in to in, tille it come to the Emperour. And thus anon hathe he hasty
tydynges of ony thing, that berethe charge, be his corrours, that rennen so
hastyly, thorghe out alle the contree. And also whan the Emperour sendethe
his corrours hastyly, thorghe out his lond, everyche of hem hathe a large
thong fulle of smale belles; and whan thei neyghen nere to the innes of
other corroures, that ben also ordeyned be the iorneyes, thei ryngen here
belles, and anon the other corrours maken hem redy, and rennen here weye
unto another in: and thus rennethe on to other, fulle spedyly and swyftly,
till the Emperours entent be served, in alle haste. And theise currours ben
clept chydydo, aftre here langage, that is to seye, a messagere.

Also whan the Emperour gothe from o contree to another, as I have told you
here before, and he passe thorghe cytees and townes, every man makethe a
fuyr before his dore, and puttethe there inne poudre of gode gommes, that
ben swete smellynge, for to make gode savour to the Emperour. And alle the
peple knelethe doun azenst him, and don him gret reverence. And there where
religyouse Cristene men dwellen, as thei don in many cytees in thei lond,
thei gon before him with processioun with cros and holy watre; and thei
seyngen, _Veni Creator, spiritus_, with an highe voys, and gon towardes
him. And whan he herethe hem, he commaundethe to his lordes to ryde besyde
him, that the religiouse men may come to him. And whan thei ben nyghe him,
with the cros, thanne he dothe a down his galaothe, that syt upon his hede,
in manere of a chapelet, that is made of gold and preciouse stone and grete
perles. And it is so ryche, that, men preysen it to the value of a roialme,
in that contre. And than he knelethe to the cros. And than the prelate of
the religiouse men seythe before him certeyn orisouns, and zevethe him a
blessynge with the cros: and he enclynethe to the blessynge fulle devoutly.
And thanne the prelate zevethe him sum maner frute, to the nombre of 9, in
a platere of sylver, with peres or apples or other manere frute. And he
takethe on; and than men zeven to the othere lordes, that ben aboute him.