in the Cambridge MS.) Then with a staffe on fote to goo. 418 Degary was ther of fulle blythe, And thankyd the Kinge therof full swythe, And lepe upon hys hakeney. And Degar^ askyd a Squyer, What is this thyng, 429 Fro whens that they come rydynge ? When the Perlament was all done, 435 He let orye a justyng soon ; Yf any man were of armes so bolde That with the Kynge juste wolde, And he myght for any thynge^ Hym owte of hys saduU brynge, 440 He schulde have, to hys maryage, Hys Doghtur, and also hys herytage. And some thorow the body he gyrdyth, 451 Every man he maymeth and hurtyth. Then Degare bethynk hym can, And seyde, " Y am a stalworth man, And am now in my yonge blode, And have armour wondur gode, And also of my owne a stede, Y wyll assay how Y may speede ! Yf Y may here the Kynge a-doune. In that Oyte hys ynne he takyth. 455 465 As thy orye was thys Endurg-day, 474 To juste with th^ he hath me nome." " Syr, (seyde the Kynge,) thou art welcome." No man on lyve wyll Y forsake, 479 Who so wynnyth, alle let hym take ! " The Preste fi)r hym preyers can bydd, 490 When the Masse was alle done, To hys oostys he cam fulle soon. And let arme hym well and fyne In gode armoure to juste ynne. Prekyng owt of the towne 495 With many lordynges of grete renowne ; Many a thousande come hym tylle, To see the justys, at ther wylle : And alle men that there were, Swere and seyde, aU in fere, That nevyr gyt they syen. To bere hym downe he had mynte, In hys schylde he sye the dynte. 511 (Lines 515 to 618 not in the Camiridc/e MS.) And sware, so ever mote he th^. 524 Yf hys neck wylle not in two, Hys bak schall, or evyr Y goo. And Degaryes stede nygh downe gode. 532 44 VARIOUS EEADINGS. He was a-grevyd, and nye owt of wyt. 538 " ! (he seyde) for velanye, The Kynge hath hyt me now twye, ' And never onys with hym Y mett, Now Y wylle, be Seynt Benett.'" That bothe ther gode schaftys reven, 547 And alle up to ther handes they dreven. Alle that in the felde beyth, That thys grete mervell seythe, Sey that they never harde nor sawe, Man that soche strokes gaf in fygt nor in pley, And he schalle downe alle and some, Thogh he were the DevyPs sone." 559 (Lines 561 and 562 not in the CambridgeMS.) And a well schaped corynalle, 568 And was gyrde in to the layvere, That he myght not fle ferre nor nere. And ovyr hys hors tayle at the laste ! 576 Then was there noyse and crye, The Kyng was fowle aschamed forthy ! Hys barons come to hym anon, And bad hym to hys hors to gon ; And alle in fere sey konne. That Degary the pryce hath wonne. Therefore the Damyselle was sory, And swythe faste sche can crye ; For then fulle welle wyste sche, That sche schulde maryed bee. And lede hur lyfe with soche a oon, What he was wyste no man. (Lines 595 and 596 not in the Cambridge MS.) I gyf the my doghtur be the hande, And sese the in alle my lande To be Kynge aftur me, God Almyghty maynten thd .' (Lines 605 and 606 not in the Cambridge MS.) Lo ! what fortune and balaunce, 611 Befallyth many a man thorow chaunce, And comyth forthe in to uncowthe lede, And takyth a wyfe (TJie Cambridge MS. containing in all 602 lines, breaks off with these words.) ^t)C Bladt Hotter EtiitU>n ott^t ^Xomumt of Ssv ^t^oxs tommtntts as follobjs :— LORDINGES, and you wyl holde you styl, 1 A gentyl tale tel you I wyll, Of Knyghtes of this countres, That hath trauayled beyonde the sea, To seke adventures, bothe nyght and day, And howe they myght their strength assay, As dyd a Knyght, his name was Syr Degore, One of the best that was founde hym before. Symtyme in England there was a Kynge, A noble man, &c. 10 (The following ruirics, or titles of division, occur ie/ore the lines as marked : — J (Line 321.; Howe Syr Degore fought with a dragon in a foreste, and slewe hym. (Line 4S1.) Howe Syr Degore justed with the Kynge of England, and smote hym downe. (Line 607.; Howe Syr Degore wedded his Mother, the Kynge's Dochter of England, and how she knew that he was her Sonne by the gloves. (Lim 874.; Howe Syr Degore fought for a lady with a gyant, and slewe hym. (Line 1014.; Howe Syr Degore fought with his Father, and howe his Father knew hym by the broken swerde. (Lines 557 to 562 are thus rendered :) — And then the Kynge began to speake, " Gryve me a spear that wyll not breake ; For he shall nowe be smitten downe, Though he be as strong as was Sampsone. And if he be the Devyll of helle, ' I shall hym soone downe fell. (Lines 619 and 620.; Thus dyd Syr Degore the bolde, He wedded his Mother, to have and to holde. (The following lines supply the apparent deficiency between lines 829 and 833.; And when they had supped all. The Dwarfe brought water into the halle. 46 VARIOUS READINGS. Then gaa they washe euerychone, And then to chamber gan they gone. Trewly, good Degore, and after I wyl, To loke on that Lady all my fyll : Who that me warnyth he shall aby, Upon the stayre they then nome, And sone into the chamber he come. (Of the following lines the last fowr are made to swpply the place of lines 1061 to 1073, of the original text. He toke the poynt, and sette it to, And they accorded bothe two. So longe the[y] haue spoke together^ Both the Sonne and the Father, That they be right wele at one, The Father and the Sonne alone. Syr Degore, &c. A^at line 1074, and so on to the end : vide page 35.) SbrNRirRGH : ALfix> [^iir[b and ra printuks to hbk MAJsmvi