Co[_n_]quered al frau_n_ce & Almayne,
Lombardye Rome & ytalye--

[The Messenger's Report of Arthur.]

By [gh]oure bok_is_ [gh]e may a-spye. 268
Y am [th]eir Eyr & [th]eyre lynage,
Y aske [gh]ow my trywage."

[Th]is l_ett_re was celyd fast,
Y-take the Messagerez on hast; 272
Arthour [gh]af ham [gh]yftez grete,
And chered ham wy[th] drynk and Mete.
Lucius's [Th]ey hasted ham to come hoom;
messengers Byfor [th]e Emp_er_o_ur_ [th]ey be[th] coom; 276
return to him. Saluted hym as resou_n_ ys,
And toke hym [th]es letterys.
[Th]ey seyde to [th]e Emp_er_our
"We have be wy[th] kyng Artho_ur_; 280
But such ano[th]_er_ as he ys oon,
Say neuer no Man.
He ys s_er_ued on hys howshold
Wy[th] kynges, Erles, worthy & bold; 284
Hys worthynesse, sur Emp_er_our,
Passe[th] Much_e_ all_e_ [gh]owre;
and give him He seyde he wolde hyder come
Arthur's message. And take trywage of all_e_ Rome, 288
We dowte[th] last he wel do soo,
For he ys Myghty ynow [th]er-too."
Now, erst [th]an we goo fer[th]er,
Every man [th]at ys here 292
Sey a Pater noster
And ave wy[th] gode chere; Ame_n_.

Pater noster

Ave Maria.

Now stureth hym self Artho_ur_ [Fol. 44_b_.]
[Th]enkyng on hys labo_ur_, 296
Arthur prepares And gadery[th] to hym strenghth aboute,
for his Hys kynges & Erles on a rowte--
expedition A fayr sy[gh]t to Mannes ye
to Rome. to see suche a cheualrye,-- 300

[The Number of Arthur's Host.]

Has five kings, The kyng of Gotland,
Also [th]e kyng of Irland,
the kyng of ysland | & of Orkenye,
[Th]is was worthy Maynye; 304
The kyng of Denmark also was [th]er_e_,