purpose to kill Þe bretou_n_s & all_e_ men wer_e_ mad,
the messengers, And wolde þe messager scle:--
but Arthur "Nay," seyd Arthour, "per de, 236
forbids it, That were aȝenst alle kynde,
A messager to bete or bynde;
y charge alle men here
for to make ham good chere." 240
And after Mete sanz fayl
Wyþ hys lordes he hadde cou_n_sayl;
And alle asented þer to,
and resolves to Artho_ur_ to Rome scholde go; 244
invade Rome. And þey ne wolde in hys t_ra_uayle
Wyþ strenkþ & good neuer fayle.
Than Artho_ur_ wroot to Rome a l_ett_re,
Was sentence was so_m_m-what bytter_e_, 248
And sayde i_n_ þis manere
As ȝe may hure here:--

_L_ite_ra Reg_is_ "Knoweþ well_e_ ȝe of Romayne,
Arthuri._ Y am kyng Artho_ur_ of Bretayne. 252
Arthur's answer Frau_n_ce, y haue conquered hyt,
to the Emperor Y schall_e_ defende & kepe hyt Ȝut, [Fol. 44,
Lucius, Y come to Rome, as y am tryw, col. 2.]
claiming tribute To take my trybut (.) to me dywe, 256
from him. But noon þere-for to paye,
By my werk ȝe schall_e_ asay;
For þe Emp_er_our Constantyne
Þat was þe Soone of Elyne, 260
Þat was a Breton_e_ of þis lond,
Co_n_quered Rome w_y_t_h_ hys hond,