of your
proffer."

Away hies Rosader to Adam Spencer, and tells him the news, who was
glad of so happy fortune, but so feeble he was that he could not go;
whereupon Rosader got him up on his back, and brought him to the
place. Which when Gerismond and his men saw, they greatly applauded
their league of friendship; and Rosader, having Gerismond's place
assigned him, would not sit there himself, but set down Adam Spencer.
Well, to be short, those hungry squires fell to their victuals, and
feasted themselves with good delicates, and great store of wine. As
soon as they had taken their repast, Gerismond, desirous to hear what
hard fortune drave them into those bitter extremes, requested Rosader
to discourse, if it were not any way prejudicial unto him, the cause
of his travel. Rosader, desirous any way to satisfy the courtesy of
his favorable host, first beginning his exordium with a volley of
sighs, and a few lukewarm tears, prosecuted his discourse, and told
him from point to point all his fortunes: how he was the youngest son
of Sir John of Bordeaux, his name Rosader, how his brother sundry
times had wronged him, and lastly how, for beating the sheriff and
hurting his men, he fled.

"And this old man," quoth he, "whom I so much love and honor, is
surnamed Adam Spencer, an old servant of my father's, and one, that
for his love, never failed me in all my misfortunes."

When Gerismond heard this, he fell on the neck of Rosader, and next
discoursing unto him how he was Gerismond their lawful king exiled by
Torismond, what familiarity had ever been betwixt his father, Sir John
of Bordeaux, and him, how faithful a subject he lived, and how
honorable he died, promising, for his sake, to give both him and his
friend such courteous entertainment as his present estate could
minister, and upon this made him one of his foresters. Rosader seeing
it was the king, craved pardon for his boldness, in that he did not do
him due reverence, and humbly gave him thanks for his favorable
courtesy. Gerismond, not satisfied yet with news, began to inquire if
he had been lately in the court of Torismond, and whether he had seen
his daughter Rosalynde or no? At this Rosader fetched a deep sigh, and
shedding many tears, could not answer: yet at last, gathering his
spirits together, he revealed unto the king, how Rosalynde was
banished, and how there was such a sympathy of affections between
Alinda and her, that she chose rather to be partaker o