The Sowdon̄ woxe wery I-nowe; 60 Being weary with He rested him vndere an holme tre hunting, he sat down Sittynge vppon̄ a grene sete under a holm tree, Seynge a Dromonde com seilyng in þ^e see and, seeing a dromond Anone he charged to bekyn̄ him w«i»t«h» sailing on the sea, he honde 64 charged one to enquire To here of him tidinges newe. for news concerning the The maist«er» sende a man to londe, ship. The interpreter Of diuers langages was gode and trewe, of the vessel being And saide “lorde, this Dromonde[93] 68 sent ashore, informed Fro Babyloyne comen̄ is, the soudan, that this That was worþe thousande poundis, dromond, freighted at As[94] it mete with shrewes I-wis, Babylon, with a cargo Charged with perle and p«re»cious stones 72 of rich furs, spices, And riche pelure and spicerye, oil, brass and pearls, With oyle and bras qweynte for the nones intended as a present To presente yow, my lorde worthy. to the soudan, had been A drift of wedi[rh] vs droffe to Rome, 76 driven by stress of The Romaynes robbed vs anone; weather to Rome, where Of vs thai slowgh ful many one. they had been robbed by With sorwe and care we be bygone. the Romans. Whereof, lorde, remedye 80 [leaf 3] Ye ordeyne by youre Barons boolde, Therefore he solicited To wreke the of this vilane; that the soudan would Or certes oure blis is coolde.” take revenge on those The Soudon hirynge this tyþinge, 84 who had done such With egre chere he made a vowe villainy to him. To Mahounde and to Appolyne, The soudan, hearing That thai shulde by it dere I-nowe, these tidings, made Er that he wente fro theyme.[95] 88 a vow to Mahound and “Where be ye, my kinges boolde, to Apolyn, that they My Barons and my Admyral? should dearly pay for Thes tidinges make myn herte coolde, it. But I be venged, dyen I shalle. 92 ‘Ferumbras, my son,’ he Sire Ferumbras, my sone so dere, said, ‘and my daughter Ye muste me comforte in this case; Floripas, ye must [p004 THE SOUDAN STARTS FROM AGREMORE]