Lete we now this false knight · lyen in his care,

And talke we of Gamelyn · and loke how he fare.

Gamelyn in-to the woode · stalkede stille,

And Adam the spenser · lykede ful ille;

Adam swor to Gamelyn · by seynt Richer,

‘Now I see it is mery · to be a spencer,

That lever me were · keyes for to bere,

Than walken in this wilde woode · my clothes to tere.’

‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘dismaye thee right nought;

Many good mannes child · in care is y-brought.’

And as they stoode talking · bothen in-feere,

Adam herd talking of men · and neyh, him thought, they were.

Tho Gamelyn under the woode · lokede aright,

Sevene score of yonge men · he saugh wel a-dight;

Alle satte atte mete · in compas aboute.

‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘now have we no doute,

After bale cometh boote · thurgh grace of god almight;

Me thinketh of mete and drink · that I have a sight.’

Adam lokede tho · under woode-bowgh,

And whan he seyh mete · he was glad y-nough;

For he hopede to god · for to have his deel,

And he was sore alonged · after a good meel.

As he seyde that word · the mayster outlawe

Saugh Gamelyn and Adam · under woode-schawe.

‘Yonge men,’ seyde the maister · ‘by the goode roode,

I am war of gestes · god sende us non but goode;

Yonder ben two yonge men · wonder wel a-dight,

And paraventure ther ben mo · who-so lokede aright.

Ariseth up, ye yonge men · and fetteth hem to me;

It is good that we witen · what men they be.’

Up ther sterten sevene · fro the diner,

And metten with Gamelyn · and Adam spenser.

Whan they were neyh hem · than seyde that oon,

‘Yeldeth up, yonge men · your bowes and your floon.’

Thanne seyde Gamelyn · that yong was of elde,

‘Moche sorwe mot he have · that to you hem yelde!

I curse non other · but right my-selve;

They ye fette to yow fyve · thanne ye be twelve!’

Tho they herde by his word · that might was in his arm,

Ther was non of hem alle · that wolde do him harm,

But sayde unto Gamelyn · mildely and stille,

‘Com afore our maister · and sey to him thy wille.’

‘Yonge men,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘by your lewte,

What man is your maister · that ye with be?’

Alle they answerde · withoute lesing,

‘Oure maister is y-crouned · of outlawes king.’

‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘go-we in Cristes name;

He may neyther mete nor drink · werne us, for schame.

If that he be hende · and come of gentil blood,

He wol yeve us mete and drink · and doon us som good.’

‘By seynt Iame!’ seyde Adam · ‘what harm that I gete,

I wil auntre to the dore · that I hadde mete.’

Gamelyn and Adam · wente forth in-feere,

And they grette the maister · that they founde there.

Than seide the maister · king of outlawes,

‘What seeke ye, yonge men · under woode-schawes?’

Gamelyn answerde · the king with his croune,

‘He moste needes walke in woode · that may not walke in towne.

Sire, we walke not heer · noon harm for to do,

But-if we meete with a deer · to scheete ther-to,

As men that ben hungry · and mow no mete finde,

And ben harde bistad · under woode-linde.’

Of Gamelynes wordes · the maister hadde routhe,

And seyde, ‘ye schal have y-nough · have god my trouthe!’

He bad hem sitte ther adoun · for to take reste;

And bad hem ete and drinke · and that of the beste.

As they sete and eeten · and dronke wel and fyn,

Than seyde that oon to that other · ‘this is Gamelyn.’

Tho was the maister outlawe · in-to counseil nome,

And told how it was Gamelyn · that thider was y-come.

Anon as he herde · how it was bifalle,

He made him maister under him · over hem alle.

Within the thridde wyke · him com tyding,

To the maister outlawe · that tho was her king,

That he schulde come hom · his pees was y-mad;

And of that goode tyding · he was tho ful glad.

Tho seyde he to his yonge men · ‘soth for to telle,

Me ben comen tydinges · I may no lenger dwelle.’

Tho was Gamelyn anon · withoute tarying,

Maad maister outlawe · and crouned here king.

Tho was Gamelyn crouned · king of outlawes,

And walked a whyle · under woode-schawes.

The false knight his brother · was scherreve and sire,

And leet his brother endite · for hate and for ire.

Tho were his bonde-men · sory and nothing glad,

When Gamelyn her lord · ‘wolves-heed’ was cryed and maad;

And sente out of his men · wher they might him finde,

For to seke Gamelyn · under woode-linde,

To telle him tydinges · how the wind was went,

And al his good reved · and his men schent.

Whan they had him founde · on knees they hem sette,

And a-doun with here hood · and here lord grette;

‘Sire, wraththe you nought · for the goode roode,

For we have brought you tydinges · but they be nat goode.

Now is thy brother scherreve · and hath the baillye,

And he hath endited thee · and ‘wolves-heed’ doth thee crye.’

‘Allas!’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘that ever I was so slak

That I ne hadde broke his nekke · tho I his rigge brak!

Goth, greteth hem wel · myn housbondes and wyf,

I wol ben atte nexte schire · have god my lyf!’

Gamelyn com wel redy · to the nexte schire,

And ther was his brother · bothe lord and sire.

Gamelyn com boldelich · in-to the moot-halle,

And putte a-doun his hood · among the lordes alle;

‘God save you alle, lordinges · that now here be!

But broke-bak scherreve · evel mot thou thee!

Why hast thou do me · that schame and vilonye,

For to late endite me · and ‘wolves-heed’ me crye?’

Tho thoughte the false knight · for to ben awreke,

And leet take Gamelyn · moste he no more speke;

Might ther be no more grace · but Gamelyn atte laste

Was cast in-to prisoun · and fetered ful faste.

Gamelyn hath a brother · that highte sir Ote,

As good a knight and hende · as mighte gon on foote.

Anon ther yede a messager · to that goode knight,

And tolde him al-togidere · how Gamelyn was dight.

Anon as sire Ote herde · how Gamelyn was a-dight,

He was wonder sory · was he no-thing light,

And leet sadle a steede · and the way he nam,

And to his tweyne bretheren · anon-right he cam.

‘Sire,’ seyde sire Ote · to the scherreve tho,

‘We ben but three bretheren · schul we never be mo;

And thou hast y-prisoned · the beste of us alle;

Swich another brother · yvel mot him bifalle!’

‘Sire Ote,’ seide the false knight · ‘lat be thy curs;

By god, for thy wordes · he schal fare the wurs;

To the kinges prisoun · anon he is y-nome,

And ther he schal abyde · til the Iustice come.’

‘Parde!’ seyde sir Ote · ‘better it schal be;

I bidde him to maynpris · that thou graunte him me

Til the nexte sitting · of deliveraunce,

And thanne lat Gamelyn · stande to his chaunce.’

‘Brother, in swich a forward · I take him to thee;

And by thy fader soule · that thee bigat and me,

But-if he be redy · whan the Iustice sitte,

Thou schalt bere the Iuggement · for al thy grete witte.’

‘I graunte wel,’ seide sir Ote · ‘that it so be.

Let deliver him anon · and tak him to me.’

Tho was Gamelyn delivered · to sire Ote his brother,

And that night dwellede · that on with that other.

On the morn seyde Gamelyn · to sire Ote the hende,

‘Brother,’ he seide, ‘I moot · for sothe, from thee wende,

To loke how my yonge men · leden here lyf,

Whether they liven in Ioye · or elles in stryf.’

‘By god!’ seyde sire Ote · ‘that is a cold reed,

Now I see that al the cark · schal fallen on myn heed;

For when the Iustice sitte · and thou be nought y-founde,

I schal anon be take · and in thy stede y-bounde.’

‘Brother,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘dismaye thee nought,

For by seint Iame in Gales · that many man hath sought,

If that god almighty · holde my lyf and wit,

I wil be ther redy · whan the Iustice sit.’

Than seide sir Ote to Gamelyn · ‘god schilde thee fro schame;

Com whan thou seest tyme · and bring us out of blame.’

Litheth, and lesteneth · and holdeth you stille,

And ye schul here how Gamelyn · hadde al his wille.

Gamelyn wente ayein · under woode-rys,

And fond there pleying · yonge men of prys.

Tho was yong Gamelyn · glad and blithe y-nough,

Whan he fond his mery men · under woode-bough.

Gamelyn and his men · talkeden in-feere,

And they hadde good game · here maister to heere;

They tolden him of aventures · that they hadde founde,

And Gamelyn hem tolde ayein · how he was fast y-bounde.

Whyl Gamelyn was outlawed · hadde he no cors;

There was no man that for him · ferde the wors,

But abbotes and priours · monk and chanoun;

On hem left he no-thing · whan he mighte hem nom.

Whyl Gamelyn and his men · made merthes ryve,

The false knight his brother · yvel mot he thryve!

For he was fast aboute · bothe day and other,

For to hyre the quest · to hangen his brother.

Gamelyn stood on a day · and, as he biheeld

The woodes and the schawes · in the wilde feeld,

He thoughte on his brother · how he him beheet

That he wolde be redy · whan the Iustice seet;

He thoughte wel that he wolde · withoute delay,

Come afore the Iustice · to kepen his day,

And seide to his yonge men · ‘dighteth you yare,

For whan the Iustice sitte · we moote be thare,

For I am under borwe · til that I come,

And my brother for me · to prisoun schal be nome.’

‘By seint Iame!’ seyde his yonge men · ‘and thou rede therto,

Ordeyne how it schal be · and it schal be do.’

Whyl Gamelyn was coming · ther the Iustice sat,

The false knight his brother · foryat he nat that,

To huyre the men on his quest · to hangen his brother;

Though he hadde nought that oon · he wolde have that other.

Tho cam Gamelyn · fro under woode-rys,

And broughte with him · his yonge men of prys.

‘I see wel,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘the Iustice is set;

Go aforn, Adam · and loke how it spet.’

Adam wente into the halle · and loked al aboute,

He seyh there stonde · lordes grete and stoute,

And sir Ote his brother · fetered wel fast;

Tho went Adam out of halle · as he were agast.

Adam said to Gamelyn · and to his felawes alle,

‘Sir Ote stant y-fetered · in the moot-halle.’

‘Yonge men,’ seide Gamelyn · ‘this ye heeren alle;

Sire Ote stant y-fetered · in the moot-halle.

If god yif us grace · wel for to doo,

He schal it abegge · that broughte him ther-too.’

Thanne sayde Adam · that lokkes hadde hore,

‘Cristes curs mote he have · that him bond so sore!

And thou wilt, Gamelyn · do after my reed,

Ther is noon in the halle · schal bere awey his heed.’

‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘we wiln nought don so,

We wil slee the giltif · and lat the other go.

I wil into the halle · and with the Iustice speke;

On hem that ben gultif · I wil ben awreke.

Lat non scape at the dore · take, yonge men, yeme;

For I wil be Iustice this day · domes for to deme.

God spede me this day · at my newe werk!

Adam, com on with me · for thou schalt be my clerk.’

His men answereden him · and bade him doon his best,

‘And if thou to us have neede · thou schalt finde us prest;

We wiln stande with thee · whyl that we may dure,

And but we werke manly · pay us non hure.’

‘Yonge men,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so mot I wel thee!

As trusty a maister · ye schal finde of me.’

Right there the Iustice · sat in the halle,

In wente Gamelyn · amonges hem alle.

Gamelyn leet unfetere · his brother out of bende.

Thanne seyde sire Ote · his brother that was hende,

‘Thou haddest almost, Gamelyn · dwelled to longe,

For the quest is oute on me · that I schulde honge.’

‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so god yif me good rest!

This day they schuln ben hanged · that ben on thy quest;

And the Iustice bothe · that is the Iugge-man,

And the scherreve bothe · thurgh him it bigan.’

Thanne seyde Gamelyn · to the Iustise,

Now is thy power y-don · thou most nedes arise;

Thow hast yeven domes · that ben yvel dight,

I wil sitten in thy sete · and dressen hem aright.’

The Iustice sat stille · and roos nought anoon;

And Gamelyn clevede · [a-two] his cheeke-boon;

Gamelyn took him in his arm · and no more spak,

But threw him over the barre · and his arm to-brak.

Durste non to Gamelyn · seye but good,

For ferd of the company · that withoute stood.

Gamelyn sette him doun · in the Iustices seet,

And sire Ote his brother by him · and Adam at his feet.

Whan Gamelyn was y-set · in the Iustices stede,

Herkneth of a bourde · that Gamelyn dede.

He leet fetre the Iustice · and his false brother,

And dede hem come to the barre · that oon with that other.

Tho Gamelyn hadde thus y-doon · hadde he no reste,

Til he had enquered · who was on the queste

For to deme his brother · sir Ote, for to honge;

Er he wiste which they were · him thoughte ful longe.

But as sone as Gamelyn · wiste wher they were,

He dede hem everichone · feteren in-feere,

And bringen hem to the barre · and sette hem in rewe;

‘By my faith!’ seyde the Iustice · ‘the scherreve is a schrewe!’

Than seyde Gamelyn · to the Iustise,

‘Thou hast y-yeve domes · of the wors assise;

And the twelve sisours · that weren of the queste,

They schul ben hanged this day · so have I good reste!’

Thanne seide the scherreve · to yonge Gamelyn,

‘Lord, I crye the mercy · brother art thou myn.’

‘Therfore,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘have thou Cristes curs,

For, and thou were maister · yit I schulde have wors.’

For to make short tale · and nought to tarie longe,

He ordeyned him a queste · of his men so stronge;

The Iustice and the scherreve · bothe honged hye,

To weyven with the ropes · and with the winde drye;

And the twelve sisours · (sorwe have that rekke!)

Alle they were hanged · faste by the nekke.

Thus ended the false knight · with his treccherye,

That ever hadde y-lad his lyf · in falsnes and folye.

He was hanged by the nekke · and nought by the purs;

That was the meede that he hadde · for his fadres curs.

Sire Ote was eldest · and Gamelyn was ying,

They wenten with here frendes · even to the king;

They made pees with the king · of the best assise.

The king loved wel sir Ote · and made him Iustise.

And after, the king made Gamelyn · bothe in est and west,

Chief Iustice · of al his free forest;

Alle his wighte yonge men · the king foryaf here gilt,

And sitthen in good office · the king hem hath y-pilt.

Thus wan Gamelyn · his lond and his leede,

And wrak him of his enemys · and quitte hem here meede;

And sire Ote his brother · made him his heir,

And siththen wedded Gamelyn · a wyf bothe good and feyr;

They liveden to-gidere · whyl that Crist wolde,

And sithen was Gamelyn · graven under molde.

And so schal we alle · may ther no man flee:

God bringe us to the Ioye · that ever schal be!