[Next nowe filowing here bygynnethe the devyse of a steyned halle of the lyf of Saint George ymagyned by Daun Johan the Munk of Bury Lydegate and made with the balades at the request of th’armorieres of London for th’onour of theyre brotherhoode and theyre feest of Saint George. (see note); (t-note) [The poete first declarethe: (see note)
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245	O yee folk that heer present be, Wheeche of this story shal have inspeccion, Of Saint George yee may beholde and see His martirdome, and his passyoun; And howe he is protectour and patroun, This hooly martir, of knighthood loodsterre, To Englisshe men boothe in pees and werre. In whos honnour sithen goon ful yoore The thridde Edward of knighthoode moost entier In his tyme, b’assent at Wyndesore Founded th’ordre first of the gartier, Of worthy knightes ay frome yeere to yeere Foure and twenty cladde in oo lyveree Upon his day kepte ther solempnytee. This name George by interpretacioun Is sayde of tweyne, the first of hoolynesse, And the secound of knighthood and renoun, As that myn Auctor lykethe for to expresse, The feond venqwysshing of manhoode and prowesse, The worlde, the flesshe, as Crystes owen knyght, Wherever he roode in steel armed bright. Capadoce, a mighty strong citee, As the story of hym list to endyte, Ordeyned was to his natyvytee; And in his youthe he gaf himself delyte Frome day to day, as clerkis of him wryte, To suwe vertue, so gynnyng his passage, Vyces excluding, al ryot, and oultrage. And Cristes feyth for to magnefye At gretter age his cuntree he forsooke, And thoroughe his noblesse and his chyvallerye Trouthe to sousteene, whoso list to looke, Many a journee he upon him tooke, The chirche defending with swerd of equytee, The right of wydowes, and of virgynytee. And in this whyle an aventure is falle, Importable the people to sousteene, Amiddes the provynce whiche men Lybye calle, In a cytee that named is Lysseene; A gret dragoun, with scales silver sheene, Horryble, dreedful, and monstruous of sight, Tofore the citee lay boothe day and night. The kyng, the qweene, the lordes taken heed Of this sodeyne wooful aventure, And the people fellen in gret dreed Consydering howe that they stonde unsure, As they that might the mescheef not endure Maade by assaute of that felle dragoun By pestylence upon theyre wooful toun. But whane the conseyle of theyre toun took keep Howe that theyre peyne was intollerable, They senten out every day twoo sheep To this beest foule and abhomynable, To staunche his hunger which was unstauncheable, But whane theyre sheep by processe gan to fayle They most of nuwe provyde more victaylle, And whanne they foonde no refuyt ne coumfort For the dragoun to make pourveyaunce, Thane they tooke by lotte other by soort Man or chylde, theyre vytayle to avaunce, Lyche as hit felle on by mortal chaunce Allas, ellas, it was to gret pytee To seen the sorowe that was in that citee. The statuit made noon excepcyoun Of heghe ne lowe, they stoode in so gret doute Touchant that monstre and that foule dragoun, Eche maner man, as it came aboute, To be devowred, allas, they were sent oute, Til at the last the lott in this maner Fel right upon the kynges doughter deer, That she most nexst of necessytee Beo so devowred, helpe may no meede, But to beo sent oute of that cytee, This cely mayde quakyng in hir dreed; Upon hir hande a sheep shee did leed, Hir fader wepte, hir moder, boothe tweyne, And al the cytee in teerys did so reyne. At hir oute goyng hir fader for the noones Arrayed her with al his ful might In cloothe of golde with gemys and with stoones, Whiche shoone ful sheene ageyne the sonne bright, And on hir wey sheo mette an armed knight Sent frome the Lord as in hir diffence Ageynst the dragoun to make resistence. Saint George it was, Oure Ladyes owen knight, That armed seet upon a ryal steed Which came to socour this mayde in hir right, Of aventure in this grete neode, “Ellas!" quod she, whane she takethe heed, And bade him fleen in hir mortal feer, Lest he also with hir devowred were. And whane he saughe of hir the maner, He hadde pytee and eeke compassyoun, To seen, allas, the cristal streemys cleer On hir cheekys reyne and royle adowne, Thought he wolde beon hir Chaumpyoun, For lyf nor deeth from hir not to depart But in hir quarell his body to jupart. Hooly Seint George his hors smote on the syde Whane he the dragoun sawe lyft up his hede, And towardes him he proudely gan to ryde Ful lyche a knight with outen fere or dreede; Avysyly of witt he tooke goode heed, With his spere sharp and kene egrounde Thoroughe the body he gaf the feonde a wownde. The cely mayde, knelyng on hir kne, Unto hir goddes maked hir preyer, And Saint George, whane he did it see, To hir he sayde, with debonayre cheer, “Ryse up anoon, myn owen doughter deer, Take thy girdell, and make therof a bande, And leed this dragoun boldly in thyn hande “Into the cyté, lyche a conqueresse, And the dragoun meekly shall obeye.” And to the cytee anoon she gan hir dresse, The ouggely monstre durst it not withseye, And Saint George the mayden gan conveye, That whane the kyng hade inspeccyoun, With palme and banner he goothe processyoun, Giving to him the laude of this victorye, Which hathe theyre cytee delyverd out of dreed; And Saint George, to encresce his glorye, Pulled out a swerde and smote of his hed, The people alwey taking ful goode heed, How God this martyr list to magnefye, And him to enhaunce thorughe his chivallerye. Thanne he made the dragoun to be drawe, With waynes and cartes fer out of the towne, And after that he taught hem Crystes lawe, By his doctryne and predicacyoun, And frome th’errour by conversyoun, He made hem tourne, the kyng and the cyté, And of oon hert baptysed for to be. The kyng after in honnour of Marye And in worship of Saint George hir knight, A ful feyre chirche gan to edefye, Riche of bylding and wonder feyre of sight, Amiddes of which ther sprang up anoon right A plesaunt welle, with stremys cristallyne, Whos drynk to seek was helthe and medecyne. Saint George thanne enfourme gan the kyng Of foure thinges of great excellence, First that he shoulde above al other thing Crystes chirche have ever in reverence, Worship preesthood with al his diligence, Have mynde on poore, and first his hert enclyne Frome day to day to here servyce devyne. This same tyme, the stoory telle cane, Ageynst Crysten ther was a thyrant sent, The which was called Theodacyan, Of paynyme lawe he was a presydent, And to destroye was hooly his entent The feyth of Cryst, and sleen his confessours, With dyvers peynes wrought by his tormentours. Whane that Saint George gan hereof take heed Howe this thyraunt gan Crystes feyth manace, He of pourpos left of his knightly weede, And pourely cladde mette him in the face, Mannely cheered, fulfilled al with grace, In his presence lowde he gan to crye “Oon God ther is, fy on ydolatrye.” The false thyraunt by gret vyolence Comaunded hathe anoon that he be taake, And to be broughte unto his presence; Bade that he shoulde Crystes feyth forsake, But he ne liste noo delayes maake, Aunswerd pleynly, his lyf by deth to fyne, Frome Crystes lawe no thing shall him declyne. The thyraunt thanne, of verray cruweltee, Bad that he shoulde this martir moost entier Naked beon hanged upon a galowe tree, With scowrges beet in ful feele maner, And with brondes brennyng bright and cler, His sydes brent. Were not hees peynes strong? His entraylles opende, salt cast in among. The nexst night, Cryst to him did peere, And gracyously gan him to coumfort, And beed him souffre his peynes with goode cheer, And in no wyse himselven discoumfort, For he the palme of victor schal report, By his souffraunce, and wynnen the laurier Of martirdame above the sterres cleer. This mighty geant, Crystes chaumpyoun, Drank bitter venyme made b’enchauntement, Crystes crosse was his proteccion, Preserving him that he was not shent, And he that made hit of ful fals entent Saughe ageyne God he hade no puissaunce, Forsooke his errour and fel in repentaunce, Axethe mercy in ful humble wyse, And bycame Cristen, bytwix hope and dreed. The false juge, voyde of all justyce, Comaunded hathe that he shuld leese his heed, And in his blood, as any roose reed, He was baptysed, whoo that can discerne, By deethe deserving the lyf that is eterne. Thanne Dacyan, furyous and cruwel, Gane of nuwe devysen in his teene, Reysed aloft a ful large wheele, Ful of swerdes grounden sharp and keene, And Saint George, in his entent moost cleene, Tourned theron in that mortal rage. The wheel tobraake; he felt no damage. Eeke in a vessel boylling ful of leed, This hooly martir was eplounged downe, He enterd in withouten feer or dreed, The grace of God was his salvacioun, And liche a bath of consolacioun He founde the metal coumfortable and clere, Escaping oute devoyde of al daunger. He was eeke brought, the story doothe devyse, Into a temple ful of mawmetrye, Of entent to have doo sacrefyce, But alle theyre goddes he knightly can defye, And sodyenly oure feyth to magnefye A fyre frome heven was by myracle sent, Wher thorughe the temple was till asshes brent. And with al this we fynden in his lyf, Thorugh Goddes might and gracyous purveyaunce That Alexandrea of Dacyan the wyf Forsooke ydolles and al hir fals creaunce And became Crysten with humble attendaunce, Suffred deethe, baptysed in hir bloode For love of Him that starf upon the roode. And Dacyan thanne, by ful mortal lawe, Comaunded hathe in open audyence, That Saint George be thorughe the cyté drawe And after that this was his sentence, He to ben heveded by cruwel violence, And in his dying thus it is befalle, He made his preyer for hem that to him calle. “O Lord,” quod he, “thou here myn orysoun And graunte it beo unto thee plesaunce That alle folk that have devocyoun To me, O Lord, have hem in remembraunce And condescende with every circumstance Of thy mercy, O Soverein Lord moost deer Al for my saake to heren theyre preyer.” And al the people being in presence, A voyce was herd doune frome the hye heven, Howe that his preyer was graunted in sentence Of him that is Lord of the sterres seven. And Dacyan, with a sodein leven Was brent unwarly by consumpcyoun, As he repayred hoome to his mansyoun.      [Explicit.	(see note); (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) lodestar (i.e., guide) peace and war; (t-note) many years ago; (see note); (t-note) third; perfect by assent; Windsor; (t-note) the order; garter; (t-note) (t-note) one livery; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) Is said to mean two things; (t-note) (t-note) Author; (see note); (t-note) Satan; valor; (t-note) own; (t-note) (t-note) likes to say; (t-note) birth; (t-note) delight; (t-note) (t-note) follow; beginning; (t-note) violence faith country nobility; (t-note) sustain, whoever cares to notice; (see note) battle sword; justice; (t-note) (t-note) And during this time a misfortune occurred; (t-note) Too heavy for; bear (t-note) (t-note) silvery bright (t-note) (t-note) unexpected; occurrence; (t-note) dread; (t-note) (t-note) misfortune; (t-note) the assault; evil; (t-note) unfortunate town; (t-note) council; realized; (t-note) pain; (t-note) beast; (t-note) (t-note) gradually began to fail had to provide anew; (t-note) relief; (t-note) provision or by turn; (t-note) their food (for the dragon) to increase; (t-note) (t-note) too great a pity; (t-note) see; city; (t-note) no high nor; fear Concerning; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) dear; (t-note) must; (t-note) nothing could spare her; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) unfortunate; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) tears; (t-note) occasion; (t-note) (t-note) gems; jewels; (t-note) splendidly against; sun; (t-note) defense; (t-note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) sat; royal; (t-note) help; (t-note) By chance; great need; (t-note) noticed (him); (t-note) flee; fear (t-note) saw pity; also; (t-note) see; streams clear rain and roll; (t-note) be her Champion; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) put at risk; (t-note) (t-note) head (t-note) fear; (t-note) Shrewdly; (t-note) keenly honed; (t-note) fiend; (t-note) unfortunate (innocent) (t-note) courteous manner; (t-note) (t-note) to make her way; (t-note) loathsome; dared not resist it; (t-note) began to guide; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) praise; (t-note) (t-note) cut off his (i.e., the dragon’s) head; (t-note) paying close attention; (t-note) chose to (t-note) wagons them (i.e., the townsfolk); (t-note) preaching the error; (t-note) them turn; (t-note) one heart afterwards; (t-note) very beautiful; erect fair; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) began to instruct; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) Be mindful of the poor; (t-note) their; (t-note) (t-note) the Christians; tyrant; (t-note) (t-note) pagan; leader; (t-note) completely; (t-note) faith; slay; (t-note) pains; (t-note) (t-note) threaten clothes; (t-note) face to face Brave loudly; (t-note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) he (i.e., St. George) be taken; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) he (i.e., St. George) made no delay; (t-note) Answered; life; to end; (t-note) turn away from; (t-note) out of sheer cruelty; (see note) Commanded; illustrious (t-note) be beaten in a very cruel manner; (t-note) burning torches his pains; (t-note) intestines; (t-note) appear; (t-note) (t-note) bid; endure; (t-note) victory; (t-note) suffering; win the laurel; (t-note) stars giant by enchantment; (t-note) harmed (see note) Saw that against; power; (t-note) Asked for mercy; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) lose his head; (t-note) red rose; (t-note) eternal; (t-note) (t-note) Began anew; anger; (t-note) Raised; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) Turned; (t-note) broke; (t-note) boiling; lead; (t-note) plunged; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) free of; (t-note) (t-note) idolatry to make sacrifice; (t-note) (t-note) faith; (t-note) (t-note) burned to ashes; (t-note) providence (t-note) idols; belief; (t-note) devotion died upon the cross; (t-note) (t-note) city; (t-note) to be beheaded; (t-note) (t-note) them; (t-note) hear my prayer; (see note); (t-note) pleasing; (t-note) (t-note) remember them with utmost care to hear; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) in fact; (t-note) By flash burned unexpectedly by a firey annihilation; (t-note) returned; (t-note) The end; (t-note)