The Romances of Rouland and Vernagu and Otuel; From the Auchinleck Manuscript

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1836 edition. Excerpt: ...Amorwe withouten fail, Thai com to the batayl, Aither as doughti knight. Sir Rouland brought a ftaf That king Charts him yaf, That was long and newe, The bodi of a yong oke, To yif ther with a ftroke, He was tough and trewe. And with that gode ftaf, Wel mani dintes he yaf, Vernagu the fchrewe, And at the non aplight, Thai gun another fight, And ftones togider threwe. Gode rappes for the nones, Thai yauen with the ftones, That fete fwithe fore; That helme and heye targe, Thurch her ftrokes large, Ther with thai broken wore. And Vernagu at that cas, So fore afleped was, He no might fight no more At Rouland leue he toke, That time fo feyt the boke, For to flepe thore. Roland yaf leue him, For to flepe wele afin, And reft him in that ftounde, And feyd that he nold, For the cite ful of gold Be ther with y-founde, Slepeand to flen a knight, Thei that he had in fight, Yif him dethes wounde, Tho Vernagu lay adoun, To flepe he was boun, There opon the grounde. And Vernagu rout thore, As a wild bore, Tho he on flepe was: To him JRouland gan gon, And tok the greteft fton That lay in that place, He leyd vnder his heued y-wis For him thought it lay amis, To lowe at that cas. And Vernagu vp ftode, He ftard as he were wode, When he awaked was, Vernagu aflced anon, Who leyd this gret fton, Vnder min heued fo, It no might neur be, Bot yif he were a knight fre, Wift Ich who it were, He fchuld be me leue and dere, Thei that he were mi fo. Quath Rouland fikerly, Certes it was Y, For that thou rot fo, And when tho me loueft miche, Now tel me fikerliche, Whi thou art fo hard, That no thing may the dere, Knif, no ax, no fpere, No, no dint of fward: Quath Vernagu fikerly, No man is harder than Y, Fram the nauel vpward, For thi Y com hider Y wis, To fight with...