Sir Degarre

sig: [A1]

¶Syr Degore.

sig: [A1v]

LOrdynges and ye wyll holde you styll

A gentyll tale tell you I wyll

Of knyghtes of this countree

That hath trauayled beyonde the see

To seke auentures bothe nyght and daye

And how they myght theyr streng[t]h assay strength] strengh 1512

As dyde a knyght his name was syr Degore As] So R, A

One of the best that was founde hym before

Somtyme in Englonde there was a kynge

A noble man of maners in all-thynge

Stoute in armes and vnder shylde

Full moche doubted in batayll and felde doubted: ='feared'

There was no man than veramente

That with hym Iusted in tur[na]mente turnamente] turmente 1512

That out of his styrope myght brynge his fote

He was so stronge without doubte

The kynge had no chyldern but one

A doughter as whyte as whalles-bone

That mayden he loued as his lyfe

Her moder was deed the quene his wyfe

In trauayll of chylde she dyed alas

But whan that mayden af aege was

Kyn[g]es sones her woed then Kynges] Kynkes 1512

Emperours Dukes and other men

To haue that mayden in maryage

For loue of her grete herytage

But than the kynge dyde them answere

That no man sholde wedde her

But yf that he myght with stoute Iustynge

The kynge out of his sadyll brynge

And do[en] hym lose his styropes two doen] downe 1512, doe R

Many one assayed and myght nought do

sig: A2

Euery yere of ryght [he] wolde he] it 1512

A grete feest [haue and] holde haue and] wole he 1512, have and R, make and A, C

Upon his quenes murnynge-daye

That was buryed in an abbaye

So on a daye the kynge wolde ryde

To an abbaye there-besyde

To do dyryges and masses bothe

The poore to fede and the naked to clothe

His owne doughter with hym rode

And in the forest styll she abode

She called her chamberlayne her to

And other maydens she dyde also

And sayd adowne she muste alyght

Better her clothes to amende and ryght

Adowne they ben alyght all thre

Her damoysell and so dyde she

A full longe stounde there she abode

Tyll all the meyne frome her rode

They gate vp and after they wolde

But they coude not [the] ryght waye holde the] they 1512

The wodde was roughe and thycke ywysse

And they toke theyr waye all amysse

They rode southe they rode west

In-to the thycke of that forest

And in-to a londe they came at the last

Than weryed they wonder faste

Than wyst the[y] well amysse they had gone they] the 1512

And downe the[y] lyght euerychone they] the 1512

And they called all in fere

But there myght no man them here

The weder was hote before the none

They wyst neuer what was best to done

sig: [A2v]

But layde them downe vpon the grene

Some fel on_slepe as I wene

Thus they fell on_slepe euerychone

Saue the kynges doughter a_lone

She went aboute and gadred floures

And to here the songe of small foules

So longe she dyde forth pas

That she wyst neuer where she was

Ye waye to her damoyselles she wolde haue nome

But she wyst neuer how to come

Than gan she crye wonder sore

She wepte and wronge her handes thore

And sayd alas that I was borne

For well I wote I am forlorne

For wylde bestes wyll me rynde rynde] gryndyn R, to_grinde A

Or ony man may me fynde

And then she sawe a Ioyfull syght

To her came prekynge a fayre knyght

Full well he semed a gentyll man

And ryche clothes hym vpon

Well farynge both of fote and honde

There was non suche in that londe

So stout a man than was he

He sayd madame god you se

Be ye a_drade of me ryght nought

I haue none armes with me brought

I haue the loued this many a yere

And now I haue founde the here

Thou shalte be my lemmanne or I go

Wheder it tourne to wele or wo

No more to done then coude she

But wepte and cryed and wolde haue fle

sig: A3

Anone began he her to beholde

And dyde with her what he wolde

And berafte her her maydenhode

100

And than before the lady he stode

He sayd madame gentyll and fre

With chylde I wote well that ye be

Well I wote it shall be a knaue

Therfore my swerde he shall haue

105

My good swerde [and] a[u]e[n]aunt and auenaunt] of ameaunt 1512, and avenauntt R, and avenaunt Aauenaunt: ='suitable', see OED s.v. avenant

For therwith I slewe a gyaunt

I brake the poynt in his hede

And in the felde I it leued

Dame take it vp lo it is here

110

For thou spekest not with me this many a yere

And yet parauenture the tyme may come

That I maye speke with my sone

And by this sworde I may hym ken

He kyssed his loue and wente then

115

The knyght passed as he come

All wepynge the lady that swerde vp nome

She wente awaye sore wepynge

And founde her maydens slepynge

She hydde the swerde so as she myght

120

And called them vp anone-ryght

And toke theyr horses euerychone

And began to ryde soone anone

And than ther came at the last

Many a knyght prekynge fast

125

Fro the kynge than were they sent

To wete wheder they wente

They brought them in-to the hye-waye

And rode in fere to that abbaye

sig: [A3v]

There was done seruyce and all-thynge

130

With many a masse and ryche offerynge

And whan that seruyce was all done

And gan to passe the hye-none

The kynge vnto his palays gan ryde

And moche people by his syde

135

Whan euery man was gladde and blythe

The lady soned many a sythe soned: ='swooned'

Her baly waxed more and more

She wepte and wronge her handes sore

So vpon a daye she gan sore wepe

140

A mayden of hers toke good kepe

And sayd madame for charyte

Why ye do wepe ye wyll tell me

Mayden and I tell the before

And thou me wrey I were but lore

145

For I haue ben euer meke and mylde

And truly nowe I am with chylde

And yf ony man it vnder_yede vnder_yede is a rhyme-sp.; see OED s.v. underyete

Euery man wolde tell in euery stede

That my fader on me it wan

150

For I loued neuer other man

And yf my fader it may wete

Suche sorowe his herte may gete

That he shall neuer mery man be

For all his Ioye is layde on me

155

And tolde the damoysell all in fere

How the chylde was begoten on here

Now gentyll lady greue you nought

For styll it shall be forth brought

Shall no man it wytte certaynly

160

Truely madame but you and I

sig: [A4]

Tyme was come she was vnbounde

And delyuered both hole and sounde

A man-chylde there was bore

Gladde was the lady therfore

165

The mayden serued her at her wyll

And layde the chylde in a cradyll

She wrapped hym in clothes anone

And was all-redy for to haue gone

Yet was the chylde vnto the moder holde

170

She gaue it .xx. pounde of golde

And .x. pounde of syluer also

Under his heed she gan it doo

Moche it is that a chylde behoues

She put with hym a payre of gloues

175

Her lemman gaue her them in a stonde

They wolde elles on no womans honde

On chyldes nother woman they nolde

But on his moders handes they wolde

And bad the chylde no wyfe wedde in londe

180

But the gloues wolde on her honde

For they myght serue no-where

Saue the moder that dyde hym bere

A letter with the chylde put she

With the gloues also perde

185

She knyt the letter with a threde

A_boute his necke a full good spede

Than was it in the letter wrytte the] the the 1512

Who-so it founde shulde it wytte

For crystes loue yf ony good man

190

This wofull chylde fynde can

Do hym be crystened of preestes honde

And to helpe hym to lyue in londe

sig: [A4v]

With this syluer that is here

Tyll he may armes bere

195

And helpe hym with his owne good

For he is come of gentyll blode

And whan she had thus done

The mayden toke her leue full sone

With the chylde in the cradyll and all-thynge

200

She stale awaye in the euenynge

And went her waye she wyste not whyder

Thrughe thycke and thynne in the breer

She wente all the wynter nyght

By shynynge of the mone-lyght

205

Then was she redely ware anone

Of an hermytage made of stone

An holy man had there his dwellynge

And theder she wente without lesynge

And sette the cradyll at the dore

210

For she durste dwell no lenger thore

But turned agayne anone-ryght

And came agayne the same nyght

The hermyte rose on the morowe tho

And his knaue also

215

Lorde he sayd I crye the mercy

For nowe I here a yonge chylde crye

This holy man his dore vndyde

And fou[n]de the cradell in the stede

He lyfte vp the shete anone

220

And loked vpon the lytell grome

Than helde he vp his ryght honde

And thanked Ihesu_cryst of his sonde

He bare the chylde in-to the chapell

For Ioye of hym he ronge the bell

sig: [A5]

225

And layde vp the gloues and the tresoure

And crystened the chylde with grete honoure

And in the worshyp of the trynyte

He called the chyldes name Degore

For Degore to vnderstonde it is

230

But thynge that almoost is lost ywys

As thynge that is almoost a_goo

Therfore he called that chylde soo

The hermyte was an holy man of lyfe

He had a syster that was a wyfe

235

He sente the chylde to her full rathe

With moche money by his knaue

And badde she sholde take good hede

The chylde to nourysshe and fede

And this lytell chylde Degore

240

Unto that cyte was I_bore

The good-man and his wyfe in fere

The chylde they kepte as it theyr owne were

Tyll it was .x. wynter olde

He waxed a fayre chylde and a bolde

245

Well-taught fayre and kynde

There was none suche in all that ende ende: ='region', see OED s.v. end n, 2

What tyme .x. yere was come and spente

Unto the hermyte they hym sente

The hermyte longed hym for to se

250

Thenne was he a fayre chylde and fre

He taught the chylde of clarkes lore

Other .x. wynter withouten more

And whan he was of .xx. yere

He was a man of grete powere

255

There was no yonge-man in that londe

That myght stande a brayde of his honde

sig: [A5v]

And whan the hermyte that dyde see

That he a man so stronge wolde be

A stalworthe man in ony werke

260

And of his tyme a well good clerke

He toke his florens and his gloues

That he had kepte for hym in his house

But his .x. pounde that was sterlynge

Was spente aboute the chyldes kepynge

265

The hermyte toke hym his lettre to rede

He loked therin that same stede

Syr he sayd for saynt charyte

Was this lettre made by me

Ye sone by hym that me deme shall

270

Thus I founde the and tolde hym all

He sette hym downe on knees full blythe

And thanked the hermyte many sythe

And sayd he wolde not rest in londe

Tyll the tyme he had his fader fonde

275

He gaue the hermyte halfe his golde

And the remenaunt vp he folde

He toke his leue and fayne wolde go

The hermyte sayd he sholde not so

To seke thy kynne thou mayst not endure

280

Without good horse and good armure.

¶How syr Degore fought with a dragon in a forest and slewe hym.

sig: [A6]

SIr hermyte he sayd in-dede

I wyll haue no other wede

But a batte in mi honde

Myn enemyes therwith to withstande

285

A full good sapelynge of an oke

On whome he sette therwith a stroke

[Were] he neuer so tall a man Were] Where 1512, Wher R

Nor yet so good armure hym vpon

He wolde hym fell to the grounde

290

With that same batte in that stounde

sig: [A6v]

The chylde kyssed the hermyte tho

And toke his leue for to goo

Degore wente forthe on his waye

Thrughe a forest halfe a daye

295

He harde no man nor sawe none

Tyll it was past the hye-none

Thenne harde he grete strokes fall

That made grete noyse withall

Full soone he thought that thynge to se

300

To wyte what the strokes myght be

There was an erle bothe stoute and gay

He was come theder that same day

For to hunte for a dere or a doo

But his houndes were gone hym fro

305

Thenne was there a dragon grete and grymme

Full of fyre and also venimme

With a wyde throte and tuskes grete

Upon that knyght fast gan he bete

And as a lyon thenne was his fete

310

His tayle was longe and full vnmete

Bytwene his hede and his tayle

Was .xxii. fote withouten fayle

His body was lyke a wyne-tonne

He shone full bryght agaynst the sonne

315

His eyen were bryght as ony glasse

His scales were harde as ony brasse

And therto he was necked lyke a horse

He bare his hede vp with grete force

The breth of his mouth that dyde out-blowe

320

As it had bene a fyre on lowe lowe: ='flame'; see OED s.v. low, lowe, n2

He was to loke on as I you tell

As it had ben a fende of hell

sig: [A7]

Many a man he had shente

And many a horse he had rente

325

And to that erle harde batayll began

But he defended hym lyke a man

And boldely smote hym with his swerde

But of all his strokes he was not aferde

His skynne was harde as ony stone

330

Wherfore he myght hym no harme done

And whan the erle syr Degore se

Helpe syr he sayd for saynt charyte

And thenne answerde syr Degore

Full gladly syr and god before

335

Whan the dragon of Degore had a syght

He left the erle and came to hym ryght

And the chylde that was so stronge

Toke his staffe that was longe

And smote the dragon so on the crowne

340

That in that wodde he fell downe

And then that dragon anone-ryght

Smote the chylde with suche myght

With his tayle vpon the ryght syde

That downe he fell in that tyde

345

And he sterte vp anone full ryght

And defended hym with moche myght

With that staffe that was so longe

He brake of hym bothe fote and bone

That it was wonder for to se

350

He was so toughe he myght not deye

Tyll Degore one stroke at hym flonge

With his staffe that was so stronge

He smote hym on the crowne on hye

That he made his braynes out-flye

sig: [A7v]

355

And thenne the erle was glade and blythe

And thanked Degore many a sythe

And prayed hym he wolde with hym ryde

Unto his palays there-be_syde

And there he made hym a knyght

360

And made hym good chere that nyght

Rentes tresoure and half his londe

He wolde haue sezyd in-to his honde

Syr Degore thanked hym truely

And prayed hym of his curtaysye

365

To lette his ladyes before hym come

Wyues medens more and some

And also your doughter eke

And yf my gloues ben for them mete

Or wyll vpon ony of there hondes

370

Than wolde I fayne take my londes

And yf my gloues wyll not soo

Thenne wyll I take my leue and goo

All the women were out brought

That there-aboute myght be sought

375

All the[y] assayed the gloues than they] the 1512

But they wher mete for no woman wher] where 1512

Syr Degore toke vp his gloues anone

And also toke leue for to gone

The Erle was a lorde of gentyll blode

380

He gaue syr Degore a stede ryght good

And therto he gaue hym good armure

The whiche was both fayre and sure

And also a page his man to be

And an hakneye to ryde on truely

385

Syr Degore was glade and blythe

And thanked the erle many a sythe

sig: [A8]

He rode forthe vpon his waye

Many a myle vpon somers daye

Upon a daye moche people he mette

390

He houed styll and fayre them grette

And asked a squyre what tydynge

And frome whens came all that folke rydynge

The squyre sayd syr veramente

They come frome the parlamente

395

Fro a counseyll the kynge dyde make

The whiche is for his doughters sake

But whan the parlament was moost plenere plenere: ='fully asembled', see OED s.v. plenar, plener adj

The kynge lete crye bothe fer and nere

Yf ony man were soo bolde

400

That with the kynge Iust wolde

He sholde haue his doughter in maryage

And all his londe and herytage

It is a londe bothe good and fayre

And the kynge therto had none ayre

405

But sertes there dare no man graunt therto

Many one sayd they myght not doo

For euery man that rydeth to hym

He beteth them with strokes grym

Some he breketh the necke anone

410

Of some he cracketh bothe backe and bone

Some thrughe the body he glytte glytte: ='strikes', 'cuts'; see OED glide, 4b

And some to deth he smytte

And to hym may no man do nothynge

Suche a grace euer had our kynge

415

Syr Degore stode in a stody than

And thought he was a doughty man

And I am in my yonge blode

And I haue horse and armure good

sig: [A8v]

And as I trowe a full good stede

420

I wyll assaye yf that I may spede

And yf I may bere the kynge downe

I may be a man of grete renowne

And yf that he me fell can

There knoweth no-body what I am

425

Dethe or lyfe what-so me be_tyde

I wyll ones ayenst hym ryde

Thus in the cyte his ynne he takes

And rested hym and mery makes

So vpon a day the kynge he mette

430

He kneled downe and fayre hym grette

He sayde syr kynge of moche myght

My lorde hath sent me to you ryght

To warne you how it shall be

My lorde wyll come and fyght with the

435

To Iust with the my lorde hathe nome

The kynge sayd he shall be welcome

Be he knyghte or barowne

Erle Duke or chorle in towne

There is no man I wyll forsake

440

Who all may wynne all may take

¶How syr Degore Iusted with the kynge of Englonde and smote hym downe.

SO on the morowe the day was sette

The kynge auysed [hym] moche the bette hym] 1512 omits, hym R

But thenne there was no lyuynge man

That Degore trusted moche vpon

445

But to chirche that tyme went he

To here a masse of the trynyte

sig: B1

To the fader he offered a floryne

And to the sone another fyne

The thyrde to the holy-goost he offered

450

The preest in his masse for hym prayed

And whan the masse was done

Unto his ynne he wente anone

He dyde arme hym well in-dede

In ryche armure good at nede

455

His good stede he began to stryde

And toke his spere and forthe dyde ryde

His knaue toke an-other spere

And after his mayster gan it bere

Thus in the felde syr degore a_bode than

460

[The] kynge came with many a man The] They 1512

Many came theder redely

To se the iustynge truely

All that in the felde were

They sayd and dyde swere

sig: [B1v]

465

That they neuer or that tyme se

So fayre a man with theyr eye

As was that yonge knyght syr Degore

But non wyst what man was he

They rode to_gyder at the laste

470

On theyr good stedes full faste

The kynge had the gretter shafte

And more he coude of that crafte

To dasshe hym downe thenne had he mente

And in his shylde sette suche a dente suche] shuche 1512

475

That his good spere all to_braste

But Degore was stronge and sat fast

Than sayd the kynge alas alas

For me befell neuer suche a case

There was neuer man that I myght hit

480

That euer myght my stroke sytte

This is a man all for the nones

For he is a man of grete bones

Thenne toke the kynge a gretter tre

And square also mote I the

485

And yf his necke wyll not a_two

His backe shall or that I goo

The kynge rode to hym with grete randowne randowne: ='speed', 'force'; see OED s.v. random n

And thought to haue dasshed the chylde downe.

He smote syr Degore soone anone

490

Ryght before the br[e]st-bone brest] brst 1512

That his horse was rered on hye

And syr Degore was fallen nye

Syr Degore thus his cours out-yode

He was sore angry in his mode

495

Alas he sayd I haue myssed yet

And he hath me twyes hit

sig: [B2]

And neuer ones with hym I met

By god I shall me auyse bet

They rode togyder with grete myght

500

In theyr sheldes theyr speres pyght

That theyr good speres all to_broke

Unto theyr handes with the stroke

And than the kynge began to speke

Gyue me a spere that wyll not breke

505

For he shall anone be smyten downe

Thoughe he be as stronge as was sampsowne

And yf he be the deuyll of hell

I shall hym soone downe fell

The kynge toke a spere styfe and stron[g]e stronge] stronke 1512

510

And Degore toke a_nother good and longe

And stou[t]ly to the kynge he smytte stoutly] stouly 1512, stowttly R

The kynge hym fayled and Degor hym [h]it hit] it 1512, hytt R

And syr Degore soo hym bete

That he made the kynges horse torne vp his fete.

515

Boldely he rode vp than

And semed a full goodly man

The kynge was out of his sadyll caste

Wherof his doughter was sore a_gaste

Thenne was there moche noyse and crye

520

The kynge was sore asshamed for_thy

Wele I wote his doughter was sory

F[o]r thenne she wyste redely For] Fer 1512

That she shulde maryed be

To a man of a straunge countree

525

And lede her lyfe with suche one

That she wyste neuer fro whens he come

The kynge sayd to syr Degore

Come heder fayre sone me before

sig: [B2v]

And thou were as gentyll a man

530

As thou semest to loke vp[o]n vpon] vpan 1512

And thou coude wyt and reason doo

As thou arte doughty man [ther]to therto] to 1512, therto R, þerto A

I wolde thynke my londe well beset

And yf it were fyue tymes the bet

535

For worde spoken I must nedes holde

Before my barons that be so bolde

I take the my doughter by the hondetake: ='give'

And sesse the in all my londe sesse: ='put in possession of', see OED seize v, 1

To be myn heyre after me

540

In Ioye ad blysse for to be

¶How syr Degore wedded his moder the kynges doughter of Englonde / and howe she

she] shewe 1512

knewe that he was

was] whas 1512

her sone by the gloues.

sig: [B3]

GRete ordynaunce was there wrought

To the chyrche-dore they were brought

And were there wedded veramente

Unto the holy sacramente

545

Loke what foly happened there

That he sholde wedde his owne modere

The whiche had borne hym one her syde one: =on

And yet he knewe nothynge that tyde

He knewe nothynge of her k[y]nne kynne] kenne 1512, kyn R, kin A

550

Nor she knewe nothynge of hym

And bothe togyder ordeyned to bedde bedde] lybbe R, libbe A

Yet parauenture they may be sybbe sybbe] sybble 1512, sybbe R, sibbe A

Thus dyde syr Degore the bolde

He wedded his moder to haue and to holde

555

God suffred moche thynge there

But yet he lete them not synne in fere

It passed on the hye tyme of none

And the daye was nere-hande done

To bed was brought bothe he and she

560

With grete myrthe a[n]d solempnyte

Syr Degore stode and be_helde than

And thought of the hermyte [that] holy man that] 1512 omits, that R, þe A

That he sholde neuer for_thy

Wedde no wedowe nor lady

565

But yf she myght the gloues two

Lyhtly vpon her handes doo

Alas than sayd syr Degore

The tyme that euer I was bore

And sayd anone with heuy chere

570

Me had leuer than all this kyngdome here

That is now sessyed in-to my honde

That I were fayre out of this londe

sig: [B3v]

The kynge these wordes harde tho

And sayd dere sone why sayst thou so

575

Is there ought ayenste thy wyll

Other done or sayd that dothe the yll

Or ony-thynge that is mysdone

Tell me and it shall be amended sone

Naye lorde he sayd thenne

580

But for all the maryage that done hath ben

I wyll not with no woman mell

Wyfe wedowe nor damoysell

But yf she myght these gloues doo

Lyghtly vpon her handes two

585

And whan the lady gan this here

A_none she changed all her chere

And all-to_gyder turned her mode

Her visage waxed rede as ony blode

She knewe that the gloues longed to her

590

And sayd gyue me the gloues fayre syr

She toke the gloues in that stede that] that that 1512

And lyghtly vpon her handes them dyde

She fell downe and began to crye

And sayd lorde god I aske mercy

595

I am thy moder that the dyde bere

And thou arte my owne sone dere

Syr Degore full sone tho

Toke her vp in his armes two armes] arumes 1512

Than were they glade and blythe

600

They kyssed to_gyder many a sythe

The kynge of them had grete meruayll

Of the noyse they made withouten fayll

And was a_basshed of theyr wepynge

And sayd doughter what is this thynge

sig: [B4]

605

Fader she sayd wyll ye it here

Ye wene that I a mayden were

Nay truely fader I am none

For it is .xx. wynter a_gone

This is my sone god it wote

610

And by these gloues I it wotte

She tolde hym all-togyder there

How he was begoten on here

Than bespake syr Degore

Swete moder than sayd he

615

Where is my fader wonnynge

And whan herde ye of hym ony tythynge tythynge: =tiding

Sone she sayd by heuen-kynge

I can tell of hym no tydynge

But whan thy fader frome me wente

620

A poyntles swerde he me lente

And charged me to kepe it than

Tyll the tyme thou were a man

She fette the swerde full swythe

And syr Degore it out_twythe

625

Longe and brode it was perde

There was none suche in that countre

Truely sayd syr Degore than

Who-so it owed he was a man

Now god of heuen he me kepe

630

Nyght nor daye I wyll not slepe

Tyll the tyme I may my fader se

In crystendome yf that he be

He made hym mery that ylke nyght

On the moro[we] whan it was day-lyght morowe] moro 1512

635

He wente to the chyrche to here masse

And made hym redy for to passe

sig: [B4v]

Then sayd the kynge my nexte kynne

I wyll gyue the knyghtes with the to wynne

Syr he sayd gramercy than

640

With [me] shall go no other man me] 1512 omits

But my knaue that may take hed

To myn armure and to my stede

He lepte on horse the sothe to saye

And rode forth on his Iournaye

645

Many a myle and many a waye

He rode forth on his palfraye

And euer-more he rode west

Tyll tyme he came to a forest

Wylde bestes there wente hym by

650

And foules songe there full merely

So longe he rode tyll it drewe to nyght

The sone wente doune and fayled lyght

Unto some towne fayne wolde he ryde

But there was none on neyther syde

655

Soone after he founde a castell clere

A lady truely wonned there

A fayre castell of lyme and stone

But other towne there was none

Degore sayd to his knaue that tyde

660

Wyll we to that castell ryde

And all nyght abyde wyll we

And aske lodgynge for charyte

The dra[w]bryge was drawen tho drawbryge] drabryge 1512

And the yate stode open also

665

Unto the castell they gan them spede

And fyrst he stabled vp his stede

And than he set vp his hakeney

I_noughe they founde of corne and hey

sig: C1

He wente a_boute and gan to call

670

Bothe in the courte and eke in hall

Nether for loue nor yet for awe loue] lowth Rlowth: ='fear'

Lyuynge man none there they sawe

And in the myddes of the hall-floure

There was a grete fyre in that stoure

675

Than sayd his man leue syre

I haue wonder who made this fyre

Yf he wyll come agay[n]e this nyght agayne] agaye 1512

I wyll hym abyde as I am knyght

He set hym do[w]ne vpon the dease downe] done 1512

680

And made hym well at ease

Than was he ware soone of one

That at the dore he gan gone

And thre maydens fayre and fre

That wher trussed vp to the knee wher] where 1512

685

Twayne of them bowes dyde bere

And two of them charged were

With venyson that was full good

Thenne syr Degore vp_stode

And blessed them a_none-ryght

690

But they spake not to the knyght

But wente in-to the c[h]ambre anone wente] whente 1512; chambre] cambre 1512

And shytte the dore full sone

And a_none after therwithall

There came a dwarfe in-to the hall

695

Foure fote was the length of hym

His vysage was bothe grete and grym

And the hear that on his heed was

It was yelo as ony wa[x]e waxe] waye 1512, wax R, A

[...........................]The rhyme-scheme and comparison with R and A indicate that a line has dropped out here in 1512

700

But full stou[t]ly than loked he stoutly] stouly 1512, stowttly R, stoutliche A

sig: [C1v]

He ware a cyrcote that was grene cyrcote: =surcoat

With blaunchmer it was furred I wene blaunchmer: =a kind of fur; see OED s.v. blaunner

He was well clade and well dyght

His shone was corked as a knyght

705

He was large bothe of fote and hande

As ony man was in that lande

Syr Degore loked on hym tho

And to hym reuerence dyde doo

And he to hym wolde speke no worde

710

But made hym besy to l[a]ye the borde laye] lye 1512

He layde the clothe and sette forth brede

And also wyne bothe whyte and rede

Torches in the hall he dydde lyght

All-thynge redy to souper he dyght

715

And sone after with grete honoure

There came a lady out of her boure

And with her came maydens fyftene

Some in rede and some in grene

Syr Degore folowed a_none-ryght

720

And nought she spake vnto that knyght

But yede and wasshed euerychone

And to souper gan they gone

The lady was fayre and bryght

In the myddes of the desse she set downe-ryght set: =sat

725

On euery syde sat maydens fy[u]e

Fayre and goodly as ony was a_lyue

By god than sayd syr Degore

I haue you blessed and ye not me

But ye seme dombe by saynt Iohan

730

I shall make you speke and I can

Syr Degore coude of curteysy

He yede and sat before the lady

sig: [C2]

And whan he had taken that sete

He toke a knyfe and cutte his mete

735

Full lytell mete at souper ete he

He dyd so be_holde that mayden fre

Hym thought she was the fayrest lady

That euer afore he dyde se

All his herte thought and myght

740

Was on that lady that was to bryght to: ='very'? see OED s.v. too, adv. 3; or emend to 'so'?

And whan they had souped all

The dwerfe brought water in-to the hall

Thenne gan they wasshe euerychone

And than to chambre gan they gone

745

Truely quod Degore and after I wyll

To loke on that lady all my fyll

Who that me warneth he shall abye warneth: ='hinders', 'resists'; see OED s.v. warn v2; abye: ='pay the penalty', see s.v. OED aby, abye

Or to do hym make a sory crye

Upon the stayre the waye he nome

750

And soone in-to the chambre he come

[The] lady that was so fayre and bryght The] They 1512

Up[on] her bedde she sat downe-ryght Upon] Upno 1512

She harped notes swete and fyne

Her maydens fylled a pyece of wyne pyece: ='wine-cup'; see OED s.v. pece

755

And syr Degore sat hym downe

For to here the harpes sowne

That thorowe the notes of the harpe shyll

He layde hym downe and slepte his fyll

This fayre lady that ylke nyght

760

She bad go couer that gentyll knyght

And ryche clothes aboute hym caste

And the lady wente to a_nother bed at the laste

So on the morowe whan it was daye

The lady rose the sothe to saye

sig: [C2v]

765

And in-to the chambre her waye gan take

She sayd syr knyght a_ryse and wake

[The] lady sayd all in game The] They 1512

Ye be well worthy to haue blame

For as a beest all nyght thou dyde slepe

770

And of my maydens tokest no kepe

And than answered the knyght so fre

Mercy madame and forgyue it me

The notes of thyne harpe it made

Or elles the good wyne that I hade

775

But tell me now my lady hende

Or I out of this chambre wende

Who hathe this castell in his honde

And who is lorde of this londe

Wheder that ye be mayden or wyfe

780

And in what maner ye lede your lyfe

And why ye haue so many women

Alone withouten ony men

Syr fayne I wolde the tell

And thou coude it amende well

785

My fader was a bolde barowne

And holden a lorde of toure and towne

He had neuer chylde but me

I am ayre in this countre

¶How syr Degore foughte for a lady with a gyaunt and slewe hym.

sig: C3

THere hathe me wowed many a knyght

790

And many a squyre well dyght

But than the[re] wonned here-besyde there] theyr 1512

A stoute gyaunt full of pryde

He hathe me desyred longe [an]d yore and] nad 1512yore: ='for a long time past'

And hym to loue may I neuer-more

795

He is a_boute with his mestrye mestrye: ='superior force', see OED s.v. mastery

To do me shame and velonye

And he hathe slayne my men ychone

Saue my sory dwerfe alone

Ryght as they stode she fell to grounde

800

And soned there in that stounde soned: see above, A3v

All her damoyselles to her come

To comforte her and her vp_nome

The lady loked on syr Degore

Lefe dame thenne sayd he

805

Be not adrad whyles I am here

sig: [C3v]

I wyll the helpe to my powere

Syr she sayd thenne all my londe

I w[y]ll it cesse in-to thy honde wyll] wll 1512

And all my good I wyll the gyue

810

And all my body whyle I lyue

For to be [all at] your wyll all at] at all 1512

Erly and late loude and styll

And thy lemman for to be

To wreke me nowe on myn eneme

815

Tha[n] was Degore fayne to fyght Than] That 1512, Than R, þo A

For to defende that ladyes ryght

And to sle that other knyght

And wynne tha[t] lady that was so bryght that] thar 1512

And as they stode bothe in fere

820

Her maydens came rydynge with heuy chere

She bad drawe the bryge hastely

For here cometh [oure] enemy oure] youre 1512, our R, A

Or elles he wyll sle vs ychone

Syr Degore sterte vp anone

825

Oute at a wyndowe he hym se

He was sone armed on horse hye

So stoute a man as he was one

In armes sawe she ne[u]er none

Syr Degore armed hym by_lyue

830

And oute of the castell he gan dryue

And rode euen the gyaunt agayne

They smote togyder with moche mayne

That theyr good speres all to_brast

Degore was stro[n]ge and sat fast stronge] stroge 1512

835

But his stedes bake braste a_two

Thenne syr Degore fell to the grounde tho Thenne] And R, A

And thenne he sterte vp and loughe

sig: [C4]

And his good swerde he out-drughe

Than sayd the gyaunt to hym anone

840

On fote we wyll to_gyder gone

Thou hast sayd Degore slayne my good stede

I hope to quyte the thy mede

To sle thy stede nought I wyll

But to fyght with the my fyll

845

And tho they fought on fote in fere

With stronge strokes on helme clere

The gyaunt gaue syr Degore

Houge strokes grete plente

And syr Degore dyde hym also

850

Tyll helme and basynet barste in two

The gya[un]t was a_greued sore gyaunt] gyanut 1512

Bycause he hadde his blode lore

He stroke vpon syr Degore soo

That to the grounde he made hym goo

855

Syr Degore recouered soone a plyght

And suche a stroke he gaue that knyght

And on the crowne soo it sette

That throwe his helme and basynet

He made the swerde go thorowe his he[d]letter broken

860

And anone the gyaunt fell downe deed

The lady sat in her castell

And [s]awe all the hole batayll sawe] fawe 1512; hole] holde 1512

How the gyaunt was slayne

That wolde her haue forlayne

865

She was as glade of that syght

As euer was bryde of the daye-lyght

Syr Degore came to the ca[ste]ll castell] caestll 1512

An[d] agaynst hym came that damoysell And] Ano 1512

She thanked hym of his good dede

sig: [C4v]

870

And in her chambre she dyde hym lede

She sette hym on her bed anone

And vnarmed hym full sone

She toke hym in her armes two armes] harmes 1512

And kyssed hym .C. tymes and mo

875

And sayd all my good I wyll the gyue

And my body whyle I lyue

Gramercy damoysell then sayd he

Of that ye haue graunted me

But I must in-to ferre contree

880

Mo auentures for to se

Unto this twelue monthes be ago Unto: ='until'

And thenne I shall come you to

He betoke her to the heuen-kynge

The lady wepte at his departynge

885

Syr Degore rode vpon his waye

Many a longe Iourney

And euer-more he rode west

Tyll a lande he founde in a forest

To hym came prekynge a knyght

890

Well-armed and on his horse dyght

In armes that wolde endure

With fyne golde and ryche asure

Thre bore-hedes were theryne

[The] whiche were of golde fyne The] They 1512

895

As soone as euer he sawe that knyght

He spake to hym a_none-ryght

And sayd velayne what doost thou here

In my forest to sle my dere

Syr Degore sayd with wordes meke

900

Syr of thy dere I take no kepe

For I am auenturous knyght

sig: [C5]

That gothe to seke warre and fyght

His fader answered and sayd saunfayll

And thou be come to seke batayll

905

Thenne make the redy in a stounde

For thou haste thy felowe founde

And thenne syr Degore without daungere

Armed hym to fyght with his fadere

¶How syr Degore fought with his fader and how his fader knewe hym by the broken swerde.

A well go[o]d helme for the nones good] godd 1512

910

And well sette with precyus stones

sig: [C5v]

It myght well be his owne saunfayll

For he wanne it ones in batayll

He kest his shelde aboute his swere

Of ryall armes good and dere

915

His good stede he began to stryde

He toke his spere and began to ryde

And his man toke an-other spere

And by his syde he gan it bere

But loke what foly began that tyde

920

The sone agaynst the fader gan ryde

But neyther knewe other a_ryght

And thus began they to fyght

Syr Degore had the greater shafte

And wonder well he coude his crafte

925

To dasshe hym downe than had he wente

And in his shelde gaue suche a dente

That his good spere all to_brast

But his fader was stronge and sat fast

Another cours than haue they take

930

The fader for the sones sake

So harde they smote togyder in sothe

That theyr horses backes broke bothe

And thenne they fought on fote in fere

With harde strokes on helme clere

935

And thus his fader a_meruayled was

Of his swerde that was poyntles

And to hym sayd anone-ryght

Abyde a whyle thou gentyll knyght

Where was thou borne and in what londe

940

Syr he sayd in Englonde

A kynges doughter is my moder

But I wote not who is my fader

sig: [C6]

What is thy name thenne sayd he

Syr my name is Degore

945

Syr Degore thou arte welcome

For well I wote thou arte my sone

By this swerde I knowe the here

The poynt is in my pautenere pautenere: ='wallet'; see OED s.v. pautener

He toke the poynt and sette it to

950

And they accorded bothe-two

So longe they haue spoke togyder

Bothe the sone and the fader

That they be ryght well at one

The fader and the sone alone

955

Syr Degore and his fader dere

In-to Englonde they rode in fere

They were bothe armed and well dyght

As it becometh euery knyght

They rode forth on theyr Iourney

960

Many a myle of that countrey

And on theyr way they rode full fast

In-to Englonde they came at the laste

Whan they myght Englonde se

They drewe theder as they wolde be

965

Whan they wher to that palays come

They wher welcome all and some

And they behelde ouer-all

The lady them spyed ouer a wall

And whan that lady sawe that syght

970

She wente to them with all her myght

And ryght well she them knewe

And than she chaunged all her hewe

And sayd my dere done Degore

Thou hast thy fader brought with the

sig: [C6v]

975

Truely madame than sayd he

Full well I wote that it is he

Now thanked be god than sayd the kynge

For nowe I wote without lesynge

Who is syr Degores fader in-dede

980

The lady swoned in that stede

And sone after sekerly

The knyght wedded that lady

She and her sone was departed I_twynne

For he and she were to nye of kynne

985

Forth thenne wente syr degore

With the kynge and his meyne

His fader and his moder dere

Unto [the] castell they wente in fere the] they 1512

Where-as dwelled that lady bryght

990

That he had wonne in fyght

And wedded her with grete solempnyte with] witth 1512

Before all the lordes of that countre

Thus came the knyght out of his care

God gyue vs grace well to fare

995

And that we all vpon domes-day

Come to the blysse that lasteth ay.

AMEN

¶Thus endeth the treatyse of syr Degore. Enprynted at London in Flete_strete at the sygne of the sonne by Wynkyn_de_Worde.