The Britons When þis l_ett_re was open & rad; 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, 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."