hym w t an hawberke and his helme ranne forth without ony more abydynge as the hardyest knyght that was as men sayd Whan he was departed herde the crye I was sore a ferde toke one of my womennes gownes wente my waye with my launder I founde of auenture the posterne open y t some people had opened soo I went out wente to the woodes faste by the landes where as dwelled an holy heremyte the whiche had a chapell and a lodge at the wodes syde So I abode there and my chamberer whiche was aged came euery daye to fetche the almes at the kynges hous And therby we lyued the heremyte she and I so ye may se how god hath saued me In good fayth sayd y e kyÌ„ge her sone ye ledde an holy lyfe so dyde she for she wered y e hayre wente gyrde with a corde was an holy lady The kyÌ„ge had grete Ioye grete pyte of his moder Than he sente for his taylloures and dyde shape kyrtelles gownes and mantelles for his moder of veluet bothe blewe purple made them to be furred with veer and ermyne fables whan it came to theyr souper they brought in the quene rychely arayed And whan the kynge of Aragon her brother sawe her he toke her in his armes and kyssed her sayd that he wende not that she had ben on lyue The lordes and the ladyes of Galyce had grete Ioye of the quene dyde her grete worshyp for they helde her for a good an holy lady And they were all ameruaylled fro whens she came for they wende she had be deed Her brother the kynge of Aragoon was set at souper at the tables ende and after the quene than her sone the kynge Ponthus for the day of his crownacyon he must kepe his estate The quene was of goodly porte semed well to be a grete lady she was ryght humble had grete Ioye of the goodnes and worshyp that she sawe in her sone Than she sayd to her sone Fayre sone I haue grete desyre for to se our doughter your wyfe for the grete goodes I haue herde of her Madame sayd he ye shall se her hastely yf it please god That daye passed with grete Ioye grete dysportes of ladyes of syngynge of daunsynge and of other maner playes That nyght kynge Ponthus dremed that a bere deuoured quene Sydoyne his wyfe and she cryed sayd A Ponthus my swete lorde suffre me not thus to dye This auysyon fell to hyÌ„ twyes or thryes so he was sore afrayed ther with grete meruayll in his herte what it mente In the mornynge in the sprynge of the daye he called vp his men and sente for his vncle syr Patrycke so they came to hym he tolde them his auysyons he sayd myne herte telleth me that my wyfe hath some sekenes or in some trouble so I wyll no lenger abyde here for I wyll go as faste as I can to se her Whan they sawe his wyll they durste not agayne saye hym Than sayd the kynge fayre lordes I thanke god and you this countree is clensed of the myssebyleuers and I thynke well y t by you two the couÌ„tre hath be saued and the people kepte fro the deth by your good rule as it was goddes wyll So I bethynke me of Moyses Aaron that god set to saue the people of Israell so ye shall haue meryte and the guerdon of god And as for me I am ryght moche bounde to you wherfore fayre vncle I make you my leutenauÌ„t syr Patrycke shall be senesshall constable of this realme for it is grete reason that ye that haue done soo moche good saued the countre ye to haue the rule and the gouernaunce And ye syr Patrycke my dere frende ye saued me soo I shall gyue you londe good so largely y t ye shall not lese your good seruyce Syr Patrycke kneled downe and thanked hym Than the kynge coÌ„maunded them that the estate of y e quene his moder were kepte and that she sholde haue her coÌ„maundement as it were to his owne propre persone also y t they sholde susteyne the poore as well as the ryche that the ryche sholde not greue nor ouerlay the poore And than he coÌ„mauÌ„ded theym to repayre chyrches glasse wyndowes of all other thynges where as they were broken to make them vp agayne I shall take you ten thousande besauntes of golde therto he ordeyned ryght well for his realme all thynges that neded And than he went and herde his masses sent his dyner in to the shyppe and toke his leue of his moder the quene sayd vnto her herynge all men Madame I leue you the realme and the tresoure that I haue all in your grace gouernaunce I haue coÌ„mauÌ„ded coÌ„mauÌ„de all men to obey you as I my propre persone better I leue you myn vncle and syr Patrycke my good knyght y t whiche I haue made my constable seneshall of this realme myne vncle my leutenaunt Soo he toke his leue wepynge she prayed hym that he wolde come agayne in shorte tyme for she wolde fayne se his wyfe and he toke his leue of the lordes the ladyes of the countree and wente to the shyppes euery man arayed hym dressed hym to the see Kynge Ponthus came vnto y e barâ—ns tolde theym what auysyon there was befall hym wherfore he sholde neuer be at hertes ease tyl he had sene his wyfe So he toke the see sayled so longe tyll he sawe the costes of Brytayne ¶ Of y e false letters and treason that Guenelet dyde ayenst Ponthus wherfore he dyed with grete myschefe as ye shall here hereafter GUenelet was abyden keper of the kyÌ„ge and of his doughter for kynge Ponthus had gyuen hym all the gouernauÌ„ce as ye haue herde before wherfore he had grete Ioye Neuerthelesse he myght not kepe hymselfe nor chastyse hymselfe from treason so he bethought hym that he wolde haue the quene Sydoyne to his wyfe by what waye and that he wolde be lorde and kynge of the countree eyther by fayre or by foule so he wolde set hymselfe in auenture Soo the deuyll tempted hym so moche y t he dyde stuffe the cyte and the castelles sente for sowdyours gaue theym syluer in hande for to haue the loue of them of armes So is syluer of an euyll vertue for the good men put them in peryll of deth And whaÌ„ he had stuffed all the fortresses he dyde make a fals seale of kyÌ„ge Ponthus and made two false letters that one to the kynge and that other to the quene Sydoyne the whiche specyfyed that kynge Ponthus recoÌ„maunded hym to the kynge that all his men were dyscomfyted slayne and hymselfe hurte to the deth without ony remedye So he prayed hym that for his welfare for the welth of the countre that he wolde gyue his doughter
he myght not come in by that meane he thretened her sore and swore that he sholde take her by force make her his wenche yf she wolde not be his wyfe badde her chose whiche that she wolde A said she whiche that was angry to here tho vngoodly wordes Traytoure thou shalte not come therto and god wyll for thou shalte dye an euyll deth for this false enterpryse Than he waxed angry and sayd syth that he had done so moche he wolde fynysshe it what soo euer befall Soo he toke the kynge and put hym in pryson for fere that he sholde gader no men of armes ayenst hym And than he came to the bourgeys sayd vnto hym how quene Sydoyne was gyuen hym of her husbonde by good letters also the kynge her fader was accorded therto hycause that she wolde haue be wedded to a man of nought the whiche wolde haue hated and dystroyed y e countre but sayd he yf I haue her I shall kepe the fraunchyses and lybertees shall kepe you as golde doth the stone So I haue set the kynge in a chambre for he is al doted and hath no wytte he wolde lyghtly consente vnto the lewde courage of his doughter wherby the countre sholde be loste yf it befell as they thynke but I shal kepe them well therfro with goddes helpe youres for to saue the welfare of brytayne So he gaue largely to them that he supposed myght noye hym he dyde it in suche wyse wenynge to them that he had sayd trouth wherfore they durste not ones aryse nor meue and also he had many straunge sowdyours ¶ How Guenelet made to assayle the toure where as Sydoyne was in WHan he had spoken with the bourgeys and y e people he came to the toure assayled it So there was within but .v. men foure women that threwe downe grete stones defended the toure well also there was the moost parte of them y t dyde but fayne for they wolde not that she sholde be taken The assaute lasted a grete whyle And whaÌ„ Guenelet had fayled he was ryght sorowfull angry thought at y e leest he wolde haue enfamysshed them In good fayth sayd quene Sydoyne we haue vytayll ynoughe for a moneth or more in the meane tyme god shall helpe vs and sende vs rescowes And whan Guenelet vnderstode her he wende to haue renne madde for anger for he was all dystraught bycause he fayled of his purpose wolde wysshed y t he had neuer begon but syth that he hath vndertaken it he wyll fynysshe it or elles dye therfore Soo he set good watche wardes aboute the toure that there sholde no vytayll come to them than he bethought hym of a grete malyce for he came to the kynge prayed hym that he wolde go to his doughter for he woteth well y t he sholde tourne her of her foly that she hath taken in honde and tolde hym that he wolde not famysshe her but fall to a trety The kynge was good trewe thought none harme but wente to his doughter tolde her how she was in waye to be deed shewed her many ensamples And she answered hym to the contrary how he thought well the letters were false and ye wote well sayd she that other tymes hath he sayd that he was deed Soo I shall rather dye but yf I knowe y e very trouth In good fayth sayd the kynge it may well be as ye saye for I knowe no man of knowlege that hath ben there and harde it is where as none escapeth So they ben somwhat comforted for the grete vntrouth that they knowe in hym Guenelet asked the kyÌ„ge that he sawe aboue at the wyndowe Syr what wyll she doo Soo helpe me god sayd the kynge I may not spede for she is yet all sorowfull and angry for her lorde wherfore I may haue no good answere No sayd Guenelet by the holy fayth ye shall abyde with her and bere her felawshyp for to ete pesen plommes for ye shall bothe two dye for honger or I shall haue her So the kynge abode with his doughter wherfore she had the soner pyte for the honger and dysease of her fader Foure dayes or fyue they had mete ynoughe but at the syxte day theyr vytaylles fayled them for them had neyther brede nor flesshe So they were two dayes that they ete no mete saue a lytell chese eche of theÌ„ a draught of wyne The kynge began to feble sore Quene Sydoyne had noo more but syxe apples wherof she gaue her fader euery daye two she wepte and sorowed for the grete dysease that her fader was in and that dyde her more sorowe than her owne So loked ofte tymes out at a wyndowe towarde y e see yf she myght se ony thynge come Soo she wysshed ofte tymes after her lorde kynge Ponthus and than she wepte and made grete sorowe desyrynge her owne dethe sayd to the kynge A my lorde it had ben better for you that I had ben deed longe ago than to gyue you suche a payne or that ye had suffred so moche honger for me The kynge wepte and sayd I had leuer dye fâ—r honger rather than yonder traytour sholde haue you by this meane Quene Sydoyne called hym and sayd fals traytour how mayst thou suffre the kynge to dye whiche is soo good a man Alas sayd she is it y e norture that he hath made of the whan thou hast besyeged makest him to dye for honger and for thurste that often tymes hathe gyuen the good mete and drynke is this the guerdon that thou yeldest hym She sayd hym moche shame but it auaylled noo thynge for he made his othe that he sholde made hym too dye for veray greate honger yf she wolde not consente to be his The kynge dyed almoost for honger laye in his bedde and myght not stere And whaÌ„ quene Sydoyne behelde hym she sayd that she had leuer dye or languysshe all her lyfe than her fader sholde dye for her than she sayd vnto hym wepyÌ„ge My ryght swete lorde fader I may no lenger suffre your sorowe nor the honger ye abyde I haue leuer to for dye or elles to be in sorowe al my lyf languysshynge than to se you in this plyght The kynge wepte and wyste neuer what to saye for to se that he sholde haue his doughter by this waye it greued hym sore on the other syde to se hymselfe dye her togyder it dyde hyÌ„ harme for they sholde be cause of theyr owne dethe So he sorowed sore sayd that he had to longe lyued so he coude not counseyll hymselfe sayd vnto her Fayre doughter I wote neuer how we may be auysed nor what counseyll I may gyue you so moche sorowe I haue but for to se you dye I may not suffre it And I wolde that the deth toke me so that kynge Ponthus were on lyue
¶ How Broadas sone to the Soudan toke Croyne and slewe the kynge Tyber SO befell it as fortune iâ— wolde one of the thre sones came as y e wynde brought his nauy by grete tourment that he passed besyde Croyne in galyce and there he came vp So toke he the londe in a balyngere and toke of the men aboute the ryuage And whan he had taken them he asked of them who was lorde of that countre And they answered sayd that it was the reaâ—me of Galyce and that kynge Tyber was kynge therof Than asked the Sowdans sone what lawe they helde And they answered sayd the lawe of Ihesu cryst ThaÌ„ made he to withdrawe his nauy so as he wolde haue withdrawen hym fro the realme from the countre toke twelue shyppes and made theym to be ledde to the porte of the towne of Croyne charged them that they sholde make them marchauntes of swetâ— gommes of spycery and of clothes of golde and of sylke And than they sholde at euen go lye in the towne in theyr hauâ—ergeons vnder theyr gownes and aboute the poynt of the daye they sholde go vpon the walles of the gate towarde the see And that they sholde geâ—e the gate the walles and that they sholde helpe them to scale to come vp in to the towne And so as he had deuysed it was done So came the twelue vesselles made them marchauÌ„tes and solde spycery clothes of damaske solde grete chepe ynough And sythen the marchauntes lodged in the towne as nyghe the gate as they myght And dyde make redy ryght good mete made theyr hoost to soupe with them whiche thought none euyll nor no gyle whan they had well sported them they wente to rest had take theyr poyntment 〈…〉 poynt of daye vpon the gate and deuysed theyr ordynaunce And whan tyme came they wente vpon the walles and at the same tyme the Soudanes sone whiche was named Broadas the fyrst sone of theym came to the fote of the wall with a grete nombre of ladders so wente vpon hyghe And they aboue the wall drewe theym vp soo many that with in a lytell whyle there were vpon the walles more than a thousande and gate the gate and the towne without ony gayn saynge and dyde there moche harme And syth assayled y e castell and there in was the kynge Tyber and hym they toke by strengthe and y e kynge defended hym as moche as he myght ryght vygorously and he wolde neuer yelde hym and so longe he defended hym that he was deed and slayne and that was ryght moche harme and the quene tho wente out by a posterne had but a mantell wrapped aboute her and went in to deserte And an olde preest toke the kynges sone .xiii. chyldren more with hym wihche he taught and wente out and ledde theym all and hydde theym in an olde roche besyde a gardyne and there were they two dayes without mete or drynke the olde preest whiche was called syr Denys had so grete drede whan y e chyldren wolde go out of y e caue he came tofore them and sayd vnto theym goo not out yf ye wyll not dye and so he withhelde theym two dayes but at the thyrde daye Ponthus sayd to hym mayster better it is to dyâ— with swerde than to be enfamyned and to dye for hunger for thenne sholde we be cause of oure dethe homysydes of our selfe by auenture we sholde mowe fynde some remedy The preest sayd that he had moche leuer to dye of hunger than to fâ—ll in the daunger of theyr enemyes handes and trembled for drede and by strengthe Ponthus steâ—te out of the caue he his cosyn germayne Polydes and were apperceyued and ledde to the kynge Broadas whiche than named hym to be cleped kynge of the countre And whan the kynge sawe these .xiii. chyldren whiche were meruaylous fayre he asked what children they were And ponthus answered and said y t they were chyldren whiche y e kyÌ„ge made to be nourysshed for goddes loue for to serue hym whaÌ„ they were of greter age And of what seruyse sayd Broadas Syr sayd Ponthus that one sholde haue gouerned his grehoundes and the kyÌ„ges 〈◊〉 houndes And that other the gosshawkes 〈…〉 hawkes of the towre and the other of nedes in the hall and in the chambres O sayd the kynge clothed he his seruynge people so worthely as ye be clothed ye seme to be grete lordes sones after the estate I se you in Syr sayd Ponthus we be but vauasoures and of small gentylmen comen By mahowne I wote not what ye be but of beaute ne of well spekynge haue ye not fayled but it behoueth that ye leue your lawe whiche is no thynge worth take mahownes lawe And I shall do you moche good And yf ye wyll not do it I shall make you to dye a myscheuous dethe now chuse whiche that ye wyll Sothely sayd Ponthus of the dethe mowe ye well ordeyne to your pleasynge but for to forsake our lawe for to take mahownes ne shall we neuer do for to dye therfore No sayd the kynge to the dethe be ye thenne come so sayd he that they sholde dye an euyll dethe ¶ How a crysten knyght saued .xiiii. chyldren that is for to wete Ponthus and his thyrtene folowes in a shyppe vpon the see THan sterte forth a crysten knyght whiche had take mahounes lawe for drede of deth had alwaye his herte to Ihesu cryst the whiche knyght y e kynge loued ryght moche and sayd Syr I take the charge vpon me to delyuer you yf they wyl not byleue in mahoune I shall ordeyne for them in suche maner that neuer shall they hurte youre lawe I praye you sayd the kynge bethynke you And I take theym you to gouerne Than went Ponthus the other to haue be deed but god remedyed theym the knyght ledde them to his place made them strongly aferde afore the kynge And whaÌ„ he was at his place he made his folkes to withdrawe them and than asked of theym for to assaye them in this wyse ye must byleue in mahoumet or ye be but deed And they answered sayd they sholde neuer byleue vpon hym to dye therfore And whan he sawe theym swere he had ryght grete Ioye asked them yf they had ete ony mete that daye and than he made them to ete drynke for they had grete hunger A sayd one of theym wherfore ete we syth that we shall go to the deth Do waye quod Ponthus by the grace of god we shall lyue yf it be to his pleasynge we shall hope in him he shall saue vs. Soo ete they prayed our lorde to haue mercy vpon them The knyght herde what Ponthus sayd praysed hym ryghte moche and sayd in his herte that it sholde be grete pyte yf suche chyldren sholde dye for they were meruayllous fayre fayre spekynge Soo departed he fro
grete and meruayllous dedes of armes he and Broalys and Corbatan his vncle Tho were the thre knyghtes of all the sarasyns whiche susteyned most theyr folke makynge the grete stoures the grete dedes of armes whiche most releued agayne in theyr grete nede ¶ How the kynge Karados was dyscomfyted by Ponthus and his folke POnthus behelde the kynge whiche dyde ryght grete dedes of armes sawe hym ryght rychely armed with perles precyous stones and vpō his helme a ryche crowne of golde and slewe many of the crysten people and had ouerthrowen Guyllam de roches slayne Guyllam de dygnan and bette downe many knyghtes woūded Than said he to Androwe fayre lorde what an aduersary haue we of that kynge of his two knyghtes whiche be besyde hym yf they dure longe they wyll doo vnto vs moche harme And yf these thre myght be sette on fote or to the deth it semeth me that we sholde haue y e hyghe hande of them Syr sayd Androwe de la toure goo to that one we shall go to the other two Than sayd Ponthus I shal go to y e kȳge put me in auenture of all his strength And he wente forth gaue the kynge so grete a stroke that he bette hym downe of his horse to y e erth and at the fallynge he brake his canell bone And Androwe bette downe Broalys smote of his ryght arme that he dyed withall And Harlant the seneshall smote Corbatan agayne so felony that he bette him downe and whan these thre were defowled it nedeth not to aske yf they sarasynes were abasshed for y e dyscomfyture was there ryght grete all theyr power was fallen and they dwelled as shepe wtout shepeherde Than toke they theym to dyscomfyture and to lese londe And than our cresten folke toke boldnes vpon theym and to haue the crye of them so slewe they many of them from thens forth The kynge myght vnnethes releue agayne so slewe hym one that bare the lyon that was Reynault de vytre or deglysson I wote neuer The sarasynes wyst not where to flee or to hyde them On y e coost towarde the nauy was a ryght grete stoure of sarasynes whiche wyste not yet of the deth of theyr kȳge and hadde bette downe Bausaye mayle Geruays daner the mount Iohn̄ payne de rochefort there helde they strayghtly our folke But whan they sawe theyr folke slayne they meruaylled moche and whan our folke w t whome they fought sawe them affrayed they toke herte to them ranne vpō them And also there came to rescowes Geffrey de lesygnen leoncel the herupoys and brytons soo many that they made them to leue the place there was grete slaughter of paynymes and of sarasynes ¶ How the sarasynes were ouercomen drowned POnthus dyde meruayllous dedes of armes for he slewe folke also hors all that he toke with the stroke was deed defouled or beten doune his shelde was to all presented he departed the grete strokes with his bryght swerde So Ioyned there theym togyder Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe leoncel Guyllam de roches Bernarde la roche Harlant the seneshall And whan they were assembled togyder they dyde meruayllous dedes of armes for there where they sawe y e grete prees they bette in and broke in amonge theym and made theym to make waye who that euer it happed w t theyr good swerdes of stele none ne durste abyde theym And Ponthus whiche dyde meruayllous dedes of armes was knowen by the strokes whiche he departed on the ryght syde and on the lefte So cryed he vnto them they be dyscomfyted the paynymes whiche were as bestes without shepherde for theyr kynge and theyr capytaynes were tho deed so coude they take no good counseyll ne sette noo remedy in them so they lete themselfe be to all hewen Soo was there within a lytell whyle suche slaughter that all the feldes were strawed with deed men and with maymed they fledde towarde the nauy drowned them in the water and our folke pursewed theym made them to be drowned perysshed Ponthus toke a lytell vessell slewe well a .xxx. whiche hasted them for to saue theym toke foure all on lyue and asked theym where the tresour the ryches of y e kynge was And they shewed hym a fayre shyppe than he sayd lede me thyder or ye shall dye they ledde hym thyder And Ponthus his cosyn germayne Polydes seuen of his felawshyp sterte in to the shyppe slewe caste out all that they founde therin in to the water So loked they the cofers where as the kynges golde was and his syluer fayre felowes kepe me this vessel sayd Ponthus to his seuen felowes I wyll see yet yf there be ony yet that wyll lyfte vp the heed ayenst vs. Than lepte he out of the shyppe and come to the londe by a vessell but there was none that defended hym but all were slayne or drowned Brytons herupoys Torengeaus Manseaus pooteuynes and normans ranne in to the shyppes and in to the vesselles and the other serched the tentes and the pauylyons and there was none so poore but that he had ynoughe and that one more than that other Men serched the feldes eueryche for his frendes And they founde the vycount of Auerences deed And Ihon̄ paynell Turnebeef and the lorde of villyers so made the normans grete sorowe for they were good knyghtes And what of the Manseaus Hongres de beaumount Margeron and y e lordes of doncelles And Amaulry de sylly Of the herupois Gassos de mountereul Rowlande de chenulle Endes de penaunces and Fresylde la hay Of poyteuynes Gautyer de chateau neuf Androwe de montagu and Hubault de la forest And other brytons Peter de duel Raoul le reis Iohn̄ dauauger hardy de leon Huberte de dygnan Godfrey de roham Aubrey de rays and many other good knyghtes eueryche made theyr frendes for too be borne in to theyr coūtre and the hurte for to be kepte Ponthus made the grete shyppe and the grete tresoure for to come vnto his place at vennes And he departed grete foyson vnto good knyghtes and vnto the good folke of armes soo largely that he was ryght hyghly praysed and alowed therfore The kynge was withdrawen agayne to quypercorentyne there assembled al y e grete lordes The kynge feested the straungers and gaue them grete gyftes after that euery mā was of degre And than he sayd vnto theym lordes ye be come gramercy vnto you in to goddes seruyce in to the seruyce of the holy chyrche and of the poore people And by the grace of the hyghe lorde and by your grete prowesses and hardynes ye haue delyuered this countree of mysbyleuers whiche wolde haue dystroyed our holy lawe And it is sothe that his purneyaunce hath gyuen you this holy gyfte and this grace for ayenst one of you there was syxe of them So
it were grete foly to refuse hym And the kynge sente vnto Sydoyne hymselfe sayd vnto her fayre doughter I am olde and aged I haue no chylde but you ye be desyred of many kȳges grete lordes and I haue herde saye he that refuseth reason reason wyll refuse hym so it befalleth often wherof god gyue grace it do not so by you Fayre doughter y e kynge of Bourgoyne desyreth you and he is neuewe to the kynge of Fraunce he is ryght myghty and a ryche kynge Soo me semeth he ought not to be refused and as for me yf it lyke you I am accorded therto Syr sayd Sydoyne it is noo nede yet to be wedded Truely sayd the kynge ye haue so longe forborne I knowe noo cause why but I shall neuer loue you but yf ye accorde you to this She was sore abasshed and heuy that her fader helde her soo shorte she sayd vnto hym Syr ye wote well there is no thynge ye wyll cōmaunde me to do but I wyll doo it with a good wyll My ryght dredefull lorde I tell you in counseyll that there is a sykenes in me I dare not tell it but with y e grace of god I shall be hole of it but it wyll be fyrst somer or aboute Pentecost at that tyme I shal fulfyl your wyll Truely sayd the kynge it suffyseth me I forgyue you tyll y e terme that was the seuenth yere that Ponthus set terme that he departed frome Sydoyne The kynge was well pleased with his doughter tolde vnto Guenelet of y e terme that she had set hym Guenelet sayd that it was well done he sente vnto the kynge of Bourgoyne that the maryage was graunted to be on tuesdaye in Pentecoste Sydoyne was in grete dysease sente dyuers tymes to wete yf she myght haue ony tydȳges of Ponthus she coude none here bycause he had chaunged his name and so was she in grete sorowe bothe daye nyght whan he tyme drewe nyghe she was sore dysmayed and sente after Harlant and sayd vnto him A Harlant my dere frende I haue grete sorowe that my lorde is so affonned on Guenelet whiche maketh hym for to do many straunge thynges one is to put you out of your offyce and also by his fals wyles he wyll put awaye the beste knyght that at this daye bereth armes as men saye y t was Ponthus that ye taught nourysshed thre yere the whiche loued you so well he maketh my lorde to do many shamefull thynges by his fals flaterynge in lyke wyse he maketh me to be gyuen to the kynge of Bourgoyne ayenst my wyll for men saye y t he hath many euyll condycyons also he is aged corsyous and lame and dronklew but I may not do ayenst my lordes cōmaundement so the terme draweth nygh of Pentecost And I wote well yf Ponthus wyfte it he wolde set remedy therto so I praye you that by your counseyll remedy may be had for there is no man in the worlde that I wolde discouer me to saue onely vnto you ¶ How Sydoyne sente Olyuer sone to Harlant in to Englonde for to fynde Ponthus MAdame sayd Harlant neuer god wyll that ye shall haue an housbonde of suche condycyons But I shall tell you what we shall do Olyuer my sone is one of the knyghtes as ferre forth as I knowe y t Ponthus loueth best he shall go in to Englonde enquere of hym in to scotlonde Irlonde whyther he be a lyue or deed so he shall knowe the trouth A sayd she in good fayth ye saye well So Harlant spake vnto his sone whiche wente w t good wyll charged hym of all y e mater bytwene Ponthus Sydoyne toke hym money ynoughe for his exspences Soo Olyuer passed the see londed at hampton where he requyred of Ponthus And he founde well that seuen yere afore there was passed in to the courte y e goodlyest knyght the best that euer men myght se but he named hym self Surdyt de driot voyce Olyuer supposed y t it was he that he had chaunged his name for certayne causes soo he rode forth he his man came thrughe the forest where he founde theues bycause he coude not well speke the langage of the countre bycause they sawe hym well arayed rychely they ranne vpon hȳ and toke hym dyspoyled hym toke from hym all that euer he had and hurte hym foule but he escaped from them in the forest and saued hymselfe so he had grete honger thurste grete colde So he sorowed sore for he myght fynde no comforte of his dysease the lettynge of his enquest greued hym wors than all his losse He passed the forest and wente beggynge his mete fro dore to dore tyll he came to the kynges hous and it was the same daye that the kynge of scotlonde had spoken vnto Ponthus of the maryage of his nece Genneuer ¶ How Olyuer founde Ponthus in the courte of y e kynge of Englonde POnthus was in the courte where as he behelde Iustes dysportes of yonge knyghtes dyuers maners Olyuer was all naked dyspoyled loked aboute hym sawe Ponthus knewe hym well So he came kneled downe afore hym sayd to hym My lorde Ponthus god gyue you good lyfe increase you in the worshyppe that ye be in Ponthus was all abasshed sayd vnto hym Frende to whome speke ye Syr I speke to you that I knowe well for ye be ponthus the kynges sone of Galyce ye haue forgoten the countre of Brytayne thoughe I be poore naked it is befall me in sekynge of you And ye ought to knowe me for I am Olyuer the sone of Harlant And whan Ponthus herde hym he loked vpon hym knewe hȳ well And than he toke of his mantell caste it aboute syr Olyuer toke hym by the hande kyssed hym wepynge myght no worde saye vnto hym Thā he toke hym by the hande ledde hym in to his chambre and it was a grete whyle or he myghte speke And whan that he myght speke he sayd vnto hym A dere brother and frende how doo they in your countre how be ye thus arayed tolde hym all the mater frome the begynnynge to the ende Ponthus cladde hym with the best clothes that he had and whan he was arayed he a ryght goodly knyght Than he tolde vnto Ponthus how he was robbed in poynte to be deed and how y t he came beggȳge his brede fro dore to dore after he tolde hym how Guenelet had all the rule of Brytayne and how the kynge byleued in no man but in hym how that he had put out his fader of his offyce of the seneshall shyppe of brytayne And after he tolde hym of Sydoyne how that she sholde neuer consent to no maryagesyth that he departed of the grete dysease
that she hath suffred and how that she may no lenger abyde than tuesdaye in Pentecost that than she shall be maryed vnto the kynge of Bourgoyne y e whiche is full of euyll tatches but Guenelet made the maryage that had grete gyftes of y e sayd kynge So Sydoyne sendeth you worde by me that ye wyll sette remedy in this mater vpon all the loues y t is bytwene you her And whan he herde of the grete trouth of his lady the teres fell frome his eyen he sayd yf god wyll he sholde set remedy so they spake of dyuers thynges ¶ How the kynge of Englonde knewe Ponthus of what lygnage he was exscused hym that he had not more honoured and worshypped hym THe tydynges wente in to the courte that there was come a man of lytell Brytayne y t knewe well Ponthus the whiche named hymselfe Surdyte whan the kynge and all his housholde wyste of it they were sore ameruaylled And the kynge and the quene sayd to the kynge of scottes it was neuer but that my herte sayd thought that he shold be of greteter byrth than he made hymselfe by the noble dedes of hym A sayd y e quene I meruayll me no more though he wyll not haue our doughter for I haue herde saye that he loueth our cosyn Sydoyne of Brytayne without ony shame Truely sayd the kynge it may well be whā he wyll not be maryed in this coūtre So at souper tyme Ponthus came in to the hall his knyght with hym the whiche was rychely arayed as in clothes of sylke furred with sables so he was a ryght goodly knyghte to se. The kynge of Englonde and the kȳge of scottes came ayenst Ponthus sayd vnto hym A Ponthus why haue ye made vs to do ourselfe suche dysworshyp as ye haue done for ye sayd that ye were but a poore knyghtes sone so therby they were disceyued we haue gretely offended for bycause we haue not done you worshyp as we ought for to haue done but all the blame is in you for in good fayth we dyde but as we knewe whan Ponthus sawe the grete courtesye of y e kynge how he dysblamed hym selfe he sayd vnto hym All thoughe I be a kynges sone it is but a lytell thȳge for a man dysheryted is but lytell praysed so it is a lytell thynge of poore noble his dedes ben ryght symple and therfore men ought to sette lytell by hym A sayd the kynge saue your grace he that hath the noblesse the bounte with the good condycyons and worthynes that is in you it is worth a kynges raunsom for ye be lykly to conquere your owne and dyuers other Ponthus was asshamed of the grete prees and chaunged his wordes in to other maters The kynge made hym to syt at souper bytwene the quene and his doughter whyther he wolde or not but it was with grete payne After souper they wente to dysporte them in the gardyn at dyuers dysportes Ponthus came to the kynge of Scottes and the kynge of Irlonde and the kynge of cornewayle and some of the grete lordes and they set theym downe in an erber and than he sayd to the kynge Ryght hyghe and myghty prynce and to you al my lordes and frendes I wolde made a request vnto you all my lordes frendes I wolde make a request vnto you of a nedefull mater of myne Than he tolde them how y e sowdan had sente his thre yongest sones for to conquere vpon crysten realmes and how he delyuered them grete army and nauy and tresoure and how that he sayd vnto them he that shall moost conquere and be moost worthy of knyghthode he sholde be best welcome to hym And how one of them londed in Galyce and by wyle and treason they gate the towne of Columpne in Galyce and of the grete sorowe myschefe that he dyde and how they slewe the kynge his fader And than he tolde theym how that an olde preest hydde them two dayes and two nyghtes in an olde caue in a roche and of y e grete fere that they had and as the wolfe gooth out of the wode for honger ryghte so I and my thyrtene felowes of grete lordes sones wente out of the caue and how they were taken and also how the knyght saued theym and how they landed in lytell Brytayne and how theyr shyppe brake vpon a roche and how they were saued And as he tolde his tale many of the lordes the teres fell frome theyr eyen for to here the peryll and the shrowe that he escaped from ¶ How Ponthus departed out of Englonde with a grete company of people ANd after whā he had all tolde his tale he said vnto theym that he wolde goo for to conquere the myssebyleuers that helde his londe that was his faders for I thanke god sayd he I haue ben in the felawshyp of them where as the pryde of two of theym hathe ben dystroyed soo is there no more on lyue but the thyrde that holdeth the realme y t was my faders and that I oughte for to haue and I vnderstande y t the countre is well gouerned wysely fewe people of the countre slayne for they lyue in seruage paye trybute euery pece a besaunte of golde for the grete tresoure that the kynge reyseth he suffreth euery man to lyue in what byleue that euer he wyll Syr sayd the kynge of Englonde I offre you my body with good herte all thoughe I be olde and aged after my men and my tresoure Syr sayd Ponthus I thanke you hyghly The kynge of scottes the kynge of Irlonde and the other kynges the lordes all they offred hym body men and goodes soo there was none but y t they offred themselfe to hym Ponthus thanked the kynge and all the lordes ryght humbly and wysely and sayd vnto the kynge and to the other kynges and lordes y ◠that god of his grace yelde theym the worshyppe that they offred hym My lordes sayd he to the kynges I shall neyther lede kynges nor other grete lordes but men of armes sowdours a twelue thousande the whiche that I wyll wage I thāke god I haue ynough wherof and he sayd trouth for at the laste batayll he founde ynoughe in kynge Corborans shyppe ryghte grete tresoure so moche that it was meruayll to here with grete payne it myght be nombred They offred hym ynoughe of golde haueour but he wolde none take of them but toke of euery kynge of the best men that they had so many that he had well a twelue thousande men well arayed in good shyppes Soo he waged theym at theyr owne wyll they had grete Ioye for to go with hym he ledde with hym y e erle of Gloucestre the erle of Rychemonde and the erle of Derby chyeftaynes and captaynes of the englysshe men Of scottes the Erle of Douglas and of euery countree a lorde to gouerne the men of theyr countre
of margaretes that it was meruayll for to se the grete ryches that it was worthe for it was praysed more than thyrty thousande besauntes of golde The kyÌ„ge sawe theym and sayd to his doughter Fayre doughter ye be not maryed to prynce dyssheryted god hath gyuen hym and you fayre good and ryche and noble lo ye ought to thanke god After that Ponthus gaue to the kynge ryght fayre gyftes and good Iewelles as precyous stones perles and cuppes of golde and to the barons of Brytayne he gaue gyftes of golde ryches after that they were he was moche praysed for his grete gyftes and of his grete largesse The day of the maryage were the lordes of Englonde of Irlonde of scotlonde rychely arayed and they of brytayne dyde them grete worshyp Grete was the feest grete was the Ioye of mynstrelles and of heraldes Grete gyftes gaue them Ponthus There was many rhynges bytwene y e courses And there were made many meruayllous thynges Ponthus made auowe whiche was moche spoken of for he sayd thus bycause that men sholde nâ—t saye the kynges doughter hath taken a man without londe therfore I make myne auowe that neuer shal I come in her bedde tyll that I be lorde of the realme and londe whiche was my faders crowned or elles I shall dye therfore And I auowe to god y t I neuer kyssed her nor requyred her of thynge that sholde tourne to disworshyp whan that I departed out of this countree nor thought more to doo vnto her than vnto myne owne moder Soo he sayd thus bycause of the wordes the kynge had meued before tyme for the whiche he departed from brytayne And whaÌ„ Sydoyne wyste y t he had made this auowe she was ryght Ioyfull therof all thoughe she had leuer haue had his felawshyp so it was moche spokeÌ„ of some sayd that he was a ryght good man and a trewe knyght and some sayd that he had delayed the grete frendshyp disporte that she supposed to haue hadde with hym Than sayd the kynge in good fayth I was to hasty to byleue suche tales so lyghtly The feest was ryght grete but the kynge wolde not that yere sholde be Iustes for the auenture of that befell of the kynge of bourgoyne for fere that some myschefe sholde haue befallen And than they began to synge daunce and made many geÌ„tylmanly dysportes And at euen Ponthus came in to the chambre to Sydoyne and said vnto her A my swete loue all my Ioye my herte my lyfe all my sustynaunce I haue ben to hasty of the auowe that I haue made but in good fayth I made it for to saue your worshyp for the wycked tongues of the worlde are alwaye redy to reporte the worste And for trouth my fayre loue I shall suffre greter dysease than ony body for the grete desyre that I haue to be bytwene your armes but god wyll I shall be there hasty for it is the gretest desyre that myne herte hath My swete loue and lorde sayd she wote it well that all your pleasure is myne we ought to desyre no thyÌ„ge so moche as worshyp and good name so ye haue done well for to put awaye the doubte of the mysse sayers Inoughe they talked togyder than they halsed and kyssed there was moche Ioye feestynge of armes tyll the .xv. dayes were passed There was y e monstre and the brytons were nombred foure thousande fyue hondred armed men And of the normans twelue hondred and were all waged payed for syxe monethes It was a fayre thynge for to se theym assemble with the nauy of Englonde ¶ How Ponthus departed from Brytayne for to go â—onquere his countree PPonthus toke his leue of y e kynge and of Sydoyne And by flatery this Guenelet dyde soo moche that he abode with the kynge with Sydoyne as all gouernour keper of them And Ponthus toke hym a party of his tresoure to kepe So at the departynge there was wepynge ynoughe of Sydoyne and of the ladyes Ponthus kyssed her toke his leue and betoke her the moost parte of his Iowelles rychesse to kepe Than he departed wente by londe passed by nauntes came to sable danlon to derbendelles there was his grete nauy And there arryued Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe de la toure with grete felawshyp And than Ponthus receyued theym with grete Ioye as the two knyghtes straungers of the worlde that he loued beste than he gaue theym grete gyftes And than came Guyllam de roches a good knyghte Paraunt de rocheforte the lorde de douay Pyers de donne Gerarde de chateau goutyer Iohn meleurier with the herupoys Of the manseaus beaunmount la vale Sygles de doncelles and other of the countre of mayne Of Tourayne baussay mayle hay of other tourangeaus Of poytw the vycount of toures the erles brother of marche maulyon chastemur la garnache dyuers other Ponthus gaue them grete gyftes that they all were abasshed of his largesse sayd that there was none to serue hym he is worthy to conquere and to gouerne all the worlde by his grete courtesye and largesse To euery baron knyght he delyuered shyppes after that they had people And than they toke the see and departed with grete Ioy. It taryed not longe that all the nauy assembled soo it was a good syght to se the shyppes and the sayles drawen vp that it semed a grete forest So they had wynde at wyll passed the yle of doloron And whan they were a .vi. myle from the columpne Ponthus made the ancres for to be caste and all the shyppes to abyde he sayd to the lordes to the chyefteynes it were good to entre in to the countre by nyght for the mone shyneth and therfore lette vs londe a thre or foure myle from columpne and than to withdrawe our nauy agayne for I wolde not sayd Ponthus that they of y e countree sholde knowe vs for certayne causes Than he ordeyned aboute y e sonne goynge downe that they sholde departe and so they dyde And soo they londed a foure myle frome the cyte of columpne Whan they were londed they sente theyr shyppes in to the hyghe see bycause that they sholde not be aspyed Than they hydde them in a valey vnder a grete wood and helde themselfe as preuy as they myght ¶ How Ponthus founde his vncle the Erle of desture syr Patrycke y e knyght in a chapell by columpne THan Ponthus toke an hors rode out at the wood syde for to se yf he myght fyÌ„de ony man of the couÌ„tree for to wete and to knowe the rule of the londe So it befell y t he came to a lytell chapell ryght deuoute It happened of fortune y t the erle of desture Ponthus vncle syr Patrycke y e knyght y t saued him his .xiii. felawes were rysen afore day So these two knyghtes loued togyder as bretherne and they
hadde saued the people from the deth made them to yelde trybute to the hethen kynge in abydynge the mercy of god of theyr delyuernaunce Soo they were vp before day to come on pylgrymage to that chapell that they sholde not be aspyed of y e sarasynes So it befell whā Ponthus sawe y e chapell he wente thyder and a lyght and wente in and it was in the sprynge of the daye so he loked and sawe two men knelynge before y e auter for the whiche he had grete Ioye for he supposed they were crysten men syth they were in y e chapell in theyr prayers And whan y e two knyghtes herde hym come they were sore aferde wende to haue ben aspyed of the sarasynes And Ponthus asked theym what they were name you hardely tell me what ye be what lawe ye holde of sayd Ponthus god wyll I shal not hyde my name nor my god for in good fayth I am a crysten man thā sayd his vncle ye be ryght welcome for your felawshyp pleaseth vs well also we be crysten men in herte but we pray you that ye well tell vs what ye be In good fayth sayd he my name is Ponthus I was y e kȳge of galyce sone whan his vncle the erle of desture herde it he ranne to hym his armes abrode and halfed hym kyssed hym and sayd A my ryght dere neuewe blessyd be god that he hath gyuen me the grace that I may se you or I dye Whan Ponthus sawe that he was his vncle felte the good chere and the good wyll y t he made hym he had grete Ioye sayd vnto hym For the loue of god syr what ye gyue me grete Ioy in myn herte yf it be as ye say The day began for to wexe clere so eche of them knewe other and whan they knewe they kyssed wepte bothe two neyther myght speke a worde whan they myght speke the erle sayd A fayre lorde neuewe how durst ye come hyder thus allone for yf ye be aspyed ye are lyke to be deed Fayre vncle sayd he I am not allone but I haue here with me more than .xxviii. thousande men of armes as of the floure of Englonde of Scotlonde of Irlonde of Brytayne of other countrees aboute Whan his vncle herde it he kneled downe and Ioyned his handes thanked god hyghly of his grace than he tolde hym the gouernaunce of the londe how the countre and the people were saued but that they yelde trybute to the kynge Broadas And than he shewed hym syr Patrycke the knyght that had saued hym And they twayne had saued all the countre Ponthus came to hym toke hym in his armes and sayd that he was all his So they spake ynough of dyuers thynges And Ponthus ledde theym for to se his meyny and whan they sawe them they had grete Ioy It behoueth sayd the two knyghtes that ye ordeyne you your bataylles And so he made his ordynaunce and set in a valey foure thousande men of armes that whan the kynge sholde come out of the towne for to fyght they sholde fall behynde hym that he sholde not withdrawe agayne to y e towne And also they delyuered to syr Patrycke fyue hondred men of armes for to laye in a certayne place that whan the kynge all his power were come out of the twone they sholde go in as thoughe they were sente for to kepe the towne and thus it was ordeyned amonge theym Than sayd syr Patrycke fayre lordes this assemble is made by the pourueyaunce of god that hath sente vs Ponthus the ryghtfull lorde of this countree The Erle of desture sawe his sone Polydes y t whiche was a ryght goodly knyght so he kyssed hym and made hym grete Ioye Than sayd the erle of desture lorde sette you in ordynaunce for I shall goo tell the kynge Broad as that crysten men are entred for to robbe this countre he shall come out with as many men as he may shall come rennynge without ony ordynaūce wherfore he shall be the more easy for to dyscomfyte And sende ye forth a lytell balyngere for to fetche a thre score shyppes to come to the londe sette some hous on fyre soo he shall not knowe of your grete power wherfore he shall come all dysarayed without makynge ony ordynaunce Than the Erle toke his leue and departed came to the towne reght erly he came to the kynge as a man afrayed the kynge rose vp and he salewed hym by mahowne than he sayd to the kynge Syr the crysten men be come for to pyll and to robbe your countre and they ben but two myle frome the towne be they many sayd the kynge Syr I wote neuer but as I may apperceyue there ben a thre score shyppes Fye sayd he be they no more by mahowne in an euyll tyme be they come So I shall tell you for I dremed this nyght that I became a grete blacke wolfe and y t ye set vpone me a grete whyte greyhounde a braket and y t the greyhounde slewe me A syr sayd the erle to the kynge ye oughte not to byleue in dremes ye saye trouth sayd the kynge Go and make to blowe vp the trumpettes do crye that euery man do arme them Soo we shall take the fals rybaudes and robbers on the see the whiche I shall make them all to be slayne and to be drawen at the hors tayles Ye saye well sayd the erle whiche thought it sholde not go soo The erle wente forth armed hym made to crye that euery man sholde arme them So euery man armed them and lepte on horsbacke The kȳge was rychely armed and wente out of the towne without makynge of ony ordynaunce but who so myght go wente Soo there wente forth mo than .xii. thousande on horsbacke with out fote men archers arbelasters of suche as had none horses ¶ How Ponthus slewe Broadas y t slewe his fader Ponthus had ordened his bataylles sette in a valey foure thousande mē of armes for to fall bytwene them the towne And syr Patrycke came with his fyue hondred fyghters in to a preuy place for to wynne the towne he abode tyl that he sawe his tyme to departe The kynge smote his hors w t the spores to y t parte where he sawe y e smoke towarde y e see and sawe not past a .iii. score shyppes now on them they be all shente theyr god shall neuer saue theym but y t they shall dye an euyll deth he abode not tyll he was passed the place where the .iiii. thousande men were than he behelde afore hym sawe y e grete bataylles in ordynaūce so he was ameruayled of this dede wende to haue withdrawen hȳ for to haue set his men in ordynaūce he ordeyned a grete party for he was a wyse knyght an hardy in armes and as he made his ordynaunce he herde
not for fere that he hadde that I sholde haue be wrothe with hym he wolde not haue lefte the countre It was vnto me grete foly for to put in doubte that his swete herte sholde not haue be trewer than ony other than she wepte and sorowed in her herte for very fere that she sholde haue loste hym soo she sorowed daye nyght There were many grete complayntes in the courte for the goynge awaye of Ponthus The kynge was heuy and myght haue no reste and oftentymes wysshed after hym and so dyde his cosyn germayne and all his felowes and all maner of people bothe grete and small and the courte was in grete heuynes for hym It was but lytell whyle after that Bernarde de la Roche came vnto courte and asked fayre Sydoyne sayenge that he was her prysoner the kynge sente for her and she came with a grete foyson of ladyes and of gentylwomen and theyr assembled knyghtes and all maner of people bothe grete and small to here the lorde la roche Bernarde And whā she was come downe in to the hall tho Bernarde kneled doune to her spake on hyghe y t al men myght here hȳ sayd Madame to you sendeth me y e blacke knyght w t the whyte teres the whiche by his worthynesse hath cōquered me in armes bad me y t I sholde yelde me prysoner to y e fayrest gentylwoman of this realme So haue I enquyred of all the knyghtes squyers y t were there whiche was the fayrest they all helde them to one voyce to you So yelde I me to you in to your pryson as your knyght ye to haue power to doo as of your owne yet he bad me y t I sholde salewe you from hȳ Sydoyne wexed reed was asshamed by cause y e men helde her y e fayrest Trewly sayd she I thanke them all but they haue symply aduysed me And I thanke the knyghte y t sent you hyder but tel me yf ye wote fro whens he is Truly said he madame nay O sayd y e kȳge may no man knowe what he is truly no sayd Bernarde but so moche I say you he is the goodlyest knyght armed y t euer I sawe the best can smyte bothe w t spere w t swerde And me semeth y t he is somwhat more thā was Ponthus he is moche lyke hȳ but it is not he for men say y t he is in y e realme of poulayne or in hūgary at y e warres whiche ben there There was moche spekȳge of y e blacke knight how y t he sholde y e nexte tuesdaye fyght w t Geffrey de lesygnen w t Androwe de la toure on y e other tuesday than after y t w t y e Erle of mortayne The kȳge all y e ladyes made grete chere vnto y e lorde de la roche they dyde ete all togyder in the hall w t the kȳge at mete Sydoyne bourded w t Bernarde and sayd tho vnto him lorde de la roche I am ryght Ioyfull to haue suche a prysoner as ye be So ye ought to haue grete doubte of the prysonynge that ye shall haue to suffre And Bernarde began for to smyle said Madame yf ye shewe me none harder prysonȳge thā this is I shal suffre it wel And wete it well as I thȳke or this yere be passed ye shal haue more largely and so shall I not be allone After dyner began the daunces and the karolles but Sydoyne daūced but a lytell and yet wolde she haue daunced lesse ne had ben for fere y e men sholde haue perceyued her sorowe ¶ How Ponthus conquered Geffrey de Lelygnen and sente hym vnto Sydoyne THe daye fayre clere the lorde of Lesygnen the whiche was a meruayllous good knyght was armed and on horsbacke came before the fountayne And y e blacke knyght lepte out of his pauylyon his spere in his hande y e shelde aboute his necke as sone as eche of them sawe other they let theyr horses renne gyuȳge grete strokes with theyr speres So that bothe horses fell vpon theyr arses almoost all was ouerthrowen Neuerthelesse they rose agayne toke other speres grete strōge sharpe they afferred eche frome other came agayne as faste as theyr horses myght dryue for to Iuste y e one ayenst y e other gaue so grete strokes on y e sheldes y t all ouerthrewe bothe knyghtes horses was so rudely y t the hors of Geffrey felle y e heed vnder the body myght not stere neyther knyght nor hors for Geffrey had his legge his thygh vnder y e hors was ryght sore brused But ponthus rose agayne vpon his horse yet he was sore ashamed y t he was ouerthrowen So loked he on the knyght y t myght not stere frome vnder his hors than he alyght came to y e knyght dyde so moche y t he drewe hym from vnder his hors he had his fote out of Ioynte so he myght not stande but vpon one fote yet he layde his honde on his swerde as he y t was of grete herte grete hardynesse And whā Ponthus sawe y t he myght not stonde but vpon one fote he wolde not smyte hym but lete hym smyte a stroke or two sayd vnto hym Syr knyght I se you in a symple party shame it were for me for to assayle you And geffrey sayd wherfore I holde me not ouercome as longe as I may holde my swerde in my hande whā he wende to stryke Ponthus he mette with a stone w t his fote whiche made hym for to ouerthrowe And whan Ponthus sawe y t he dyde helpe hȳ for to ryse agayne And sayd vnto hym Syr knyght yf ye were hole I wolde renne vpon you but I se well your dysease ye shall not yelde you to me but to the fayrest gentylwoman of all brytayne y t whiche shall take you to her mercy and salewe her from the blacke knyght soo I praye you that we do no more than we haue done for I wote well yf ye were in good estate ye wolde not leue me soo hole as ye haue letfte me for I knowe well your worthynesse of tyme passed And whan Geffrey sawe the debonayrete and grete bounte of the blacke knyght he praysed hym moche and sayd Syr I shall go where y t it pleaseth you to cōmaunde me And yf I wyste that it sholde not displease you I wolde aske you your name And ponthous answered hȳ agayne Syr ye nor none other shall wete it at this tyme. And Geffrey helde hym styll and wolde no more enquere And ponthus toke his leue of hym wente his waye pryuely in to the forest by the pathes as he was wonte to do So the people that sawe the batayll meruayled moche and sayd Ryght curteys is the blacke knyghte haue ye not seene his debonayrete and his
kȳge sayd that this coūseyll was good and true and so was it done ¶ How the kynge of Irlonde by the counseyll of Ponthus dyned in the hall with the kynge of Englonde SYr Henry brought hȳ in to the hall The kynge of Irlonde was a ryght goodly knyght and of the age of .xxx. yere he was ryght rychely arayed as in purple mantell furred with fables Eeuery man behelde hym The kynge of Englonde and the quene made hym grete chere for the worshyp of Surdyt was set bytwene the kȳges doughters at mete The kynge of Irlonde was ryght sadde and made symple chere Surdyt came before hym sayd vnto hȳ Syr be of good chere for ye haue good pryson for to be set bytwene two so fayre ladyes Truely sayd y e kȳge as longe as god gyueth me so good pryson I ought not to be dysmayed After mete tho Surdyt began for to bourde with the kynges yongest doughter and sayd Madame how lyke ye the kynge of Irlonde and yf I thought he myght please you I wolde touche of maryage bytwene you and him all thoughe it sytteth me not to do it for poore men are seldome herde amonge grete lordes A Surdyt quod she fayre swete syr are ye bethought theron Ye madame yf I thought that it were to your good pleasure God wote said she he sholde please me well yf it pleased my lorde my fader and my brethren yf so be that I myght not haue another that is neyther kȳge nor duke but he is y e best knyght of y e worlde Madame it is harde to knowe y e best for there be many good so he thought well that she sayd it for hym so dyde she so he wolde not supporte her and fell in to other maters After that they wente to playe and sporte theym in the gardynes some at the chesse and some at the tables and at other dysportes And at after souper they songe and daunced And on the morowe after the kynge helde his grete counsayll and there was the kynge of scottes that had wedded his syster And the kynge had wedded y e kynges syster of scottes And there was the kynge of cornewayle the prynces and y e barons for to wete what sholde be done with the kynge of Irlonde So it was spoken of in dyuers maners that longe were to tell Soo at the laste the kynge asked Surdyt and sayd Surdyt saye ye youre auyse for it is reason youre wyll be herde for by you we haue hym in subgeccyon Fayne he wolde haue exscused hym sayd Syth it pleaseth you that I shall saye forgyue it me yf I speke rudely as a man symple and of lytell connynge but it semeth me that the warre that is bytwene you is onely but selfe wyll fulnes of hertes of grete lordes and it is not after the holy lawe nor the cōmaundement of god for he sayth loue thy neyghboure as thy selfe And also whan god was borne the aungell came to the shepeherdes and anoūced them the byrth of god than wente agayne vp in to the skye sayenge Gloria in excelsis deo et in terra pax hominibus bone voluntatis That is for to saye y t glory be to god y e fader peas to men of good wyll also whan god came in to ony place he sayd to his apostelles peas be amonge you therfore yf god haue gyuen you grete realmes and lordshyppes it is not that the ryche sholde warre vpon the poore for the poore people of the countre ben dystroyed and exyled and ye ought for to kepe them and nourysshe them in peas So I shall tell you how that I thynke that gode peas sholde be amonge you and that ye gyue hym your yongest doughter with the debate that is bytwene you and what it pleaseth you ouer All men sayde that blessyd be he that soo hathe thought and sayd for it is a ryght true counseyll soo this counseyll was holden Than sayd the kynge of Scottes fayre dere frende syth that from you is come so good a counseyll and so pleasaunt to euery man as we may see perfourme ye this dede and go speke with the kynge your prysoner brynge vs worde what his wyll is for we charge you of all this mater Surdyt sayd that he sholde go with good wyll syth that it pleaseth theym So he wente and spake with the kynge of Irlonde and tolde hym that god loueth theym y t loueth peas to theyr neyghbours and how y t many men were lost by theyr hye courage theyr couetyse And than he asked hym yf it myght be that he wolde haue the kynges yongest doughter and that his raunsom the debate bytwene theym were forgyuen A sayd y e kynge yf ye myght brynge it aboute I were moost beholden to you nexte god of all the worlde and wyll ye that it be soo sayde Surdyt yf I may brynge it aboute ye sayd the kȳge with all myn herte there is nothynge I desyre so moche Soo Surdyt departed and came to the counseyll where as they abode y e answere And they asked hym how he had done and he sayd that y e kynge of Irlonde thanked them moche and that this mater pleased hym with all his herte And how he had grete desyre for to haue her with the accorde bytwene theym And the kynge of Englonde made y e archebysshop of cantorbery for to handfest theym a moneth after they were wedded there was a grete feest for the kynge of Irlonde came with an hondred knyghtes in a sute And he gaue vnto Surdyt foure stedes syxe coursers ten thousande besaūtes of golde with grete foyson of clothes of of golde of purple and of sylke gode furres of veer and of sables he was moche beholden vnto the kynge of Irlonde for the grete gyftes y t he gaue hym And whan the kynge had wedded her he ledde her home in to his owne realme where as she was ryght well beloued and worsshypped ¶ How Corboran the thyrde sone of the Sowdan arryued in Englonde and how Ponthus occysed hym IT befell in the .vii. yere y t there came tydynges in to the courte y t the soudans sone whiche was named Corboran had robbed pylled many Yles realmes had done moche harme to the crysten people had may countres trybutary to hym soo he londed in Englonde as his two bretheren dyd one in Galyce another in lytell Brytayne So he was sore dred for he came wel w t a .ix. C. shyppes what grete what small And whan he was londed he defyed the kynge of Englonde And badde that he sholde auoyde the realme or elles to forsake his fayth and yelde hym trybute All the countree was aferde for the grete nombre that he had of men The kynge toke his counseyll and sente for his people Thenne he sente for his broder of Scotlonde and his sone in lawe of Irlonde and for his neuewe of Corne
he thanked the kyÌ„ge hyghly his lordes and that he was the fyrst lorde that euer dyde hym good or worshyp he woteth well he coude neuer deserue it vnto hym and yf he were of the vylue and worthynes to haue the gretest lady of the worlde he wolde not take her to refuse the kynge his doughter his barons the countre of moche he is beholde to them y t he loueth them ouer all other The barons had grete Ioy of the answere and they wente tolde y e kynge to whome it pleased well ¶ How Ponthus was fyaunced vnto the fayre Sydoyne doughter of the kynge of Brytayne THey sent for y e bysshop for to fyauÌ„ce them And on the mondaye seuen nyght after Pentecost was set y e day of maryage Sydoyne had grete Ioye Ponthus also It is not to aske yf they had an C. tymes greter Ioye than they shewed Grete was y e Ioy in brytayne of the maryage bothe of ryche of poore Ponthus whiche was ryght wyse and wolde haue no maugre of no body he came to Guy of bourgoyne the kynges brother to Aymberte de chaloys to y e erle of mountbelyart y t whiche were come w t the kynge of bourgoyne excused hyÌ„ to them sayd vnto them y t he was ryght sory of this auenture of y e kyÌ„ges deth that in good fayth whan he Iusted w t hyÌ„ he wyste not what he was And they answered sayd y t they byleued hyÌ„ well for it was but auenture of armes therfore he ought not to be dismayed for he myght not do ther to So Ponthus offred them all maner of gentylnes on the morowe after he ordeyned y t the seruyce was done for the soule in the goodlyest wyse gaue .iii. d. sterlenges to all theym y t wolde aske it so there was neuer sene in the couÌ„tre before so grete almes for the whiche he had grete pryce the kyÌ„ges frendes coude hym grete thanke thanked hyÌ„ moche The body of the kynge was enbaumed and layde in a chayre ryght well stuffed besene of fayre horses in to his countre of Bourgoyne to be buryed And Ponthus made the body to be coÌ„ueyed with grete torches well a .vi. myle dyde it all the worshyp that he coude all thoughe he were not sory of his deth Than y e lordes of bourgâ—yne made hym to tourne agayne toke theyr leue of him they gaue praysynge to Ponthus saynge there was no knyght but he of worthynes of largesse of courtesye for he loueth god holy chyrche that he hathe soo well done his deuoyre y t they were all ameruaylled Ponthus came ayen to vennes wente to Sydoyne and kyssed her and they talked togyder of many pleasaunt thynges he bourded with her and sayd vnto her yf that she coude ony maugree to his spere that had delyuered her of her husbande she wexed reed and sayd vnto hym Syr it is peryllous for to doo dedes of armes with you whan that kynges dye but I can you good thanke for that ye haue done so well for his soule for all his frendes shall thanke you gyue you grete pryce Ponthus sayd thynges that ought to be shall fall ye ought not for to be full gladde ye shall haue none dower bycause ye set neuer fote in his bed with hym thus he bourded with her talked of many dyuers thynges And than he wente to the kynge to his barons sayd Syr ye haue herde how that I haue waged people for to conquere with the helpe of Ihesu the realme that sholde be myne whiche that the sarasynes occupye kepe so wolde I fayne it pleased your hyghnesse to haue of the men of your realme suche as wyll take wages I shall truely paye them for halfe a yere A sayd the kynge sone ye oughte not for to aske but take my men at your wyll to conquere your herytage my tresoures all that euer I may haue yf it pleaseth you I wolde con you good thanke to suffre me to go in your felawshyp for I am olde and so it sholde be but lytell losse of me also in better nor in more profytable seruyce for my soule myght I not dye than in the seruyce of god Ponthus thanked hym hyghly and sayd that at this tyme he sholde not go but he sholde abyde at home kepe his countre as for tresoure he wolde none haue of hyÌ„ for god had sente hym ynoughe for this nede and other to but he refused not his men for it be they of the world that he moost loued and in whome he moost trusteth at a grete nede· The barons the knyghtes of Brytayne had grete Ioye of this goynge euery man arayed hym for to go euery man profered for to go with hym and he thanked them all and thaÌ„ he sayd vnto them that euery man sholde be redy within .xv. dayes after at vennes ordeyned by all the costes to seke shyppes vytayl for to be at that day redy Euery baron arayed hym stuffed hym of vesselles and of men of armes the best that they myght fynde ¶ How Ponthus made a mauÌ„dement of brytons poyteuynes normans angeuynes for to go in to galyce to conquere his countre y t the sarasynes helde POnthus sente for the Barons of Anioye of mayne of poytow of other countres aboute and he sayd y t he wolde wryte vnto them So he sente to Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe de la toure ouer al men and it was tolde hym that two were late comen home from beyonde the see frome the realme of germany where as they had ben well a two yere in warre ayenst the sarasynes A sayd Ponthus they ben good knyghtes worthy men well is he felawshypped that hath them in his company Than were there sente letters to them and to dyuers other by the countrees aboute as in to normandy Anioye Mayne Toreyne and poytow to them that they subposed that had wyl for to auenture themselfe to gete worshyp that they ben assembled with hyÌ„ the .xviii. day aftee at the toure of derbondell faste by thalamount there they shall fynde shyppes fyluer so the messangers departed And whan the barons and the knyghtes herde the tydynges of hym how the sarasynes helde his realme they had all grete Ioye for to go and euery man was redy at that day assygned Ponthus sente thrughe all the countrees golde and syluer for to gete shyppes in brytayne in to normandy poytow for to come some to vennes some to sable daulon in poytow THan after that Ponthus sente for his greate shyppe and sente for a parte of his ryches for to come vnto vennes ayenst the daye of his maryage he sente many ryche presentes to Sydoyne of crownes of sercles of gyrdelles of chapelettes of purses of perles of golde of purple of precyous stones
for some of them dyde yelde them and were conuerted Ponthus gaue them good ynough to lyue vpon and the remenaūt that myght flee they fledde wherof some were slayne by y e spanyardes and by theym of y e realme of Castyle other perysshed in dyuers places myscheuously Wherof y e Sowdan of babyloyne was syth ryght sorowfull for to haue loste thus his thre sones and his men he was ryght angry with mahowne sayd before all men as a man out of his wytte that the god crucyfyed had ouercome hym that he was of greter vertue than mahowne whan he hadde not saued his sones his men And so there was grete complaynt for theym in babyloyne in damaske Ponthus made leches to be sought for to hele the people that were woūded and hurte in the batayll hymselfe vysyted them often made men to brȳge them all that theym neded he fested felawshypped the lordes and gaue theym grete gyftes And also he founde in a toure the grete tresour of kynge Broadas the whiche was a grete thynge to tell And whan he had ouer ryden the countre and clensed of the mysoyleuers he founde moche people the londe well laboured bothe of vynes and of cornes From all the countrees the people came rennynge for to se theyr ryghtfull lorde as it had ben to myracles they loued hym well for his grete renowne and worthynes his bounte and his courtesye for there was none so symple nor so poore but that he wolde speke to here hym mekely he was ryght pyteuous of the poore people he loued god and holy chyrche And whan he had done all his dedes he came to the columpne to his crownacōn where he was full solemply crowned by the handes of the bysshop at whiche daye he helde a notable a royall feest And thyder came to hym the kynge of Aragon his vncle that was his moders brother the whiche had grete Ioye to se hym of his vyctorye he tolde hym how kynge Broadas had warred vpon hym and how there was takē a trewes bytwene them for a certayne tyme in to the tyme that god had set remedye and thrughe his grace he hath ryght well purueyed of the pyte by you Thus complayned the kynge to his neuewe yet he tolde hym that he abode y e comynge downe of the kynge of Fraūce the kynge of spayne that sholde haue come this somer but I thanke god it is now no nede The feest was grete of the kynges crownacyon there was made many straunge thynges The grete lordes of the countre they came dyde theyr homage And also the fayre ladyes hadde grete Ioye that they were comen out of hell and of seruage where as they had lyued in sorowe heuynes now they be aswaged in to Ioye myght in to paradyse as them semeth They lyked well theyr kynge in so moche that they had Ioye to loke vpon hym and all maner of people thanked god hyghly of theyr delyueraunce There was songes and many mynstrelsyes whiche were to longe to tell ¶ How Ponthus knewe his moder amonge y e poore people that wente askȳnge theyr brede for goddes sake how he put his crowne vpon her heed THe kynge dyde brynge presente by .xii. fayre ladyes and .xii. olde knyghtes grete gyftes Iowelles to the good knyghtes chyeftaynes some of fayre coursers other of fayre cuppes of golde and syluer of fayre clothes of golde of sylke and many other grete Iowelles soo y t all men were ameruaylled of his largesse He was a man ryght pleasaunt and of grete courtesye of good condycyons So there befel a grete meruayll for the custome was that before the kynge sholde be serued .xiii. poore people for the loue of god and his apostles So it befell the erle wente vysytynge the tables as god wolde he behelde the table of the poore people and sawe a woman that loked vpon the kynge as she behelde hym the teeres fell downe frome her eyen The erle loked vpon her auysed her so wel that by a token she had in her chynne he knewe well that it was y e quene moder vnto kȳge Ponthus And whan he knewe her sawe her in so poore estate that her gowne was all to clouted and all to rente he myght not kepe hym from wepȳge so his herte swymmed for pyte to se her in soo poore araye And whan he myght speke he thanked god and wente behynde the kynge his neuewe sayd to hym Syr here is a grete meruayll wherof sayd the kynge The best and y e holyest lady that I knowe my lady the quene your moder is here in where is she sayd he and he with grete payne myght tell hym for pyte and whan he myght speke he tolde hym in counseyll Syr se her yonder w t the .xiii. poore folke at y e fyrst ende and y e kynge Ponthus behelde her and she apperceyued it and put her hode afore her eyen wepte And the kynge had grete pyte in his herte and sayd vnto his vncle Fayre vncle make noo semblaunt that none aspye it but whan we are vp fro the table I shall goo in to the warderobe thyder brynge her pryuely to me and so it was done Whan the tables were taken vp and graces yelden to god the kynge departed pryuely and wente in to his warderobe and the Erle of desture his vncle brought thyder the quene his moder pryuely And whan kyge Ponthus sawe her he kneled downe before her toke his crowne set it on her heed And she toke hym vp all wepynge kyssed hym often she kyssed hym and halsed hym sore they wepte she her sone the erle And whan they myghte speke kynge Ponthus sayd vnto her A madame so moche pouerte and dysease ye haue suffred endured A my swete knyght and sone sayd she I am come out of the paynes of hell and god hath gyuen me paradyse whan it hath pleased hym to gyue me soo longe lyfe that I may se you with myne eyen and that I se vengeaunce for my lorde your fader that tho tyraūtes put to the deth and also that I se the countree voyded of the messebyleuers and the holy lawe of Ihesu cryste to be serued I wote well that this trouble and sorowe hath endured well a .xiii. yere as by chastysynge of god for the grete delytes lustes that were vsed in this realme soo me semeth now that god hath mercy on his people that he hath kepte you and sente you for to delyuer the countre of the mysbyleuers Ryght well spake the quene wysely as an holy lady that she was Now I praye you sayd the kȳge tell me how ye escaped how ye were saued Fayre sone I shal tell you whan y e crye was grete in the towne in y e mornynge your fader slayne I was in my bedde your fader armed
to the kynge of scottes laughynge I wote neuer what shall be of the speche that the erle of Rychemonde brought And the kynge smyled sayd ye haue sene hym what saye ye by hym pleaseth he you she wexed all reed and sayd I shall doo as my lorde ye wyll So he sawe well y t she lyked hym he came to the kynge and sayd to hym that it was good to wete of y e mater of his nece Than sayd y e kynge of Englonde ye saye trouth withdrawe you in to yonder chambre And the kynge withdrewe hym and sent for the kynge of Irlonde and the kynge of cornewayle and for the prynces and barons of his realme And whā they were come he tolde them how the erle of Rychemonde had spoken to hym from kynge Ponthus of the maryage of his doughter of Polydes and he sayd vnto them Fayre lordes ye knowe wel that I am aged may bere no more none armes nor laboure nor trauayll for to kepe you yf nede befell So it behoueth that our doughter were maryed to a man that were lykely to kepe you and to holde you in rest peas yf ye take a grete lorde or prynce perauenture he wyll make his dwellynge in his owne countre so sholde ye dwell wtout gouernour yf ony wronge were done to ony of you or too ony of this realme he sholde be fayne to goo out of the countre to seke ryght of his request therfore me semeth it were better for to take a yonge knyght of hyghe kynred that sholde abyde dwell with you and that wolde thynke hymselfe to be beholden to haue worshyp by his wyfe and in so moche he sholde be the more enclyned to obey you and the realme so I wyll tell you all the mater that hathe be spoken vnto me Than he declared them how that kynge Ponthus had spoken to y e erle of Rychemonde of Genneuer of his cosyn germayne the whiche men holde for a good knyght and of good condycyons So there was moche talkȳge bothe of one of other that longe were to tell but the ende was that they were al accorded sayd that they myght no better doo for the surete welfare of the realme for to be abeyed and out of trouble and that as longe as his cosyn kynge Ponthus lyueth there shall no man be so hyrdy for to meue warre ayenst them ¶ How Polydes kynge Ponthus cosyn wedded Genneuer the kynges doughter of Englonde ANd whan the kȳge sawe that they were consented he sayd to the kynge of scottes and the Erle of Rychemonde the whiche were worshyppefull knyghtes Go sayd he to the kynge doo hym to wete of all this mater saye hym that for his loue we wyll haue his cosyn These two departed and called kynge Ponthus a syde and tolde hym ryght gracyously how the kynge and the lordes were consented for the loue and worshyp of hym to the maryage that he had spoken of to the Erle of Rychemonde Kynge Ponthus thanked the kynge and all his barons ryght mekely sayd y t they dyde hym grete worshyp for the whiche god graūte hȳ grace to deserue it And so longe wente came the kynge of scottes that he assembled them in the quenes chambred And there came the archebysshop of Caūtorbury the whiche fyaunced theym It is not to aske yf Genneuer hadde grete Ioye in her herte all thoughe she made tho symple for she loued and praysed hym moche the more for the good name that men gaue hym and also for the loue of his cosyn the whiche that she loued so moche before tyme. And also Polydes thanked god hyghly in his herte that he had sente him so grete a worshyp in this worlde and to haue so fayre a lady and of so goodly behauynge So the daye of weddynge was sette y e eyght daye after Grete were the feestes and grete were the Iustes y ◠whiche began the morowe after the day of maryayge for kynge Ponthus wolde not accorde that there sholde be done dedes of armes the day of the maryage And that he sayd for the kȳge of bourgoyne y e whiche dyed the day of his maryage For to tel of the well Iusters it were to longe to tell but ouer all kynge Ponthus Iusted best for he was without pere Ryght well Iusted Polydes the kynge of Ironde and the lorde de lesygnen the lorde de la toure the lorde Moūfort of brytayne these had the voyse of al well Iusters It were to longe to tell so I passe lyghtly it were a grete thynge to tell of the grete feest and of the grete ordynaunces of the seruyces of the vowes and of the pryces that were gyuen of all dysportes The feest dured from the mondaye to the frydaye ¶ How kynge Ponthus departed from Englonde AFter mete kynge Ponthus toke his leue of y e kynge and of the quene but with grete payne they gaue hym leue Genneuer conueyed hym well a two myle they had moche goodly talkynge togyder she sayd vnto him that she loued her lorde Ponthus moche the more bycause she had loued hym couertly and that she praysed hym the more that he had kepte truly his fyrst loue Kynge Ponthus smyled and sayd that there was noo wyle but that women knewe and thought Soo they spake ynoughe of dyuers thynges than he made her to tourne agayne with grete payne sayd vnto her My lady and my loue I am your knyght and shall be as longe as I lyue so ye may cōmaunde me what it pleaseth you I shall fulfyll it to my power than he sayd afore Polydes my fayre lady my loue I wyll that my cosyn here loue you obey you that he haue no pleasaunce to none so moche as vnto you yf there be ony defaute do it me to wete I shall correcte hym Syr sayd she he shall do as a good man ought to doo God graunte it sayd he So he toke his leue departed The kynge of scottes and the kynge of Irlonde the kynge of cornewayle they wolde haue conueyed hym vnto the porte but he wolde not suffre them There was grete heuynes and courtesye bytwene them at theyr departynge after they toke theyr leue of hym retourned agayne to the kynges hous And kynge Ponthus came to the porte called to hym his cosyn Polydes asyde sayd vnto hym thanked be god ye ought grete guerdon to god for ye are in the waye for to be a ryght grete kynge a myghty of armes of haueour of noble lordshyppes soo ye ought for to thanke god hyghly And therfore it behoueth you for to haue foure thynges yf that ye wyll reioyce in peas and peasybly THe fyrst is that ye be a very true man that is to wete loue god with all your herte drede to dysobey hym yf ye loue hym he shall helpe susteyne you in all your nedes