And when he came to Merry Carlile,
to his chamber he is gone,
& ther came to him his Cozen Sr Gawaine
as he did make his mone.
And there came to him his Cozen Sr Gawaine
yt was a curteous knight,
why sigh you soe sore vnckle Arthur, he said
or who hath done thee vnright.
O peace, o peace, thou gentle Gawaine,
yt faire may thee beffall,
for if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,
thou wold not meruaile att all;
ffor when I came to tearne wadling,
a bold barron there I fand,
wth a great club vpon his backe,
standing stiffe & strong;
And he asked me wether I wold fight,
or from him I shold be gone,
o[r] else I must him a ransome pay
& soe dep't him from.
To fight wth him I saw noe cause,
me thought it was not meet,
ffor he was stiffe & strong wth all,
his strokes were nothing sweete.
Therfor this is my ransome, Gawaine
I ought to him to pay
I must come againe, as I am sworne,
vpon the Newyeers day.
And I must bring him word what thing it is
[About Nine Stanzas wanting.]
Then king Arthur drest him for to ryde
in one soe rich array
toward the foresaid Tearne wadling,
yt he might keepe his day.