“And þoȝ þer come twelue, þe beste of þy fered,
I will kuþe on hem my miȝt, & dyngen hem al to douste.”
p. 31, l. [1071]. in fere = “together.” fere, literally “one who fares with one,” means “a travelling companion, a comrade, a mate; a company.” O.E. (ge-)fera.
p. 31, l. [1074]. man = “bondman, subject, vassal.” So in ll. 1354 1466.
p. 31, l. [1077]. childe, “young knight, young man.” See Skeat’s note to Sir Thopas (Clarendon Press), 162/2020.
p. 31, l. [1084]. Cf. the French text:
“Sire, ce dist Rollans, chertes, tort en aves,
Car, par icel seigneur Ki Dix est appelés,
Je vauroie moult miex que fuissiés desmenbrés
Ke jou en baillasse armes ne ne fuisse adobés.