For ſut{h} it is I traſt, and god before, In feld that I ſal do of armys more 2404 Than eu{er} I did, if I {com}mandit bee. [Footnote T55: A space is here left for an illuminated letter.] [Headnote: LANCELOT CLAIMS HIS LIBERTY;] And now, madem, I have my libertee, For I have ſaid I neu{er} tho{ch}t to ſay.” “Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “when-eu{er} ȝhe wil ye may; 2408 [Sidenote: She begs of him a boon;] Bot o thing Is, I yhow hartly raquer, Sen I have hold yhow apone ſuch maner Not as my fo, that ȝhe vald grant me till.” “Madem,” q{uod} he, “It ſal be as ȝhe will.” 2412 “Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “it is no thing bot ȝhe [Sidenote: that he will remain with her till the day of battle;] Remañ w{i}t{h} ws wn to the aſſemble, And euery thyng that In yhour myſt{er} lyis I ſall gar ordan at yhour awn dewyß; 2416 And of the day I ſhall yow c{er}tefy Of the aſſemble ȝhe ſal not pas therby.” “Madem,” q{uod} he, “It ſal be as yhow liſt.” “Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “and than I hald It beſt, 2420 That ȝhe remañ lyk to the ſamyne dogre As that ȝhe war, yat non ſal wit that ȝhe Deliu{er}it war; and in to ſacret wyß Thus may ȝhe be; and now yhe ſal dewyß 2424 [Sidenote: and inquires what arms he would like to have made for him. He chooses black armour,] What armys that yhow lykyth I gar mak.” [Headnote: AND ASKS FOR BLACK ARMOUR.] “Madem,” q{uod} he, “armys al of blak.” W{i}t{h} this, this kny{ch}t is to his chalm{er} goñ; The lady gan ful prewaly diſſpone 2428 For al that longith to the kny{ch}t, in feild; Al blak his horß, his armour, and his ſcheld, [Sidenote: which is provided.] That nedful is, al thing ſche well p{re}widith; And in hir keping thus w{i}t{h} hir he bidith. 2432 Suppos of love ſche takyne hath the charg, [Sidenote: She keeps her love close,] Sche bur It clos, ther-of ſche vas not larg, Bot wyſly ſche abſtenit hir diſſir, For ell{is} quhat, ſche knew, he was afyre; 2436 Thar-for hir wit hir worſchip haith defendit, [Sidenote: being commended for discretion.] For in this world thar was nan mor co{m}mendit, Boith of diſcreccioune and of womanhed, Of gou{er}nans, of nurtur, and of farhed. 2440 This kny{ch}t w{i}t{h} hir thus al this whil mon duell, [Sidenote: The story returns to Arthur--] And furt{h} of arthur ſumthing wil we tell--