Part 46 (1/2)

Up in to the chirche, with ful devout syngyng; And whanne he had mad his offryng, The Mair, the Citezeins, abood, and lefte hym nought, Unto Westmynster til thei hadde hym brought; Where, all the covent in copis richely, Mette with hym of custome as they ought; The abbot after moost solempnely,

Among the relikes, the scripture[234] out he[235] sought, Of seynt Edward, and to the kyng he brought; Though it were longe, large, and of gret weighte, Yit on his shuldres the kyng bar it on heighte, In the mynstre, whiles alle the bellys ronge, Til that[236] he come to the heighe auter; And ful devoutly Te Deum there was songe.

[Footnote 234: sceptre.]

[Footnote 235: _Omitted._]

[Footnote 236: _Omitted._]

[Sidenote: Ex duabus arboribus viz s'c'i Edwardi et s'c'i Lodewyci.]

And all[237] the peple, glad of look and cher, Thankynge[238] G.o.d with alle there hertys entier, To se there kyng with too crownes shyne, From too trees treuly fet the lyne: And aftyr this,[239] it ys verrey sothe, Unto his palys of kyngly apparaile, With his lordes the kyng anon forth goth,

[Footnote 237: _Omitted._]

[Footnote 238: Thanked.]

[Footnote 239: That this is the, &c.]

To take his reste after his travaile; And thanne of wysdom, whiche[240] may so moche availe, The Meir, the Citezeins, which al this[241] thing ded se, Be hom repaired in to there Citee.

The s.h.i.+rreves, the Aldermen in fere, The Satyrday alther next suyng, There Mair presentyd with all there hertes entere,

[Footnote 240: that.]

[Footnote 241: this dyd se.]

Goodly to be resceyved of the kyng; And at Westmenster confermed there[242] a thyng, The Mair and they with ful hol entent, Unto the kyng a gyfte gan[243] present; The whiche gifte, thei goodly han disposyd, Tok an hamper of gold that shene shone; A thousand pound of gold ther inne closyd:[244]

[Footnote 242: there askyng.]

[Footnote 243: gan to.]

[Footnote 244: yclosyd.]

And there with alle to the kyng they gone, And fill on knees to fore hym everych on, Ful humbly the trouthe to devyse, And to the Kyng the Mair seide in this wyse;

Moost cristen prince and n.o.ble kyng, the goode folke of youre moost notable Citee of London, other wyse callid[245] youre Chambre, besechyn in there moost lowly wyse they mow be recomaundyd to youre highnesse, and that it can like unto youre n.o.ble grace to resceyve this litel gyfte gevyne with as good a wille, trouthe,[246] and lounesse, as ever any gift was gevyn to any erthely prynce.

[Footnote 245: cleped.]

[Footnote 246: of trouthe.]

[Sidenote: V'ba t'nslat'.]

Be glad, O Londone, be glad ant make gret joye, Citee of Citees, of n.o.blesse procellyng; In thi begynnyng called Newe Troye, For worthynesse thank G.o.d of all thing, Whiche hast this day resceyved so the[247] kyng, With many a signe and many an observaunce, To encrese thi name be newe remembraunce.

[Footnote 247: thy.]

Swyche joye was[248] in the consistorie, Mad for the tryumple with al the surpluage, Whan Cesar Julius com hom with his victorie, Ne for the conquest of Stepyon[249] in Cartage, As Londone made in every maner age, Out of Fraunce at his[250] hom comyng, In to this Citee of there n.o.ble kyng.