loue worshyp holy chyrche all the cōmaundementes this is the fyrst seruyce that men sholde yelde to god ¶ The secōde is this that ye sholde bere worshyp and seruyce vnto them that ye be comen of to them of whome ye haue and may haue rychesse worshyp that is to saye loue and serue y e fader of your wyfe wherof moche worshyp seruyce to them that ye be comen of be to hym a very ryght sone kepe you that ye angre hym not suffre endure what langage or wordes that shall be sayd vnto you or of what tales that shall be reported to you some for to pleale you some by flatery or elles for malyce couert of suche men as wolde not the peas bytwene you and hym for fayre cosyn he that well suffreth of his better of his greter he ouercomoth hym It is a grete grace of god of y e worlde towarde hymselfe to haue suffraunce for dyuers reasons the whiche sholde be vnto longe to tell ¶ The thyrde reason is for to be meke gentyll amyable large and free after your power to your barons to your knyghtes squyers of whome that ye shall may haue nede yf ye may not shewe them fredome largesse of your good at the leest be to theym courteys debonayre bothe to grete and to lytell for bothe be good the grete shall loue you the lytell shall prayse you ouer all of your good chere and so he shall auayll you a ryght heralde soo moche ye shall be praysed ouer all And also it is to vnderstande that ye shall be so more to your wyfe than to ony other for dyuers reasons for by worshyp courteys berynge to her ye shal holde the loue of her bounde vnto you and for to be dyuers rude to her she myght haply chaunge and y e loue wherof ye sholde reioyse she myght gyue it to another where as me myght take suche a pleasaunce wherof that ye sholde be ryghte sory and that sholde ye not withdrawe whan ye wolde So is there grete peryll and grete maystry to kepe the loue of maryage also beware that ye kepe your felfe true vnto her as it is sayd in the gospell that ye sholde chaunge her for none other yf ye doo thus as I saye you god shall encrease you in all welth in worshyppe yf ye se her angry appease her agayne by fayrenes and whā she cometh agayne to herselfe she shal loue you moche the more for there is no courtesye but that is yolde whan an herte is fell and angry men wrath it more it ymagyneth thynges wherof many harmes may be fall ¶ The fourth reason is that ye sholde be pyteous of the poore the whiche that shall requyre ryght of the ryche or of y e myghty that wolde greue them for therto be ye sette and ordeyned all tho that haue grete lordshyppes for ye came in to the worlde as poore as they dyde as poore shall ye be the daye of your deth and ye shall haue no more of all erthe saue onely your length as the poore people shall haue and ye shall be bylefte in the erthe allone without ony felawshyp as the poore people shall be and therfore shall ye haue noo lordshyp but for to holde ryght wysynesse without blemysshynge or doubte of ony mayster or represe neyther for loue nor for hate for thus god cōmaūdeth her euery fryday in especyall the clamour of the poore people and of women wydowes put not theyr good ryght in respyte nor in delacion nor byleue not alway your offycers of euery thynge that they shall tell you Enquere before the trouth for some of theym wyll do it for to purchace domage vnto the symple people for hate and some for couetyse to haue theyr good whan they se they may not do with hym what they wyll soo they came with false reportes It is a peryllous thynge of a grete lorde to be lyght of byleue What shall I tell you he taught shewed hȳ many examples And tho Polydes thanked hym sayd vnto hym Syr I knowe wel that ye loue me of your goodnes ye haue purchased me the welfare the worshyp that I haue therfore I praye you that euery yere we may mete and se vs togyder for that shall be my comforte all my sustynaunce I graunte it sayd kynge Ponthus And after whan they had spoken and talked of many thynges they toke theyr leue eche of theym of other halsed and kyssed togyder none of them had power to speke one worde that one to that other for meruaylously they loued well togyder And whan that kynge Ponthus had his herte somwhat clered y t he myghte speke he toke his leue of the lordes of Englonde and offred hymselfe moche vnto them And Polydes tourned agayne to the kynges hous where as men made hym ryghte grete Ioye Polydes withhelde well the good doctryne of his cosyn for he serued obeyed the kynge the quene and made hymselfe to be byloued bothe of the grete and of the lytell by his largesse by his courtesye Ryght well he loued god holy chyrche and was pyteous charytable vnto the poore people The kynge the quene loued hym as theyr owne chylde and aboute a seuen yere after y e kynge dyed thā was Polydes crowned kynge of Englonde peasybly And ryght good loue was bytwene them his wyfe the olde quene soo he reygned in good peas grete Ioye So here I leue to speke of Polydes retourne agayne vnto kynge Ponthus ¶ How the kynge Ponthus arryued in Brytayne HEre doth kynge Ponthus sayle so longe on the see tyl he his barons were londed in brytayne And than they wente vnto the kynges hous where as they were receyued with grete Ioye of all maner of people And whan they hadde soiourned well a seuen dayes Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe de la toure the straūgers toke theyr leue departed And kynge Ponthus gaue them many grete gyftes ryche presentes thanked them whelde them as his felowes and his frendes than he conueyed them a two myle whether they wolde or not and there they toke theyr leue eche of theym of other The kynge of brytayne ne lyued but aboute a thre yere after for he was ryghte aged And than was kynge Ponthus crowned kȳge of Brytayne was ryght well byloued of the nobles of all maner of people he was ryght good ryght full of Iustyce charytable and pyteuous on the poore Ryght well they loued togyder he and the quene his wyfe ledde a ryght good an holy lyfe dyde many almesse dedes And whan the housholde remeued fro one place to another he dyde crye that all they that he ought ony good vnto were it for his housholde or for ony other thynge y t were taken for hym that they sholde
estates all maner men and it is good reason for he loueth and dredeth god and worshyppeth the aeged and the wyse people is honourable and humble bothe to grete and lytell he is morrour of all largesse of noblesse what his swete herte is gentyll and debonayr what sholde my herte do after his departynge but languysshe daye nyght neuer to haue Ioye nor rest I wote well that his herte shal suffre no lesse Than she fell in a swowne and Elyos toke her in her armes and streyned her and toke rose water and bespryncled her lady and comforted her y e fayrest she myght but it auaylled not she was so sorowefull And after she sayd A Elyos my swete loue I may not hyde my herte from you I loue you truste you soo moche But swete loue this sorowe cometh to me whan I thynke on the grete vntrouth that hathe ben contryued agaynst vs in that that we neuer thought for truer loue was there neuer And after that I thynke on the langage that shall be sayd theron and than after by me he leseth the countre where he was soo moche byloued bothe of lytell and of grete and all the harme that he hathe and shall haue is and shall be by me And I am cause of all his myschyef All these thynges putteth grete sorowe to my herte so she made grete sorowe and after she wyped her eyen And so ne after she wente downe in to her grete chambre amonge her ladyes gentylwomen and made no femblaūt that she had ony sorowe for she was ryght wyse and well coude she hyde herselfe The ladyes gentylwomen wepte for pyte and sorowe of Ponthus sayd that cursed be they that suche false tydynges had contryued but Sydoyne comforted them ryght swetely ¶ How Ponthus departed from the courte of the kȳge of Brytayne POnthus called a squyer and the yomen of his chambre and cōmaunded them to trusse put in a clothesakcke all thynge that hym neded and than he toke his leue of the court and of euery man So ne was there none but y t they ne wepte cryed and rente theyr heer made as grete sorowe as they had sene al theyr frendes deed soo moche they loued hym So he departed frome the courte The barons and the knyghtes and all that euer myght lepe on horsbacke conuyed hym syghynge and wepynge well they wende for to haue witholde hym with fayrnesse saynge vnto hym that the kynge was aeged and redooted and that ye ought not to sette his herte of nothynge that he sayd to hym But he wolde not vnderstonde it and whan they had conueyed hym a two myle he abode prayed theym to torne agayne So he made theym to torne agayne whyder they wolde or not at the leue takynge there was wepynge waylynge ynough saynge A Brytayne so moche thou oughtest well to wepe whan the gentyll and the good knyght whiche had y e in peas and Ioye and kepte the from harmes aduersaryes all enemyes as the henne dooth her chekyns vnder her wynges and he that helde all the Barons and y e people in good loue So they wente by waylnge wepynge and cursynge them that this false tayles had ymagyned And Ponthus rode to saynt Solo And there he dyd ordeyne a shyp And on the mornynge he herde masse and wente to the see And herlaunt his felowes wende for to haue gone with him all saue ganelet but he wolde not suffre them and he sayd y t the kynge had nourysshed them and y t he was of power to make them doo them good therfore he wolde that they sholde torne agayne vnto hym with grete payne they myght beparte from hym so sorowfull they were Soo they toke theyr leue wepynge and whan the shyp was gone out of theyr syght than began theyr sorowe all saue ganellet whiche made semblaunt to wepe but he hadde grete Ioye in his herte And whan Ponthus had lost the syght of Brytayne Than fell the teres frome his eyen and sayd Blessyd be Brytayne and the fayrest the good the trewest y e lyueth and the best and all other ladyes and gentylwomen for the loue of her and al the knyghthode for better nor sweter was there neuer ¶ How whan Ponthus was arryued at the porte of Hampton he founde a wylde bore and cutte hym in the myddes POnthus had his herte heuy and sorowfull for his lady whiche dwelled there and alwaye he refrayned his sorowe the beste that he myght So he arryued and londed at Hampton and came rydynge towarde London Then he met a greyhounde in his waye and a wylde bore whiche greyhoūde folowed pynched the bore Tho Ponthous drewe out his swerde and smote the bore in two peces Harry the kynges sone of Englonde that sawe the stroke was gretely ameruaylled and enquyred hym of whens he was Ponthus sayd vnto hym Syr for as moche as I haue herde grete renowme of the kynges hous of Englonde that he hath two sones whiche ben good knyghtes I am come hether for to se the state and the nobles of his hous Syr sayd Harry ye be welcome and I am one of the kynges sones and praye you for too be with me Syr in the name of god syth that it pleaseth you Soo they rode forth towarde the courte spekynge of many thynge whan they arryued y e kynge was set at dyner Harry cōmaunded y e men sholde delyuer chambre stable to his newe knyght it was done The kynges sone entred in to the halle his newe knyght with hym and salewed humbly the kynge and y e quene The kynge asked hym how he had hunted he tolde hym than he asked hym pryuely who is y t goodly knyght he tolde hym how that he foūde hym and of the grete stroke y t he had stryken the welde bore Moche was Ponthus loked vpon for frome euery parte men came for to se hym as it hadde ben a myracle Anone it was noysed in the courte that there was come the goodlyest knyght of the worlde that the kynges sone hadde brought The ladyes behelde hym and in especyall the kynges doughters Eeuerye of theym sayd that he is y e goodlyest knyght that euer I sawe Ye saye trouthe sayd another yf he be good yet is he more agreable and pleasaunt he was set at dyner with the ladyes After mete the kynge wente out of the hall and sawe the bore whiche was the grettest that he had sene of a grete whyle and was in two peces A sayd harry to the kynge to the quene se what my newe knyghte hathe done with one stroke of his swerde Ponthus turned fro thens and was ashamed bycause that men praysed hym for that stroke The kynge asked hym of whens he was and he sayd vnto hym that he was of the realme of fraunce and what is your name Syr sayd he men calle me Surdyt dedroit voyce So he asked hym of
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
ought we with all our hertes to thanke god And after that spake they ynough of them whiche had done best sette grettest remedy dyde suffred grettest dedes of armes but without comparyson Ponthus had the loos sayd all with one voyce that he had ouercome all And so gaue they the grete pryce vnto Geffrey de lesygnen to Androwe de la toure vnto Bernarde de la roche And that they thre were after Ponthus whiche moost had suffred gretest dedes had done of armes many other there were whiche had done ryght well but longe sholde it be to tel the prowesse of them Thre dayes the kynge withhelde them and feested them and gaue theym fayre gyftes to eche of them after that he was And after that toke they leue of the kynge And Ponthus conueyed them as ferre as he myght ¶ How the crysten men retourned in theyr coūtrees And of the grete chere that Sydoyne made to Ponthus her welbeloued knyght at Uennes ANd thus they departed fayre and Ioyful and euery man wente in to his countree And the kynge tourned agayne to vennes So nedeth it not to aske yf Sydoyne had grete Ioye and sayd to Ponthus swete loue blessyd be god of the goodnes and of the honoure that ye receyued of this batayll for soo god helpe me I haue so grete Ioye of the goodnes that I haue herde saye that myne herte is all ledde with gladnes nor there is no thynge that I take soo grete pleasaunce in as to here tell the grete goodnes and the loos that euery man gyueth you Madame sayd Ponthus it lacketh moche that all is not true Some haue sayd vnto you and reported more than there is suche parauenture as loue me But alwaye I thanke you of the goodnes worshyp that ye wolde me as I thynke it Madame wete it well that yf god wyl gyue me grace to doo some good that it cometh to me frome you for soo moche onely that I take me all for to please you and in y e hope that I haue for to fall in your good grace and for to do you seruyce whiche myght please you the whiche god graunte me to do your worshyp Ponthus my swete loue your seruyce take I in gree with all myn herte whyle that I fynde you true wtout thynkynge of ony vylanye for our loue I wyll that it be clene and certayne without ony thought of vylanye And wete it wel for certayne that fro the tyme I may apperceyue that ye thynke ony other thynge thā worshyppe of me and of my frendes ye shall lese me and so moche as I loue you I shall hate you to the dethe Madame he sayd ne thynke neuer that I wolde ymagyne thynges the whiche that toucheth agaynst your worshyp And for that that I haue founde you and fynde it so clene so good and soo sure that I prayse you and loue you better a thousande tymes and more ardaūtly for a nobler tresoure is there none in y e worlde than is a good woman and a clene what sholde I saye you gretely loued they twayne togyder of true loue wtout ony vylany but enuye may not suffre thȳges ende well as ye shall here more playnly here after folowynge ¶ How that Ponthus was ordeyned and constytned constable of brytayne THe kynge sente to seke all his barons sayd vnto them Fayre lordes I say you that I am ryght olde may not trauayll as I was wonte it nedeth me from hens forwarde to take myne ease therfore it is good that by youre good counseyll there be chosen a good constable that he may haue the rule and y e charge of brytayne to whome the barons of the countre wolde best obey without daunger So loke amonge you one chose hym for I wyll y t he be chosen and made by you by your good counsyell And than sayd the barons all with one voyce We knowe not whome men myght better fynde yf it pleased hym to be it than Ponthus he is worthy to gouerne an Empyre of bounte of beaute of wytte of gouernaunce and of gentylnes as a kynges sone as the beste begynner of knyghthode that at this daye is lyuynge Whan the kynge harde that he had ryght grete Ioye for that was all that he sought but he wolde not do it without that he spake to them therof to the ende that they sholde haue hym in the more fauour good wyll Soo was there none that withsayd it Ponthus was cleped and it was sayd vnto hȳ before them all that the kynge the barons of brytayne hadde chosen him constable for the moost suffysaunt So thanked he the kynge the barons sayd vnto theym after that he had auysed hym a lytell that he had not the wytte the gouernaunce ne the worthynes in hym to be it that he was ryght yonge bothe of wytte and of age but nothynge auaylled theym his lackynge but that he was by strength charged wheder he wolde or no. So was he in his offyce bothe beloued and dredde And whan there was ony dystruccyon bytwene rhe barons the knyghtes he was he that set them agayne in peas at accorde he kepte the ryght of brytayne without doynge ony wronge he made hym to be byloued of all he Iusted he made feestes he was ryght pleasaunte to grete to small specyally amonge ladyes gentelwomen he was so curteys that there was none dyde of so soone his hode ayenst hym that his ne was done of as soone agayne he harde the poore and he dyde them ryght in shorte tyme of the request where he had reason he wolde not that the poore folke were oppressed he loued god and holy chyrche herde-euery daye two masses at y e leest he loued hawkynge huntynge and all dysportes he made ladyes gentylwomen to synge to daunce all Ioy was there he was he gaue them dyners soupers he was well beloued of fayre ladyes and gentylwomen whiche shewed hym many grete sygnes of loue drewe to hym gretly but neuer prayed he them of loue but that touched to theyr worshyp for ony semblaunt that ony of theym made So sayd they bytwene them oftentymes y e one to another She sholde be blessyd who sholde be byloued of Ponthus some sayd in pryuete wolde god he loued me as moche as I wolde loue hym that he had me also dere as I haue hȳ moche made he hȳ to be byloued of lytel grete But enuye whiche faileth neuer came to one of hys felowes of his coūtre whiche was one of y e .xiiii. whiche was meruaylous subtyll of spekynge full of gile and his name was Guenellet ¶ How Guenellet put dyscencyon bytwene Ponthus Sydoyne GUenellet whiche sawe the loue of Sydoyne of Ponthus soo had he enuye for to make it to be lefte he asked of Ponthus his mayster an horse whiche Sydoyne had gyuen hym he thought
sayd se hym come y t beteth all downe before hym He is a grete fole that gooth agaynst hym his spere spareth no man but y t he hurteth hym or felleth hym Sydoyne sawe well that the ladyes all other preysed him she sayd no worde but kepte her selfe close that no man sholde apperceyue that she had more Ioye of hym than of another how moche that her herte hadde all maner of Ioye Ryght well Iusted the duke of Of trytche and he of Loreyne the erle of Sauoye the erle of mountbelyart many other but it were to longe to tell And all the good Iusters on the monday and on the tewesdaye were ryght worshypfully feested At y e souper on the tewesdaye the feest was grete and large they gaue the pryce on the mondaye of the vtter partye to the erle of mountbelyart ryght a good knyght and he had the gyrdell and the Gypsere of Sydoyne bycause that she was chosen for the fayrest of the feest The pryce of without on the tewesdaye was yeuen to the duke of Ostryche Soo hadde he the sparohawke with the ryche loynes and the chapelet of Sydoyne Ponthus hadde the pryce on mondaye as of within And he wolde that the pryce vpon tewesdaye within sholde haue ben gyuen vnto the lorde de la Roche the whiche hadde beste Iusted of all the other saue oonly Ponthus the whiche no man myght come nere by fer The ladyes sente a rynge with a greate Rubye vnto Ponthus And an ouche ryghte ryche vnto Bernarde lorde de la Roche Heraude mynstrelles ledde grete Ioye and grete noyse After souper they carolled and daunsed sange songes tyll mydnyght than they dranke and ete spyces And after that the straungers toke theyr leue of the kynge and of Sydoyne and of the grete ladyes And they departed on wednesdaye by tymes whan they had herde masse Ponthus conueyed thē to y e castell of gyron where he had ordeyned them a dyner after dyner he wolde haue conueyed theym ferther but the lordes wolde not suffre hym yet he offered hymselfe ryght moche vnto theym so they toke theyr leue that one of that other The lordes bothe grete small they praysed moche Ponthus of his good felawshyp of his good chere that trewly he was the goodlyest knyght the best and the moost gracyous of the worlde at theyr aduyse that there was none lyke hym and also they praysed moche Sydyone of her beaute of her curtesye and that he that sholde haue her sholde be well eurous And Ponthus tourned agayne to the kynge and to the ladyes After dyner the ladyes and the knyghtes of Brytayne toke theyr leue of the kynge of his doughter The kynge and his doughter came syngynge sportynge theym towarde syclynere On a tyme Sydoyne Ponthus spake togyder So sayd Sydoyne vnto Ponthus ye haue hyde you longe tyme from vs I meruaylled moche that I herde none other tydynges frome you Madame sayd he I sent you euery weke a messanger Ye saye trouth swete frende sayd she ye sente me the moost notable messangers that myght be founde Neuertheles it wolde haue done me grete pleasure to haue wyst who had sente them syth that they came from you for euery man sayd ye were in hungary And also I meruaylled moche that ye dyde me none otherwyse to wete of your goynge awaye therfore myne herte was in ryght grete disease A madame he sayd I was here nyghe you that were in my herte in my thought and all y t euer I dyde I thought to do it for your loue for to encrease your good renowne for I wyst well that ye sholde be chosen for the fayrest of Brytayne so I haue done soo moche that the best knyghtes that men knowe of eche countre be come for to se you and to put them in your mercy But for all that madame in good fayth it was not I that dyde it it was ye madame wherfore I thanke you for the power and the hardynesse ye gaue me for of my selfe I durste not haue vndertake it Ponthus sayd she I wote well that this goodnes and worshyp cometh to you frome god and frome none other but that is for that ye loue god and drede he hath gyuen you the grace and the hardynesse and the strength soo ye ought for to thanke hym hyghly Madame he sayd so do I but I thynke well that the enterpryse came frome you Now Ponthus sayd she leue we this talkynge for in good fayth y e gretest Ioye myn herte may haue is for to here good tydynges of you as longe as I fynde you trewe for the worshyp of me of my lord madame said he of that be ye certayne for I haue leuer to be deed than thynke other wyse by my fayth Upon this talkynge arryued Guenelet one of y e .xiiii. felawes ¶ How Ponthus was accused to the kynge by Guenellet y t was amerous of Sydoyne his doughter THis Guenellet was ryght enuyous a fayre speker and a grete flaterer Soo had he grete enuy at his mayster and had so grete sorowe that ony sholde be more mayster in the courte than he Soo sawe the kȳge was olde aged and he thought that by fayre speche and flaterynge he wolde be mayster he thought to put out and estraunge his mayster whiche was the preuyest w t y e kȳge to doo hym treason So he sawe the kynge alone in the wood where as he hunted and sayd vnto hym I shall tell you a grete counseyll so that ye wyll swere vpon kynges wordes that ye shall not dyscure me I shall swere it to you sayd the kynge whiche was all good and true mystrusted hym in no thynge My ryght dredefull lorde sayd Guenellet ye haue nourysshed me and made me and all the good that I haue is of your well doynge therfore oughte I for to haue you better than other fader and moder or all the worlde soo maye not my herte suffre your domage nor dysworshyp therfore wyll I tell you a thynge whiche toucheth gretely agaynst your worshyp How moche that I loue Pōthus more than ony man saue onely you So wolde I suffre no thynge that sholde be ayenst your worshyp Syr it is thus that Ponthus loueth my lady your doughter therfore be ye well aduertysed for he is a ryght good knyght Soo I haue doubte that some foly loue may fall bytwene them wherof she ye myght haue grete shame and dyshonour A sayd the kynge Guenellet I se well that ye loue me ryght well and that ye wolde not be glad of my dysworshyp soo am I ryght moche beholdynge to you for euer more I thanke you gretely And thus thanked hym the kynge as he y t wende that he had sayd trouth And sayd Guenellet ye ought not to thanke me for I holde me so moche boūde vnto you that there is no thynge y t ony
erthly man myght do for his lorde but that I wolde do it for you onely to dye for to alength your lyfe yf it nede were But syr I tel you how ye shall preue hyÌ„ yf he saye that he loueth her not bydde hym swere make an othe ye shall se perauenture that he wyll not Now Guenellet had herde saye of Ponthus in the partyes of Galyce of spayne a kynges sone sholde make none othe of thynge y t were put vpon hym as longe as he myght fyght therfore yf he dyde he sholde be dysworshypped therfore tolde he this to the kynge for he wyste well y t he wolde make none o the and by that waye he wolde set the kynge hym at dystauÌ„ce for to estrauÌ„ge hym from the countre for to haue the more rule gadered in to his owne hande for an enuyous man may no thynge suffre The kynge was all pensyfe angry of these tydynges as he whiche loued his doughter meruaylously well was aferde to haue dyshonoure Whan he was come fro y e wode alyght of his hors Ponthus whiche was there came tofore hym wenynge to haue taken his swerde his gloues as he had done before of customes but the kynge tourned hym frome hym warde and made no semblauÌ„t to hym nor to speke to hym whan Ponthus apperceyued it he wyste well y t the kynge was dyspleased with hym soo wente he to hym sayd syr how is it that ye are dyspleased with me for goddes loue tell me what I haue forfayted Ha sayd the kynge whiche was ryght angrye Ponthus Ponthus I haue made lytell nourture of you whan ye haue auysed you for to dyshonour me how syr sayd Ponthus by what waye By that waye sayd y e kynge that ye loue my doughter for to dyshonoure her And I haue no chylde but her and she is all my Ioye and all the lengthynge of my lyfe Syr said Ponthus who tolde you so yf there be ony that dare saye it nowe I am redy for to preue it with my body that he lyeth falsely saue your honour Nay sayd the kynge yf ye wyll swere vpon holy gospels that ye loue her not as I haue sayd parauenture I wyll byleue you Syr for to say that I loue her not as I owe to loue the doughter of my ryghtfull lorde I say not the contrary but that I wolde doo thynge or thynke that sholde touche the dysworshyp of her or of you I shall answere as a true knyght ought to do and syr ye wote well ye ought not to aske me none other thynge to my worshyppe for ye wote well ynoughe that a kynges sone oughte not to make none othe of noo thynge that were put vpon hym as longe as he myght defende hym with his body And that is the vsage of the countre where I was borne I wote neuer sayd y e kynge whiche was ryght fell and angry of the wordes that he had herde Syr sayd Ponthus yet wyll I offre you more that I wyll fyght with two or thre yf there be ony that wyl mayntene it for I fele my quaryll so good and so clene that I am all in certayne that god shall helpe me as a true Iuge A sayd the kynge ye holde yourselfe so stronge so knyghtly y t ye wote well there dare none fyght w t you A syr sayd Ponthus I offre you all that euer I may with my worshyp profre The kyÌ„ge passed forth and sayd y e batayll sholde not be done as for y â— dâ—de ¶ How Ponthus toke leue of the fayre Sydoyne WHan Ponthus sawe that he was ryght sorowfull and angry bycause y t he was a kynges sone he was sory for to make an othe y t it sholde torne hym to dyshonour and to reprefe and on the other syde bycause the kynge wolde do hym no ryght So he came to the kynge and toke his leue of hym sayd vnto hym that he wolde not dwelle in his courte in mysbyleue nor in suspeccyon and thus departed he and came vnto Sydoyne and tolde her how the kynge had sayd vnto hym and how he had offered for to fyght with two or thre and how that the kynge wolde do hym no ryght and wolde make hym to be sworne to his dysworshyp And whan Sydoyne vnderstode this it nedeth not to aske yf she had grete sorowe and sayd A god whiche ben these false tryatours flaterers that so grete vntrouth and lesynges haue contryued for by my fayth I dare swere in god that in our loue was neuer vnclenly thought But thus it is that enuye may neuer deye Madame said he by my fayth ye saye trouth But I wyll take my leue of you with as grete sorowe and heuynesse as euer toke knyghte of his lady A sayd she swete loue ye were better to make the othe for ye may do it surely and to put away all blame A madame sayd he neuer sholde I dare be sene in the countre where I was borne And neuer god wyll that I be the fyrste of kynges sones that sholde make an othe for it sholde be a reprefe to myn heyres for euer more Madame how moche that the body go the from you a whyle I shall be with you at the seuen yeres ende and I be a lyue yf soner I come not wherfore I praye you yf it please you to kepe you frome maryenge vnto that tyme ye may A sayd she how the terme is set longe and I shall be the whyle so sorowfull and shall haue so many heuy dayes sorowfull houres to suffre At these wordes she was all vanysshed fell in a swowne They had bothe theyr hertes soo heuy that with grete payne they myght speke saue onely that they embrased eche other and the teres fell downe fromr theyr eyen And Ponthus put his hatte before his eyen and departed and wente to his chambre and shytte the dore to hym and than his herte waxed all heuy and sayd to hymselfe y t he was the moost vnhappyest knyght that lyued whan suche a lady may receyue blame for hym without ony cause And also he leseth all Ioye for to leue y e countree and the syght of his lady where euer he gooth So he complayned and bewaylled hymselfe sorowfully whan he had ben a whyle in suche payne and sorowe he refrayned and enforced hymselfe to be of good chere yf he had sorowe Sydoyne had no lesse for she entred in to her garderobe and called Elyos with her whan she sawe no mo but they two and that they were alone than began her sorowe soo meruayllous grete that it was pyte to se. ¶ How Sydoyne complayned ryght pyteously the departynge of her louer Ponthus A Sayd she Elyos my loue he gooth his waye y e fayre the good y e floure of knyghthode and of curtesye and the best on lyue and the best instructe and he that hathe best maner of demeanynge amonge all maner
the tydynges of frauÌ„ce and many other tydynges but the kynge founde hym so wysely answerynge that he was all ameruayled And than he wente vnto the quene and to the lordes knyghtes and sayd vnto theym that he had not of a grete whyle spoken with so wyse nor with so gentylmanly a man as is that goodly knyght in talkyng And truely sayd the kynge myne herte sayth me y t he is gretter more noble than he maketh hymselfe So he dwelled there a longe tyme and the more that men sawe hym the more they loued and praysed hym ¶ How Ponthus put the stone before y e ladyes at london at the request of syr Harry his mayster SYr Iohan the kynges eldest sone had grete sorowe for that he had not founde hym afore his broder Harry of all maner of dysportes he coude well entermete hym as hawkynge huntynge he wold neuer auaunt hymselfe of nothynge y t he dyd his maner his behauynge pleased well euery man he loued well holy chyrche euery daye he wolde here masse gyue his almes to y e poore people his byggest oth was in good fayth it was thus or it is thus On an euenynge the erles sone of Gloucestre y t was a fayre knyght and a stronge but he was somwhat proude he cast y e stone with the kynges sones many other so he ouer caste syr Iohan well a foure fyngers auauÌ„ted hym selfe y t he had cast before them all So syr Harry bad Surdyt y t he sholde put the stone syr sayd Surdyt I can not but syth y t it pleaseth you I shall do as I can So he wente to the stone and put it with the ferdeste A sayd syr Harry by the fayth y t ye owe to the woman of y e worlde that ye loue best put it as ferre as ye may whan he herde that he was soo coniured he bethought hym of his lady sayd syr ye haue coniured me â—ore for I owe to grete fayth to my lady my moder A sayd Geneuer the kynges eldest doughter Surdyt Surdyt it may not be that ye be now vnpurchaced and be so moche so goodly Madame quod he I am so symple so boustous that none wolde lyste for to loue me God wote wele sayd Geneuer And than she thought in her herte y e wolde god he loued me as moche as I wolde loue hym And than Surdit toke the stone and put it wel a .vii. large fore afore them all whan y e kyÌ„ge the ladyes sawe y e cast they meruaylled y e erles so ne was abasshed sayd I am ouercome Than sayd syr Harry to Surdyt why haue ye so longe taryed of this caste A syr sayd he had it not ben y t ye coÌ„iured me so sore I wolde not haue medled me for I haue dyspleased hym me forthynketh for it was but for to obeye your pleasure ye wote well y t it sytteth not me to be in no mannes dyspleasauÌ„ce So his mayster apperceyued well his gentylnesse Geneuer came to her brother sayd vnto hym Fayre broder come play you in my chambre and brynge youre newe knyght with you Fayre syster I wyll well sayd he So they wente to playe and to dysporte them in her chambre then came wyne and spyces and after they began to daunce and to synge but with grete payne they coude make Surdyt for to daunce saynge that he coude not daunce but whan he hadde a whyle daunced he daunced best of all and also with grete payne they myght make hym for to synge and at the praynge of the kynges doughter he sange a songe the best of all he made hymselfe alwaye vnconnynge of euery thynge but at the last he dyd euer best After that they had songe the kynges sone his syster began to sharpe whan they had harped a whyle they prayed Surdyt for to harpe but with grete payne they made hyÌ„ for to harpe At the last he harped a newe laye passynge well A sayd Geneuer Surdyt in good fayth I haue grete Ioye that ye can that laye for we haue had grete desyre for to knowe it for it is the laye that the good knyght Ponthus made for his lady as it hathe ben tolde vs and we suppose wel for whome he made it Madame sayd he I wote not who made it Soo he was some what ashamed and chaunged coloure whan he thought on her he made it for â–ª So he taught it to Geneuer and to her syster whiche made it to be wryten And so the two doughters came to the kynge and to the quene and shewed theym Truely sayd the kynge lerne it fayre doughters I praye you for it is ryght good and the knyght playeth it well Of all dysportes and playes he coude ryght well on a tyme Geneuer resonned hym sayd Surdyt se ye in this realme lady or gentylwoman where ye set your herte and your pleasaunce tell it me in good fayth I am she that with good herte wyll helpe you in worshyp Madame sayd he I thanke you for alwaye haue I nede of your good ladyshyp and helpe but as in that I loue them all as I ought to doo good ladyes A Surdyt sayd she ben they all incomune is there none that hathe auauntage one ouer another Madame they ben all soo good y t there may no man to moche preyse them nor loue theÌ„ in worshyp and as for me the loue of a poore knyght is but of lytell thynge A sayd she he is not poore that hathe the beaute the bounte the good condycyons and y e good behauynge that ye haue for in good fayth I knowe none so fayre nor so grete a lady in this countre that she ne ought to holde herselfe ryght wel worshypped for to be byloued of suche a knyght as I hope that ye be Madame I am ryght fer froÌ„ suche one as ye saye but it pleaseth you for to talke and dysporte you with so poore a knyght as I am A sayd she ye byleue me not in good fayth I saye but as I thynke al waye the knyght toke her talkynge in myrthe and in bourde and gaue her no maner of comforte in so moche that she aspyed that he was not in wyll for to loue the whiche dyspleased her moche for yf she had fouÌ„de in hym ony maner of comforte y t he wolde haue loued she wolde haue dyscouered herselfe more largely and so apperceyued her well Surdyt often tymes many fayre ladyes gentylwomen gaue him many wordes of loue preue lokes y t they wolde haue loued hym yf he wolde haue loued them but he made all fayre chere wtoute gyuynge ony comforte of loue wherfore there were many ryght sorowfull in especyall the kynges doughters ryght wysely demeaned hym selfe Surdyt and pleased all Many nyghtes he thought on his lady and made layes of her the whiche fell all in complaynynge of sorowe that he sholde alway