'III TOA

SIR AMADAS.

SIR AMADAS.

[One leaf, on which the beginning of this Romance was written, has been torn away in the MS. The sense is, however, easily discoverable. Sir Amadas, it appears, had been, like Sir Cleges, (see Vol. I. p. 331.) very bounteous, and had, in his liberality, squandered away his possessions to all around him. Some one, probably his Steward, had recommended retrenchment; and, in consequence of this advice, the Knight takes the resolution with which the present copy opens.]

Thoffe Y owe syche too."

Downe sate Sir Amadas and hee,
And kast how that best myght bee,
Both far and nere :

My lord, he seyd, ye owe more
Than ye of yowre londes mey reyr,
Of all this seyvon yere :

Who so best mey Y schall hym prey,
And take of hym a lenger day,

And leyt your covrte slepe here;
Putt away mony of yore men,

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Hold not won the
ye er

held ten,

Thof thei be neuer so dere."

"What! seyd Sir Amadas, schuld Y spare Tyll all my dettes qwytte ware,

And Y the whyle noght spend; And dwell here ther Y was borne, Ay in hethyng and in skorn,

So wyle as Y am kende? Hartely myght thei warry me, That of ther gud had ben so fre,

To gyffe me and to sende;

And Y schuld them bost and threte,
And therof myght non geyte :

Be the rode, that wer a badde ende !

"Bot nay, Y will noght soo,
Myn owne consell Y wyll do:

Hyd sorro is better than sene!
Stywarde, as thou art me lefe
Lat no mon wytte of my myschefe,

Bot heyle hit hus betwene.
Seyvon yere weddeseytt my londes,
To the deyttes that ar woonde

Be qwytte all bedene;

And owtte of cuntrè wille Y wende,
To Y haue gold and syluer to spende,
And owt of deytte be clene.

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