Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

io2 ANCIENT SONGS
Then proved I a baron bold,
In deeds of armes the doughtyeft knight 10
That in thofe dayes in England was,
With fworde and fpeare in feild to fight.
An Englifh man I was by birthe
In faith of Chrift a chriftyan true :
The wicked lawes of infidells %$
I fought by proweffe to fubdue.
'Nine' hundred twenty yeere and odde
After our Saviour Chrift his birthe,
When king Athelftone wore the crowne,
I lived heere upon the earthe. 29
Sometime I was of Warwicke erle,
And, as I fayd, of very truthe
A ladyes love did me conftraine
To feeke ftrange ventures in my youthe.
To win me fame by feates of armes 25
In ftrange and fun dry heathen lands
Where I atchieved for her fake
Right dangerous conquefts with my hands.
For firft I fayled to Normandye,
And there I ftoutlye wan in fight 30
The emperours daughter of Almayne,
From manye a vallyant worthye knight.
Then
Y$r. 9. The proud fir Guy. P. Ver % 17, Two hundred. MS and P.
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