So þat þẏs Water Tẏrel, þat þer bysẏde was neẏ,
Wolde ssete anoþer hert, þat, as he sede, he seẏ.
He sset þe kẏng in atte breste, þat neuer eft he ne speke,
Bote þe ssaft, þat was wẏþoute, grẏslẏch he to brec,
And anowarde hẏs wombe vel adoun, and deẏde without spech,
Wẏþoute ssrẏft and hosel, anon þer was Gode’s wreche.
Þo Water Tẏrel ẏseẏ, þat he was ded, anon
He atornde, as vaste as he mẏgte, þat was hẏs best won.”
Peter of Langtoft (i. 446) has some touches of his own. Among other things, the days of the week have got wrong, in order to bring in a precept as to the proper observance of the weekly fast-day. We also get a purely imaginary Bishop of Winchester;
“Par un Jovedy à vespre le ray ala cocher