Here, as often in this text, ‘gon’ or the alternate spelling ‘gan’ (past tense of ‘gin,’ [‘to begin’]) is used as an auxiliary (like ‘did’ in more modern times) indicating the past tense of a verb. Thus ‘gon he wyn’ means ‘he conquered.’

Ganelon is the traditional traitor of the Charlemagne romances. In The Song of Roland his hatred for Roland leads him to betray Charlemagne’s rear guard at Roncevalles.

‘Mahownn’ is Mohammed, whom medieval Christians believed was worshipped by the Saracens as a deity.

‘Goddis’ is the singular possessive form depending on the noun ‘forbode’ (a forbidding or prohibition). ‘Goddis forbode’ = ‘God forbid!’

Metrically this is an extra line in the stanza. Mills sees the line as another example of the ‘triplets’ which are used instead of couplets ‘quite often in the Thornton text of Isumbras’ (p. 193). But the line remains an aberration in the metrical pattern of The Sege of Melayne. A ‘bale-fire’ is a blazing pile or heap kindled to consume something.

‘So mote I gone’ is one of those near meaningless expressions often used to fill out a line in the Middle English metrical romances.

The reference is to the elements or four substances (earth, air, fire, and water) which were believed to make up all material things.

On St. Denis, see the note to Sowdone of Babylone, line 27.

‘Prime’ is the canonical hour (a fixed part of the Divine Office to be sung or recited at a specific time) for the first hour of the day (6 a.m. or sunrise).

Herrtage notes that ‘syne’ must be a corrupt reading ‘but the true reading is not clear.’ Mills emends to ‘fyne.’ ‘Syne’ must be a form of ‘son,’ the unusual spelling being for the sake of rhyme. It is perfectly appropriate for Charlemagne to refer to his nephew as the son of his relative.

If we translate ‘bot’ as ‘but’ in this line, ‘it’ must refer to the cursing of the advisor, in which case the line translates: ‘and undoubtedly it [cursing him] is right.’ Another (though less likely) possibility is to read ‘bot’ as a form of ‘boute’ (meaning ‘about’) and translate: ‘and nothing about it [the advice] is right.’

Here and again in line 989 the phrase ‘under thy schelde’ means something like ‘in battle.’

If we translate the lines literally, line 774 must be taken as an almost meaningless metrical filler. It only makes sense if we extend the meaning of ‘tythynges’ beyond the ‘event’ or ‘news’ (the literal meaning) to those people who represent the new event referred to. They could come ‘with banners raised.’

This line presents some difficulty and may be corrupt. Herrtage admits in a note ‘I do not exactly understand this line’; and Mills glosses it only with a question mark. As it stands it seems to suggest that the sapphire presented to the Sultan is invisible.

The word ‘lede’ normally means ‘people’; here it must mean something like ‘the customs of a people.’ Thus the line means: ‘They believed in heathen customs.’

‘Whereals’ is used here in the sense of ‘where.’

A ‘kirtle’ is ‘a man’s tunic or coat which reached to the knees’; a ‘corset’ refers here to the ‘corslet’ which is ‘a piece of defensive armor covering the body’; an ‘acton’ is ‘a stuffed jacket or jerkin, at first of quilted cotton worn under the mail; also, in later times, a jacket of leather or other material plated with mail’; a ‘hauberk’ is a coat of mail; a ‘jazerant’ or ‘jesserant’ is ‘a light coat of armor composed of splints or small plates of metal riveted to each other or to a lining of some stout material.’ (Definitions are from the OED.)

The OED defines ‘tepet’ (see under ‘tippet,’ where this line is cited) as ‘camail,’ which is ‘a piece of chain-mail armour attached to the basinet or head-piece, and protecting the neck and shoulders.’

A ‘gowere pendande’ is a ‘pendant attached to a coat of mail’ (MED).

‘Famagose’ is Famagusta on Cypress.

There seems to be a connective missing at the beginning of this line (e.g., ‘for’). Mills translates ‘Because of the strength of its Saracen garrison.’

In this line ‘baners’ must refer to the men assembled around the standard or the phrase ‘breme als bare’ would be a totally meaningless filler.

Herrtage explains ‘bowes of devyce’ as ‘cross-bows worked with a rack or winch.’

The suffix ‘-warde’ is here separated from ‘fro’ (= ‘from’). Thus the line translates ‘And they ride away from the city.’ (Compare this line to line 1310: ‘Frowarde the cité ride.’)

The word ‘browe’ does not fit the context since the spear wounded him in the side. Perhaps the correct reading is something like ‘brawne.’ Mills emends the word to ‘browne’ and translates the line: ‘Through the tough skin and unprotected flesh.’

A ‘schaftemonde’ is ‘the distance from the end of the extended thumb to the opposite side of the hand, used as a measure = about 6 inches’ (OED).

The definitions of ‘baneret’ in the MED and the OED indicate that the term is generally applied to a high order of knighthood. However, the context here makes it clear that Sir Barnarde is a standard bearer who has not yet achieved such distinction. He calls himself ‘over symple’ to refuse the task, as some other knights have, and asks to have the order of knighthood conferred on him for agreeing to deliver the message.

A ‘fewter’ is a support for a lance on a knight’s saddle.

A ‘warden’ is one in charge of a division of an army.

A ‘hurdas’ is a temporary rampart used for assault.