And so ȝe oweþ me tribut:
Y charge ȝow þat ȝe pay me hyt. 264
Also Maximian kyng of Bretaigne
Co[_n_]quered al frau_n_ce & Almayne,
Lombardye Rome & ytalye--

[The Messenger's Report of Arthur.]

By ȝoure bok_is_ ȝe may a-spye. 268
Y am þeir Eyr & þeyre lynage,
Y aske ȝow my trywage."

Þis l_ett_re was celyd fast,
Y-take the Messagerez on hast; 272
Arthour ȝaf ham ȝyftez grete,
And chered ham wyþ drynk and Mete.
Lucius's Þey hasted ham to come hoom;
messengers Byfor þe Emp_er_o_ur_ þey beþ coom; 276
return to him. Saluted hym as resou_n_ ys,
And toke hym þes letterys.
Þey seyde to þe Emp_er_our
"We have be wyþ kyng Artho_ur_; 280
But such anoþ_er_ as he ys oon,
Say neuer no Man.
He ys s_er_ued on hys howshold
Wyþ kynges, Erles, worthy & bold; 284
Hys worthynesse, sur Emp_er_our,
Passeþ Much_e_ all_e_ ȝowre;
and give him He seyde he wolde hyder come
Arthur's message. And take trywage of all_e_ Rome, 288