IX.

Now rides the knight through the realms of England.

Now rideȝ þis renk þurȝ þe ryalme of Logres,

Sir Gauan on Godeȝ halue, þaȝ hym no gomen þoȝt;

Oft, leudleȝ alone, he lengeȝ on nyȝteȝ,

Þer he fonde noȝt hym byfore þe fare þat he lyked;

Hade he no fere bot his fole, bi frytheȝ & douneȝ,

Ne no gome bot God, bi gate wyth to karp,

Til þat he neȝed ful noghe¹ in to þe Norþe Waleȝ;

Alle þe iles of Anglesay on lyft half he haldeȝ,

& fareȝ ouer þe fordeȝ by þe for-londeȝ,

Ouer at þe Holy-Hede, til he hade eft bonk

In þe wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde þer bot lyte

Þat auþer God oþer gome wyth goud hert louied.

& ay he frayned, as he ferde, at frekeȝ þat he met,

If þay hade herde any karp of a knyȝt grene,

In any grounde þer-aboute, of þe grene chapel;²

& al nykked hym wyth nay, þat neuer in her lyue

Þay seȝe neuer no segge þat watȝ of suche hweȝ

of grene.

Þe knyȝt tok gates straunge,

In mony a bonk vnbene,

His cher ful oft con chaunge,

Þat chapel er he myȝt sene.

¹ nyghe (?). ² MS. clapel.