and how he was broughte in to the Kynges courte with grete reuerence of the knyghtes that had taken hym Capitulo xxx OLyuer that fouÌ„de hymselfe all alone in his chaÌ„bre sat hym downe for the .xx. knyghtes hadde taken leue of hym and were gone for to dysarme them to be at the feest seynge that he had tyme ynoughe begaÌ„ne for to tell his moneye and founde that there was .v. M. nobles wherfore he thanked god and the noble knyght that had had soo good remembraunce on hym Whyles that he put vp his golde in to his bougette entred in to the chambre fyue gentyll squyers clothed in whyte satyn .x. varlets clothed in whyte clothe whiche salued hym saynge My lorde your mayster stewarde hathe ben here this after none and hathe gyuen eche of vs a gowne and tolde vs that it was your lyueray and that ye shold reteyne vs in your seruyce and therfore we come towarde you to knowe and it be yâ—ur wyll for there is none of vs but that he hathe good mayster for some be the Erle of Flaundres men and the other the dukes of Somerset And thus eche of vs hath good maysters but they haue as many seruauntes as theym nede the. And for the valyauÌ„tnesse that we haue sene in you we become your seruauÌ„tes yf it be your pleasure Olyuer answered theÌ„ and sayd My frendes of your grace ye saye more good of me than I haue deserued Ans as I vnderstaÌ„de eche of you hathe a good mayster and better than I am but and it be your wyll I reteyne you all And to morowe syth that ye be men of knowlege I shall enquere of your estate and thenne to eche of you I shall gyue suche estate as to you apperteyneth One of yâ— seruauntes sayd to hym My lorde your mayster stewarde hathe ordeyned me your palfreynere therfore ye shall tell me yf it please you what I shall do with your horses For I haue fyue good coursers two lytell hobyes ryght fayre of whiche he badde me take good heede And bycause that it is ferre to the courte I thynke ye wyll not gâ— on fote therfore yf it please you ye shal tell me whiche of your horses ye wyll haue and what harneys I shall put vpon hym whether that of veluet crymosyn or that of beten golde yf that it please you that your four pages shall come towarde you Olyuer was moche abasshed and made the sygne of the crosse and sayd to hym My frende go in goddes name sadle one of the two lytell hobyes whiche thou louest best and put on hym the harnes of beten golde and make the pages come with two torches for to lyght me in to the courte And theÌ„ Olyuer commauÌ„ded for to vndo the fardell and so it was done And founde thre sortes of clotynge for hym of the same colours that he hadde worne durynge the torneyment that is to wyte blacke rede and whyte The hosen were of scarlet the gownes of veluet the doublettes of blacke damaske fygured and the hatte of blacke vpon the whiche was a ryght gentyll and ryche ouche of stones ryght curyously wrought there was in it an e an o togyder Wherfore he began for to kysse it and sayd alowe Fayre fader god yf that thou wylte extende soo moche thy grace on me that my fortune were suche that Olyuer Helayn myght come so nere togyder as these two lettres I sholde be moche beholden to thanke thy grete maieste In yâ— same wordes Olyuer clothed hym and founde that his clothynge were so well made for hym that there coude none amende them He was not so sone clothed but that his hors was redy abydynge hym at the dore and his foure pages And within shorte tyme after yâ— knyghtes that had brought hym theder came for to fetche hym and tolde hym that it was hyghe tyme to goo in to the courte They they mounted on horsbacke and the torches were lyghted that conduyted them in to yâ— courte ¶ How Olyuer came in to the courte of the ryght noble kynge of Englande where as he was receyued of all yâ— lordes and lâ—dyes with grete Ioye Ca. xxxi WHaÌ„ Olyuer was afore the gate of yâ— palays he began for to smyte his hors with yâ— sporres yâ— whiche made lepes without noÌ„bre dyde all that his mayster wolde haue hyÌ„ do he made fyre to sprynge out of the payment in suche haboundaunce that euery body loked out at the wyndowes to beholde hym in suche estate he came to the place where it was tyme to alyght And bycause yâ— he was so semely a knyght there was grete prece to be holde hym There was so huge a nombre of folke that with grete payne he myghte descende and passe forthe The tydynges came to the kynge and to the other pryÌ„ces that theder were comen how yâ— whyte knyght was comen and mounted vp the steyres and sayd that and his beaute were lost that in all the worlde it myghte not be recouered and in lyke wyse these tydynges were pronounced to the ladyes the whiche demaunded what maner a man he was and it was tolde them that he was a heed of werke that there was neuer sene a more fayrer knyght And durynge these wordes he entred in to yâ— halle where as all the lordes were and salued the kyÌ„ge The whiche by semblaunt made hym ryght grete chere and honour and so dyde all the other lordes the whiche sholdred one another for to se hym for his excellente be aute There was many that at his comynge wolde that he hadde ben a thousande myle thens and in especyall they that hadde done beste nexte hym dyde curse hym in theyr courage but his physnamye and maneres were so swete that he sholde haue ben ryghte cursed yâ— wolde haue done hym ony harme So as he was fested on euery syde the ryght fayr and good Helayne accompanyed with dyuers grete lordes and ladyes came in to the hall apparaylled aourned so rychely that her habyllementes were worthe a realme for there was neuer sene the pareylles or lyke Her beaute enlumyned the palays the whiche exceded all natures werke And thynke not that that Helayne for whome Troye receyued soo many aduersytes passed this But bycause that comparysons be heynous and noysous I holde my peas in retornynge to my purpose The fayre Helayne of Englande seynge the thought of her lorde and fader set her vpon her knees and made to hym reuerence and honoure as it apperteyned The kynge her fader toke her by the hande and made her for to aryse in saynge that she was ryght well come And thenne she was salued of all the other kâ—yghtes lordes vnto whome she rendred echone theyr salute after theyr qualyte as she coude do full well Thenne was Olyuer brought afore her the whiche knewe hym as sone as she sawe hym For he was easy for to knowe amongest them all Wherfore she behelde hym voluntarylye and it
Irlande came and the other twayne abode for to accompany the fayre Helayne ¶ How Olyuer wedded the fayre Helayne and of yâ— solempnyte of the espousaylles Capitulo xlix RYght sone after that all these thynges were redy Olyuer came in to the courte accoÌ„panyed as ye haue herde afore wente to the portall of the chapell where as he fouÌ„de the Arche bysshop redy They hadde not beÌ„ loÌ„ge there whan that they herde comynge to them grete foyson of trompettes and mynstrelles and began for to sowne and come to warde the chapell after them and there came dyuers kynges and herauldes of armes and after came the Usshers And after theym then came Helayne aourned as it apperteyneth to a bryde and to a lady of so ryall a lygnage She was accompanyed of dyuers ladyes and damoyselles that folowed her And with this she was on the ryght hande of two kynges And came a softe paas vnto the place where as Olyuer abode her And they hadde not ben longe there whan the kynge came at whose comynge they were wedded The seruyce was done The tables were layde then they set them to dyner after that the ladyes were retorned frome the chambres Who that wolde deuyse to you the scruyce of the sayd dyner the gyftes that were gyuen as well on the one sydâ— as on the other it sholde be to longe a thynge to recouÌ„te The yonge men of the kynges courte that neuer were dyfferent to no thynge that was for Iustes made crye a Iustynge for the after dyner where as the ladyes were Also a torneyment was cryed .xvj. agaynst xvi that was a ryght fayre syght to se. Olyuer Iusted not bycause he sholde not be defouled to the ende that he sholde be fresshe for to daunce at nyghte but he was mouÌ„ted on a grete courser and dyde meruaylles He serued one of the kynges of Irlande that for to do hym honoure Iusted and foure of the other also And dyde soo well that twayne of the fyue had the pryce one within and the other without And it was gyuen theym or that they departed from the tyltes as they that hadde done best And after that euery body was comeÌ„ to the courte the ladyes were clothed in newe gownes And then they wente to the banquet that was alredy apparaylled Yf they were well seruyd it is no nede to demaunde it For there was neuer a fayrer feest in England after that of the grete torneyment that had ben afore And whan it was after the banquet the daunces began and Olyuer ledde the fayre Helayne at the daunces that euery body sawe gladly For all the worlde sayd that they had neuer sene a more fayrer couple of folke togyder After that yâ— daunces had endured a longe space of tyme the farre noble Helayne was ledde vnto bedde And then wyne spyces were broughte The whiche Olyuer abode not For he was alredy in his chambre where as he dysabylled hym And whan he knewe that the bryde was a bed incontynâ—nt he put hym on the waye towarde the chambre And whan he was there he chased all the ladyes out excepte one And came towarde the table where as the banquet was on and kest it to the erthe to the ende that he shoâ—de not be awaked then he came to the dore and locked it and wente to bedde to her that of longe tyme he hadde loued she hated hym not wherfore they were the better contente togyder and of the surplus I holde my peas But the hystorye sayth that vpon that same nyght they engendred a chylde male the whiche dydde sythe moche good and exalted our crysteÌ„ fayth agaynst the sarasyns in vengynge the dethe of our lorde Ihesucryst ¶ How Olyuer was vertuous in appesynge stryfes and noyses and how his wyfe was greâ—e with a sone the whiche was named HeÌ„ry Capitulo L. WHan it came to the kynges knowlege that Olyuer had casten downe the table yâ— the baÌ„ker was on he began for to laughe And sayd yâ— he had ryght well wrought wherfore no body wolde not medle for to entre in yâ— chambre was not awaked of no body vnto the moro we at a .xi. of the clocke and yâ— the kynge had dyned the whiche came vnto the chambre dore and beganne for to call them and sayd that it was daye tyme for to ryse Olyuer the whiche slepte not came in his sherte and opened the dore to the kynge the whiche entred alone and came vnto his doughters bedde where as he coÌ„forted her as well as he myght In saynge yâ— he knewe it well of longe ago that she was to yonge for to slepe with the meÌ„ The whiche answered nothynge vnto hym for ony thyÌ„ge that he coude doo Wherfore he toke leue of her sayd to her that she was euyll contente with hym sythe that she wolde not speke to hyÌ„ After that he was departed the ladyes came and toke her vp Thenne whan she was redy she wente to masse but this was not without foyson of regardes of dyuers lordes and ladyes the whiche with one accorde Iuged yâ— she halted not The masse was sayd and the dyner passed the whiche was ryghte plenteuous of all goodes And the kynge helde open courte by the space of .xv. dayes after the whiche all the lordes toke leue of hym And the kyng abode in his symple estate reserued that Olyuer had his estate as a kynges sone and reteyned dyuers gentylmen of his courte The kynges of Irlande toke theyr leue for to retorne home In offrynge them alwaye at the kynges pleasure Olyuers for god had gyuen hym suche grace that euery body loued hym The debates and dyscordes amonge the gentylmen Olyuer appeased to his power The poore knyghtes by his largesse were made ryche He was the defendour of wydowes and Orphelyns and to his power to all dyscomforted and dyssolute he gaue comforte and couÌ„sayll Shortly all vertues that were possyble to be in a mannes mortall body florysshed in this ryght valyaunt and gentyll knyght in suche wyse that euery body louyd hym blessyd his comynge And helde the kynge for wyse and prudent that so sone coude knowe his coÌ„dycyons and that he had so kepte his doughter to mary her so vertuously without thyÌ„kynge on couetyse so the kynge lyued in grete ease within his courte in grete louyÌ„ge and glorye without And was so moche fered and redoubted that none durst do hym dyspleasure but was mayster and lorde of all his neyghbours The fayr good Helayne that was with chylde was not of lesse recommendacyon ayenst her for all vertues that a woman ought for to haue habounded in her It happened that after that she had borne her terme she was delyuered of a payre sone the whiche was named at the fonte stone Henry And this chylde gaue so moche Ioye to the kynge and to all them of the realme yâ— it was metuayll But that same chylde wyst and knewe that he ought yet to be the moost
of his countree And whan they were all assembled he made yâ— spousaylles of Arthur and his doughter so grete and so plenteous of all goodes that it coude be noo more And this feest endured a longe tyme. In the whiche whyle tydynges came in to Castylle that the kyng of Chyppres was assyeged of the infydeles and requyred the kynge of castylle of helpe and socoure and also all the other crysten prynces Whan this tydynges came to the knowlege of the yonge prynce the kynges sone he made a requeste to his fader that he wolde gyue hyÌ„ leue and ayde for to goo to the whiche he accorded and gaue hym a grete armye but he retorned neuer after agayne as treateth more at longe the cronycles of Castylle For after that he hadde delyuered the realme of Chyppres of theyr enemyes he wente in to Turky where as he conquered dyuers realmes that he made for to be Crystenned And yf that he had not deyed yonge he had ben a man for to haue conquered the moost parte of the worlde The kynge of Algarbe ledde his wyfe in to his countree And thre yere after his departynge a ryght greuous maladye toke yâ— Kynge of Castylle by the wyll of oure lorde that of these thynges dysposeth at his pleasure and was so syke that Helayne his wyfe as she that abode not but his dethe sente for the kynge of Algarbe the whiche was not so sone arryued but that the kynge of Castyll passed oute of this worlde in grete wepynges and lamentacyons of all his subgectes and frendes and generally of his meÌ„ and all them that knewe hym And whan the tydynges were pronouÌ„ced to Helayne maulgre all them that kâ—â—te her she came to se her lorde that was deed whan she was entred in to the chambre and that she approched the body she escryed on hye A ryght puyssaunt kynge how I se thy fayre face pale by the dethe anguysshous and thy furyous armes affebled and in saynge this she lete her selfe fall vpon the body and she arose neuer after for of doloure her herte dyde breke and deyed Wherby the doloure was redoubled ¶ The poore kynge of Algarbe demeaned so grete dole that it was pyte for to se. And made innumerable lamcÌ„tacyons so moche that it sholde be to longe to recounte it In lyke wyse the quene of Algar became for to see her fader her moder that were deed she made so grete dole that with grete payn she myght be comforted Bothe the deed bodyes were buryed in one tombe the whiche was ryght pyteous to beholde ¶ How Olyuers sone deyed in turky how Arthur was kynge of Englande and of Castylle Ca. lxxvii SOne after that the grete dole had beÌ„ in Castylle Olyuers sone that atte yâ— tyme was theyr kyÌ„ge was enprysonned by some â—â—rasyns in yâ— marches of Turky but that was not but that aâ—ore his prysonynge he had beÌ„ crowned of thre realmes that he had conquered and by cause that there was no moo apperteynynge heyres in castyll than yâ— quene of Algarbe Arthurs wyfe they made her quene and crowned her husbande kynge of the countree in doynge to hym fayth and homage ¶ Alytell whyle after came tydynges to the kynge of Castylle and of Algarbe that the Kynge of Englande grandfader of his wyfe was decessed And that the Duke of Glocestre that was cousyn germayne to the Kynge of Englande had made hym to be crowned kynge of the realme Wherfore he sente in to Englande for to knowe and it were by the consente of the noble men of the countree And for to knowe yf that he sholde not be receyued for kynge as reason wolde It was answered to hym nayâ— wherfore he assembled a grete coÌ„pany of folke and with grete puyssaunce came and descended in Englande and dyde so moche by force of armes after dyuers grete bataylles that he that sayd hym kynge was taken and put in pryson where as he neuer yssued oute after After he made hym to be crowned kynge as reason wolde and yâ— Englysshemen receyued hym for theyr lorde and soo he was kynge of Englande of Castylle and of Algarbe also he was kynge of one of the realmes of Irlande The surplus of his dayes he lyued in grete prosperyte and encreasynge of all goodes He had thre chyldreÌ„ of his wyfe two sones and one doughter that after his decesse they helde his lordshyppes The eldest was kynge of Englande and of Irlande and the other kynge of Castylle and his doughter was maryed to the kynge of Portyngale and he had with her the realme of Algarbe that yet apperteyneth to hym The two sones gouerned well wysely theyr realmes And were redoubted and full dere holden of theyr subgectes and neyghbours After the dethe of the Kynge theyr fader and of the quene theyr moder The surplus of theyr dayes they lyued holyly in seruynge god and the gloryous vyrgyn Marye Then they passed out of this worlde ryght gloryously god for his holy grace haue mercy on theyr soules And gyâ—e gode lyfe and longe and encreasynge of all goodnes vnto all them that this hystorye shall rede or here redde and that wryteth it or maketh it to be wryten and also to all them that shall se it AmeÌ„ ¶ The epylogacyon of the booke The last Ca. ARystotle the phylosophre sayth that the thyÌ„ges yâ— be separed be vnderstoâ—den knoweÌ„ more dystynctely for yâ— whiche cause the table hathe ben made and put in the begynnyÌ„ge of this presente boke for to vnderstaÌ„de it yâ— better And bycause that it sholde seme to dyuers yâ— some passyues of thystorye by symplytude of impossylyte ought not to be byleued for a trouthe for the meruayll yâ— is sayd To the declaracyon of the passages of thystorye by maner of epylogacyon this laste chapytre is câ—mprysed And to the regarde of Olyuer and Arthur that were so lyke the dyffyculte is not to grete for whan yâ— two chyldren be of one aege and of one felte complexcâ—on hauyng some symylytude of vysage corsage facylly one may be taken for another namely bycauâ—e they be nourysshed togyder spekynge all one langage clothed in seÌ„blable clothes instructe vnder one mayster holdynge and kepynge all one maner of doynge and countenaunce all this rogyder and dyuers other thynges make the them be sayd semblable ¶ To the regarde of the quene that was esprysed of the loue of Olyuer it was but fragylyte naturall of women that foloweth sensualyte agaynst honoure ¶ Touchynge yâ— water of the glasse that ought to â—roubâ—e at Olyuers daunger by this ye must not vnderstande that it was water elementall in his nature but bycause that Olyuer was all vertuous that his vnder standynge was all gyuen to good and to loue god perseuerynge in good and vertuous operacyoÌ„s and fleynge all vyces and synnes god permysed that Arthur had knowlege of yâ— aduersytees happened to Olyuer his felowe by the chaungynge of the water of the sayd glassâ— by the prayer