And turne hem̄ agayne in haste. 2492 He wente home tille his tente than With grete sorowe and mournyn[g|] mode. To-fore his goddis whan̄ he came, He cryed, as he were wode: 2496 “O fals goddis, that y^e betħ, He is enraged with I have trustid to longe youre mode. his gods, We[167] were leve[rh] to suff[rh] dede, Than̄ lif this life here lenger nowe. 2500 I haue almoste loste the bretħ, xij fals trayto«urs» me overe-lede, And stroyen alle þat I haue. Ye fals goddis, the devel youe spede! 2504 Ye make me nowe for to rave; Ye do fayle me at my nede.” In Ire he smote Mahounde, and smites Mahound so That was of goolde fulle rede, 2508 that he fell on his That he fille down̄ to the grounde, face; As he hade bene dede. Alle here bisshopes cryden̄ oute And saide “Mahounde, thyn̄ ore!” 2512 And down̄ to the erthe wele lowe thay loute, Howlynge and wepynge sore, And saide “Sire Sowdon̄, what haue ye done? Vengeaunce shalle on the falle, 2516 But thoᶙ repente the here anone.” “Ye” q«uo»d he “I shrewe yoᶙ alle!” but the priests Thai made a fyre of fran[k|]encense induce him And blewen̄ hornes of bras, 2520 And casten in milke hony for the offence, [leaf 63] To-fore Mahoundes face. Thay counsailed Laban to knele a down̄ to kneel down and ask And aske forgevenes in that place. 2524 forgiveness. And so he didde and hade pardon̄ Throgh prayere and specialle grace. [p073 RICHARD STARTS ON MESSAGE TO CHARLES.]