grete peple the fayr ordynaunce that there was WHan it was so that the lordes were redy of alle â—hynges that were necessarye and were departed fro theyr contrees they assembled al at parys the xiiij day of septembre and neuer tofore was seen so grete a companye of nobles For fro alle partyes was comen grete chyualrye the soÌ„me for to do armes and the other for to see the feste whyche was moche sumptuous and noble whan the day assygned came of the Ioustes On the mornyng erly he dyd doo sette these thre Ioyaâ—â—â— or Iewels in the baners the whyche shone and resplendysshed moche merueillously for the nombre of perles precyous stones that were in the baners Now it shold be ouerlonge to recyte of the barons and of the knyghtes that were in that Iourneye For many were comen thyder fro the royame of spayne of aragon and of many other contrees for to proue their strengthe and persones and for to mayntene the barons that mâ—yntened the thre ladyes maydens Of whome we shall reherce of the pryncypallest here after the shortest wyse we may And whan it came in the mornyng that euery man was armed apparaylled in the felde and that the kyng of Fraunce was sette in hys hrete scaffolde and began to say al alowde and moche meruayllously that alle the people myght here and vnderstonde Knyghtes and barons that been here for to do the fayte of armes goo ye eueryche vnder that baner that he wyl mayntene for the loue of hys lady and we gyue in comaundement that this felde be of loue and of curtosye as iâ— to you appertâ—yneth how be it we wyl wel that eche of you do valyantly hys armes and hys chyualryes for that damoyselâ— whyche he wyl mayntene And he that shal wynne the felde shal haue the prys and thonour of the feste and that lady or damoysel shal be mayntened and allowed for the moost fayre damoysel of the world and shal haue the prys and thonour of them of Englond of Fraunce of Normandye and that to thys noo man be so hardy to gaynsay vpon the payne to lose his lyf And yet after thys he sayd ye see here a fayre crowne the whyche the quene of Fraunce hath ordeyned to th ende that it be delyuerd to the fader of the damoysel that shal haue the prys and honour of the felde and of the Ioustes And the knyght that shal gete the prys and thonour of the Ioustes shal haue all the thre baners and the thre Iewels that been in them comaunded that the baner of Normandye shold fyrst make hys mustre nexte the baner of Constaunce and thenne that of Vyenne ¶ And fyrst vnder the baner of Normandye were they that folowe that is to wete Iohan sone of therle of Flaunders Phelyp of bauyers neuew of the kynge of Fraunce Edward sone of the duke of bourgoyne Iohan erle of Armynak Balaxe brother of the marquys of Saluce Geffroy duc of pycardye And after them came many other wel armed habylled After came the baner of CoÌ„staunce the whiche accompanyed Iohan sone of the duc of bremeos Gastamons of gastre brother of the erle of foyes Anthonye alegre sone of the duc of Carnes Larer neuew of the duc of bourgoyne The honourable Iohan of braban Salamon de launson brother of therle of the marche and after them came many other barons and knyghtes and theÌ„ne after came the baner of the fayr vyeÌ„ne the whyche accompanyed hughe sone of the duc of Bourbon Edward sone of the kyng of Englond Wylliam sone of the duc of barry Antonye sone of the counte of prouynce Parys sone of syr Iaques of vyenne Dormando of monferrant sone of the marquys thre sones of the duc of Carnes Iohan peryllous duc of Normandye after them came many other barons and knyghtes wel armed wel horsed And whan the mustre was made euery baner retorned in to hys place whyche moche noble and meruayllous thynge was it to see and to byholde the noblesse of the barons knyghtes soo wel horsed and armed as they were And the daulphyn and syr Iaques fader of Parys were comen for to see the feste the Ioustes ¶ How Parys wan the prys at the Ioustes in the cyte of Parys WHan thenne it came to the houre of tyerce began the Ioustes and cam in to the felde moche nobly armed Iohan sone of therle of flaundres ageyn hym came Iohan sone of the duke of breunes coped to gyder so fyersly that they brake theyr speres and Iohan sone of therle of flaunders tombled to therthe vnder hys hors after ayenst Iohan de breunes came Edward sone of the duke of bourgoyne These ij knyghtes bete doun puyssauntly Iohan de breunes vnto the tyme that there came ayenst hym Iohan peryllous duc of Normandye whyche smote hym wyth soo grete force that he ouerthrewe hym vnder hys hors brake hys arme put hym in suche estate that he wyst not whether it was day or nyght and ayenst Iohan peryllous came Anthonye alegre sone of the duc of carues and dyd so mocâ—â— prowesse wyth his persone that he conquerd Iohan peryllous and v other knyghtes myghty men of his partye whom he smote to the erthe by force of armes After came ageynst anthonie alegre Geffroy of pycardye and smote anthonie in suche wyse that he fyl to the erthe vj other stronge knyghtes of hys partye and after dyd soo meruayllous feates of armes that euery man sayd that he had thonour of the felde And theÌ„ne came the free knyght parys ayenst geffroy beryng lowe hys spere they gaf so grete strokes that the knyghtes and horses wente al to therthe wherfor the kyng sayd that sythe bothe two were throwen to the erthe that they shold retorne ageyn to the Ioustes parys wyth a grete desyre consented and soo bothe retorned came rennyng And Parys gaf to geffroy so grete a stroke that hys hors slode and thenne geffroy ouerthrewe to the erthe but by cause that the hors slode it was sayd that the hors was cause that he ouerthrewe For moche they mayntened geffroy and sayd that he was not vaynquysshed that it shold be wel doon that they shold Iuste ageyn And by cause that Parys was not knowen ther was none that mayntened hym ne susteyned neuertheles the kyng of fraunce knewe wel that geffroy was vaynquysshed loyally wel For he had wel seen the aduenture wold do no wronge vnto the knyght whyche was of grete strengthe and myght and anone sente to hym an heraulde whyche sayd to hym in the name of the kynge of fraunce that the kyng had wel seen wel knewe that Parys had vaynquysshed hys knyght Notwythstondyng yf he wold yet ones retorne to the Iuste by hys noblesse that he shold do hym self grete honour And thenne Parys maad hys ansuer sayeng that the beaulte of my lady vyeÌ„ne
was so grete that in al the world was none to hyr lyke that yf it pleased the Kyng I am redy for to furnysshe the Ioustes for hys loue ayenst the knyght yet another tyme and to Iuste tyl that geffroy shold be vaynquysshed that was wythoute ony gayn sayeng the heraulde retorned and tolde it to the kyng wherof the kyng was wel contente sayd that the knyght ought to be somme grete lord For he was of grete valoyr and puyssaunce and spake moche swetely and curtoysly And after Parys chaunged and took another hors whyche Edward hys felowe had made redy for hym retorned to the Iustes smote to gyder wyth soo grete myght that by veray force geffroy went to therthe vnder hys hors ryght euyl hurte THenne whan it came toward euen the Ioustes were so grete thycke and stronge that al the thre partyes as wel of one as of other were throwen doun to the erthe that there abode no moo of the partye of vyenne but parys allone and of the partye of normandye thre knyghtes stronge and puyssauÌ„t and they were Balaxo brother of the marquys of Saluces Iohan sone of the erle of Army nack and phelyp of bauyere of the partye of constaunce other thre stronge myghty that is to wete Iohan of braband laâ—er neuew of the duc of bourgeyn and Salamon dalanson brother of the counte de la marche and they sayd that the Iustes shold abyde tyl on the morne for they were moche wery and whan parys saw that they wold haue retorned he fewtred hys spere and there cam ayenst hym balaxo brother of the marquys of saluces And Parys at the fyrst stroke strake hym doun to the erthe vnder hys hors and in lyke wyse dyd to the other v and moche nobly valyauntly he wanne thonour of the Iustes and of the felde ¶ How the kyng commaunded that the thre baners wyth the in Iewellys shold be gyuen to Parys champyon of vyenne THe Ioustes fynysshed Parys wanne the beaute of hys lady the fayre vyenne and he was ledde to the scaffolde where as the kynge was the other grete lordes knyghtes there were delyuerd to hym the thre baners the thre Iewellys that were in them Parys shewed them thurgh all the felde in sygne that the sayd vyenne had goten thonour for to be the fayrest damoysell that was in alle the world by the same yonge knyght and whan Parys had the thre fayr baners and the thre ryche Iewellys he and Edward hys felowe departed out of the cyte of parys and oute of fraunce the moost secrete wyse that they myght retorned in to dalphyne Parys retorned in to the companye of the forsayd bysshop of Saynt Laurence as he had not been at the feste alwaye he demaunded tydynges of the Iustes that were made in fraunce and who had thonour of the Ioustes WHan the feste was made al the barons knyghtes that were there had 〈◊〉 desyre to knowe who was 〈◊〉 that so valyauntly so nobly 〈◊〉 wonne the Iourneye the honour of the Iustes for to doo to hym worshyp but they coude neuer knowe hym wherof they had grete dysplaysyr sayd that the knyght was of grete wysedom by cause he wold not be knowen And after this the barons knyghtes took leue of the kyng and retorned in to theyr londes al dyscomforted by cause they had not goten the honour of the feste and yet were they more angry by cause they knewe not to whome the honour was gyuen of the feste ne of the Iustes The kyng of Fraunce whyche moche loued the dolphyn made to hym grete feste moche grete honour And the kyng delyuerd to hym the crowne that the quene had gyuen for to gyue to hyr that shold haue the honour of the Ioustes to th ende that he shold gyue it vnto hys doughter vyenne in sygne token that she was the moost fayr damoysel of the world whan al thys was doon the dolphyn and the fader of parys retorned in to dolphyne in moche grete honour and greâ—e Ioye whan vyenne knewe that hyr fader came she came and mette hym as she was accustomed Thenne whan the dolphyn sawe hyr he kyssed hyr sette on her hede the crowne whyche the kynge had gyuen hym and tolde to hyr how she had goton the honour for to be the moost fayrest damoysell of the world and loo here is the fayr crowne that the quene of fraunce sendeth to you in token that ye haue goten the honour Not wythstondyng fayr doughter that ye haue had many contrarye therto but ye haue had a good deffendour ryÈt stronge and hath wel quyted hym in your nede For of eche partye were abyden thre knyghtes moche stronge and pâ—yssaunte and on your partye was left but one knyght onely whyche vaynquysshed al the other wythout ony token and is departed alle secretly that no man knewe hym ne the kyng of fraunce hath no knowleche of hym but he hath borne awaye wyth hym the thre baners the iij Iewellys that were in them also the prys thonour of the feste wherfore swete fayr doughter ye wote neuer to whom to gyue thankynges of so moche honour as hath be doon for you but I praye to god of heuen to the glorious vyrgyn marye that it playse hym to gyue to hym good honour Ioye excellence in alle his feates vyctorye lyke as he is chyef hede of al honour and of al chyualrye in thys world For I neuer sawe ne herde of knyght that so gracyously and so curtoysly bare hym in his armes in his chyualryes And whan vyeÌ„ne herde spâ—ke of these tydynges sawe the grete honour prys that she had goten and al was comen by this noble knyght she sayd to ysabeau hyr damoysel My suster sayd I not to you wel but late that I was byloued by the moost noble and valyaunt knyght of fraunce and by my fayth my swete suster this is he that so swetely songe that wanne the Iustes in this cyte bare with hym the shelde of crystal my garlonde and went his waye so that noo man myght knowe hym aduyse you wel fayr suster what hanour is comen to me by his prowesse by his bounte I may wel be sory dolant whan I may not knowe who he is myn herte is moche heuy myn entendâ—ment that I neuer can fynde the moyen to see knowe hym and yet she sayd Certes my swete suster ysabeau I byleue that my dayes be shorte that I shall deye of somme cruel fals deth for the grete desplaysyr that I haue contynuelly in my herte for I can none other thynge doo but wepe waylle alwaye to contynue in sorouful lyf heuy but none apperceyued it but onely hyr damoysel ysabeau THe fader of parys whyche had ben with the
of bourgoyne whyche thenne had grete renommeâ— in fraunce and that was for the grete prowesse that was in hym and the sayd erle made thys sayd traytye sente word vnto the doulphyn that hym semed best that the sone of the duâ— of bourgoyn were beste for â—yr by cause that it shold be grete playsyr to the Kynge of fraunce and that he was a noble knyght and of grete prowesse and whan the doulphyn had receyued these letters fro therle of Flaunders he sente to the kyng of fraunce to wyte of hym whyche shold best playse hym of these two prynces aforesayd that shold haue his doughter For whome that he wold shold haue hyr wherof the kyng had grete playsyr and reputed it to hym grete honour And he sente to hym worde that it shold playse hym best that he maryed wyth the sone of the duc of bourgoyn hys neuew and in so doyng he shold doo to hym ryght grete playsyr and wold do as moche for hym whan tyme and place requyreth And seyng the doulphyn the wylle of the kyng of fraunce sente worde to therle of flaunders that he had counseylled wyth hys barons also that it was the wylle of the kyng of fraunce that his doughter shold be maryed to the sone of the duc of bourgoyne And thenne therle laboured so moche in thys mater that he made the sayd sone of the duc to agree as for hys partye ¶ How Parys sente a letter to hys felowe Edward NOw late vs leue to speke of thys mater and retorne we vnto Parys whyche abode in the cyte of gene moche heuy and whyles thys maryage was in trayty Parys dwelled in gene out of al Ioyes and plâ—ysaunses worldly al for the loue that he had to the fayr vyenne whome he had soo moche at his hert And abode alwaye in hys lodgyng allone and bycame so deuoute and soo humble toward god that it was grete meruaylle and also for the good countenaunces that he made he was moche wel byloued of al the peple of the cyte and they helde hym for a noble man and sayd he must nedes be the sone of a grete lord And Parys beyng in thys manere had grete desyre to haue tydynges of vyenne and what was hyr aduenture And anone â—â—dry â—ed two letters that one to hys fader that other to hys felawe Edward Of whyche the letter to hys fader sayd in thys manere RYght dere honourable syr and fader playse it you to wete that I am moche sorouful and heuy of my cruel aduenture and also I endure grete heuynes sorowe and afflyctyon doubtyng that for me ye haue suffred grete payne and trybulacyon and I late you wete that I am at genes dwelle in a lodgyng allone deposed fro al Ioyes and consolacyons mondayne For myn entendement is to serue god and our lady fro hens forth purpose that ye shal see me nomore for I wyl departe goo thurgh the world to seche holy pylgrymages And yf by aduenture I shal deye tofore that ye shal see me I praye you that it may playse you that I deye not in your euyl wylle but humby by seche you that it playse you to pardonne me and to gyue to me your benedyctyon Also dere syr and fader I praye you supplye that my dere brother and felowe Edward ye wyl take in my name and place and that he be recommaunded as your sone in stede of me as wel in your herytage as in other thynges and the grace of the holy ghoost be wyth you Recomaunde me to my moder cÌ„ And the letter of Edward sayd thus DEre and specyal brother and synguler frende edward the peryl of paâ—ris and of hys aduenture is poursyewed of alle euyl and cruel fortune I comaunde me to you as moche as I may say or thynk Neuertheles lyke as we haue ben accustomed to wryte letters of loue and of chyualrye Now I must wryte letters anguysshous of sorowe and of euyl fortune for alas I am vnhappy al allone in a strange contre exyled fro al Ioyes and fro alle playsyr and out of al worldly playsaunce thynkyng nyght day on the bele vyenne the whyche I thynke that for me hath suffred mortal sorowe and I say to you that yf I knewe that for me she suffred payne and sorowe I shold be in despayr for I am worthy for to be punysshed cruelly for that fayte none other wherfore I praye god and alle hys sayntes that she may be kepte from al euyl and gyue hyr grace to prospere in al good and honour lyke as she is worthy and myn herte desyreth ¶ My dere broder felowe the moost dere thynges that I loue in thys world is fyrst the fayr and swete vyenne next you to whom I praye you yf it may be in ony wyse that ye wyl say to hyr in my name how that I am lyuyng in genes Passyng my lyf moche heuy and sorouful for thabsence of hyr noble persone and for the cruel euyl fortune that hath poursyewed me and also say ye to hyr that I crye hyr mercy that it may playse hyr to pardonne me yf by me she haue ony dysplaysyr and god knoweth myn entency on in what trybulacioÌ„ I lyue And syth that it hath not play sed to our lord that we accomplysshe not our desyre wylle we ought to bere it pacyently And also ye shal say to hyr that I praye and supplye her as moche as I may that she yet take no husbond vnto the tyme that she shal see th ende of our aduenture after thys I praye you dere broder of the consolacyon of my fader my moder and that ye be to them as a sone For seyng the loue that alwaye we haue had to gyder I haue wryton to my fader that in the stede of me he take you for hys sone and that after hys lyf he wyl leue to you hys herytage for so moche broder felowe I praye bysoche you that ye be to theym humble and obeyssaunt the better parte shal be youres and yf by aduenture ye wryte to me ony letter late the letter be kepte in my faders hous the holy ghoost haue you in hys kepyng And he delyuerd thys letter to a courrour whyche wythin fewe dayes was at vyenne and secretely delyuerd hys letters to edward the good knyght whan Edward had receyued these letters and knewe that paris was a lyue he had ryght as grete Ioye as ony man coude thynke or byleue Neuertheles he helde the courrour secretely in his hous to th ende that the dolphyn shold not knowe therof and whan he had herde the letters he went to the hous of messyre Iaques the fader of the noble parys sayd to hym ¶ Messyre Iaques I brynge to you thys letter And whan messyre Iaques had redde the letter 〈◊〉 coude not be sacyat of redyng he took so grete playsyr
hym whiche was a fayre thynge to see ¶ And after sent hym to therle of flauÌ„ders whyche receyued hym wyth grete Ioye wyth grete honour fested hym two dayes and delyuerd to hym hys sone in his companye and sente hym to the doulphyn whan the doulphyn knewe theyr comyng he dyd do make redy to receyue hym and whan they were by a day Iourneye nygh vnto vyenne he rode oute wyth moche grete chyualrye receyued them with muche grete Ioye and playsyr eche made grete feste to other whyche were ouer longe to recounte Neuertheles tofore that the doulphyn came to the sone of she duc of bourgoyn hee hys wyf entred in to the chambre of vyenne to whome the doulphyn sayd Fayr doughter it was the play syr of god that I your moder were to gyder vij yere wythoute hauyng ony chylde and in the viij yere our lord comforted vs wyth you in whom we haue al our affectyon For we haue neyther sone ne doughter but onely you ne suppose neuer to haue so we truste that by you we haue one It is trewe â—hot so as god wyl and hath ordeyned we wyl assemble you to a moche honouble maryage the whiche to vs playseth moche for I ensure you the doughter of the Kynge of Fraunce hath moche desyred to haue hym that ye shal haue for god hath endowed hym with so moche good honour as hert of knyght may haue thus to the playsyr of god of the vyrgyn marye we haue made the maryage of the sone of the duke of bourgoyne of you wherfor we praye you that therto ye wyl gyue your good wylle playsyr and also that ye wyl haue the maryage agreable Thenne vyenne ansuerd to hyr fader Honourable fader lord I wote wel that thys that ye entende is for my wele prouffyt But not wythstondyng that I be in age for to marye that in thys maryage I shold receyue honour more than I am worthy Neuertheles I shal not yet be maryed for yf we haue not thys man yf it playse god we shal haue another as good or better And thynke ye not myn honourable lord that I say thys for ony excusacyon but it is sythen xv dayes that I haue be euyl dysposed of my persone the maladye that I haue causeth me to take noo playsyr for to be maryed For I haue auowed vnto god neuer to be maryed to thys man ne to none other as longe as I shal be in thys maladye ¶ Thenne thought the dolphyn that vyenne sayd it for shamefastnes Neuertheles he trauaylled hyr euery day wyth fayre wordes that she shold consente to thys maryage but it auaylled nothyng all that he dyd for the wylle of hir was more in parys than in ony man of the world THenne on the morne the sone of the duc of bourgoyne the sone of the erle of Flaunders entred in to the cyte of vyenne wherof the doulphyn had grete Ioye playsyr and thys feste endured wel fyftene dayes that they dyd no thynge but daunce synge and dyd other dyuers playsyrs and duryng thys feste the doulphyn sayd to the sone of the duke of bourgoyn to th ende that he shold thynke none euyl by cause he abode so longe or he myght espouse hys doughter ¶ Fayr sone I praye you byseche that ye take you to playsyr and Ioye And gryeue you noo thynge of thys longe abydyng here for certayn my doughter is so seke that vnnethe she may speke whyche doth to hyr grete desplaysyr and shame for fayn she wold be out of hyr chambre And thenne the sone of the duc of bourgoyn as he shat mente but good fayth byleued it lyghtly Neuertheles the doulphyn dyd nothyng nyÈt ne day but admonested hys doughter one tyme in fayr wordes and another tyme in menaces but in no wyse he coude make hys doughter to consente And comaunded that she shold nothyng haue but brede water and vyenne abode one day soo in thys manere and al thys dyd the doulphyn to th ende that she shold consente to the maryage and alwaye he dyd to hyr more harme payne vyenne was alwaye more harde and ferther fro hys desyre wherof the doulphyn had moche grete dysplaysyr and not wythoute cause seyng the Doulphyn that hys doughter was soo Indurate he thought that by somme good moyen he wold sende home ageyn the sone of the duc of bourgoyn for he doubted that yf he abode longe that this feat myght be dyscouerd and he gaf to hym fayr Iewellys and after sayd to hym Fayre sone I wyl that ye take noo desplaysyr in that I shal say to you Me semeth wel that at thys tyme this maryage may not goo forth of you and of my doughter for after that I see as me semethe the wylle of god is ferther than I wold at thys tyme For he wyl not that the maryage of you and of my doughter take now effecte wherfore I haue ryght grete desplaysyr in my hert onely for the loue of you Thenne the sone of the duc of bourgoyne seyng that at that tyme he myght doo noo thyng toke leue of the Doulphyn and retorned in to his contree by cause that Vyenne was not in helthe and promysed that assone as he myght knowe that she shold be hool he wold retorne for to accomplysshe the mariage lyke as the doulphyn had promysed to hym ¶ How the doulphyn dyd doo enprysonne vyeÌ„ne by cause that she wold not consente to the maryage to the sone of the duke of bourgoyne AFter certayn dayes that the sone of the Duke of bourgoyn was departed fro the cyte of vyenne the doulphyn for grete desplaysyr that he had dyd do come tofore hym the mayster Iayler of hys pryson and dyd doo make wythin hys paleys a lytel pryson derke and obscure and he dyd do put vyenne and ysabeau in to that pryson and commaunded that they shold haue nothyng to ete but brede and water and one damoysel in whome the dolphyn trusted shold brynge it to them And in thys manere vyenne ysabeau passyd theyr tyme in grete sorowe And thynke not that for thys pryson the hert of vyenne wold in ony wyse consente to the wylle of hyr fader but alway encreaced wyth hyr the wylle toward hir swete frende Parys and wyth swete wordes she comforted ysabeau sayeng My dere suster abasshe you not for thys derkenes for I haue confydence in god that ye shal haue yet moche welthe For my fayr suster It is a moche ryght ful thyng that for the good knyÈt parys whyche for me suffreth so moche payne that I suffre thys for hym and also I say to you that al the paynes of this world be nothyng greuous to me whan I thynke on hys swete vysage And in thys manere that one comforted that other in spekyng alle day of the valyaunte knyght Parys ¶ How the sone of the
to Parys that knewe no thynge of these tydynges NOw recounteth thystorye that parys was in babylone lyke as ye haue tofore herde whyche knewe noo thynge of thys fayte So it happed that by aduenture ij freres relygyous sought thyndulgences of the holy lande aryueden in babylone where they wold see the seygnorye the puyssaunce of the sowdan For thenne the sowdan helde hym in Babylone wyth moche grete puyssaunce These two freres were of these partyes whyche beyng in tho partyes it happed as they wente in the towne parys fonde them Thenne parys salewed them demaunded of these partyes and sayd to them in thys manere After that I haue herde say emonge you crysten men ye haue a Pope the whyche is moche stronge puyssaunt And also ye haue many kynges grete lordes so grete townes cytees and castellys that I haue merueyll how ye suffre that we that be not of your lawe haue the seygnorye of the holy lande whiche ought to apperteyne to you as ye say And whan the freres had herde Parys thus speke they were sore aferde And one of them ansuerd in the langage of moure For they wyst none other but parys was a moure so dyd al they of the contrey he sayd to hym Syr I byleue wel that ye haue herd say that in our partyes been assembled grete companyes of peple men of warre for to come in to thyse partyes by cause that our holy fader the Pope hath graunted oute a croysee and in the tyme whyles our men of warre assembled the kynge of fraunce whiche is the grettest of crystyente sente a noble baron whyche is named the doulphyn of vyennoys for to vysyte and espye these partyes Thenne he beyng in these partyes the souldan sette men in suche places where as the pylgryms were accustomed to passe And sodeynly he dyd do takâ— hym in a cyte named Ramon and after sente hym in to Alysandrye and there sette hym in an euyl pryson wherein I suppose that he be dede and thus for thys cause the fayt was dyscouerd Thenne sayd Parys how is that lord named Thenne sayd the frere he is named godefroy of Allaunson doulphyn of vyennoys And whan parys herde thys he was moche abasshed but he made noo semblaunter And thought in hys hert that hys aduenture myght yet come to good and effecte Thenne he demaunded them of many thynges and sayd to them that he wold more speke to them another tyme and demaunded them where they were lodged and they tolde hym more for drede than for loue for they thought he wold haue doon to them somme harme WHan Parys was departed fro the freres he was moche pens yf how and in what maner he myght goo in to Alexandrye for to see the doulphyn how he myght gete hym onte of pryson and so moche he thought on his fayte that he purposed to goo to the hostry where the freres were lodged and soo wente thyder whan the freres sawe hym they were sore aferde Thenne parys took them by the handes and ladde them to solace thurgh the cyte spekyng of many thynges alwaye in the langage of moure sayd to them I haue grete desyre to see that crysten knyght whiche is in alexandrye For I haue alwaye had good wylle to the crysten men peraduenture I myght yet wel helpe hym yf ye wyl come with me I promyse you by my lawe that I shal make you good chere doubte ye nothyng and thenne whan the freres herde hym thus speke they wyst not what to ansuer they had so grete fere Neuertheles they trustyng in the mercy of god they promysed hym that they shold goo wyth hym though they shold deye prayden god in theyr courage that he wold graunte grace that he myght come oute of pryson Thenne Parys had grete playsyr of the ansuer of the freres wende neuer to see the houre that he myght be wyth the doulphyn for to see the ende of his aduenture and so departed fro the fretes and wente strayte to the faulconner of the souldan wyth whom he had grete knowleche sayd to hym Seynour I thanke you of the grete honour curtosye gentylnes that ye haue do to me playse it you to wyte that I wyl departe fro hens in to alysandrye and I promyse to you that for your loue I shall not tarye longe but that I shal retorne hyther ageyn And by cause I am there vnknowen and that I neuer was there I praye you ryght humbly that I myÈt haue a maundement â—f the souldan that he commaunde to the gouernours that I may goo thorugh alle hys londe surely For ye knowe wel that one may not kepe hym ouer wel fro euyl peple Therfore I praye you and requyre that ye wyl gete me suche a maundement and also that ye wyl commaunde me humbly to the good grace of my lord the souldan and forthwyth the faulconner wente to the souldan and made hys requeste for Parys Incontynent the souldan graunted hym al hys desyre sayeng that it moche desplaysed hym of the departyng of parys yf he wold abyde dwelle in hys courte he wold make hym a grete lord Thenne the faulconner sayd Dere syr he hath promysed me that in short tyme he shal retorne Thenne the souldan dyd do make the maundement lyke as he wold deuyse chargyng al his lordes offycers subgettes of townes cytres castellys of his londe that they shold do to hym grete honour that they shold gyue delyuer to hym al that shold be necessarye to hym wythout takyng ony money or ony other thynge of hym And also the souldan gaf to Parys many ryche clothes vestymentes of cloth of gold and of sylke and also he gaf to hym grete tresour prayeng hym that he shold not longe tarye but hastely retorne ageyn promysed hym that he shold make hym a grete lord and delyuerd hys maundement the whyche was sealed wyth the propre seale of the souldan and sygned wyth hys owne hande WHan Parys had receyued alle these thynges that the souldan had gyuen to hym he took leue of hym and of hys courte went with the freres in to Alexandrye Incontynent after he was comen he shewed the maundement to the admyral the whyche anon after he had seen it dyd grete honour to Parys and delyuerd to hym a fayr lodgyng pourueyed of al thynges necessarye and delyuerd another to the freres Thadmyral came euery day to see parys in hys lodgyng for to do hym honour and companye and wente rode to gyder thorugh the cyte and by cause that Parys was rychely clad euery man made to hym grete honour and sayd that he semed wel to be the sone of soÌ„me grete moure And on a day as they rode in the cyte they passed forth by the toure where as the dolphyn was in pryson ¶ Thenne Parys demaunded of the admyral what toure it was that was so
and mantellys and towellys WHan al was redy parys wente to the kepars of the pryson and sayd I thanke you many tymes of the playsyrs that ye haue doon to me I wyl now departe fro hens for to retorne to my lord the souldan but for your loue I wyl soupe wyth you thys nyght and praye yow that we may soupe to gyder they ansuerd that it wel pleased them for his loue Thenne Parys sente for the vytayll for the wyn and after it was come they souped to gyder And the kepars which had not been accustomed to drynke wyn dranke so moche that they alle were dronke Incontynent lâ—yed them doun to slepe slepte so faste that for noo thyng they coude not awake them whan parys sawe that he sayd to the freres that they shold vnfeter the doulphyn that they shold opene the yates of the pryson yf ony of the kepars awake I shal slee hym Thenne the freres began to vnfetere the doulphyn wyth grete drede prayeng god to be theyr ayde and helpe And whan the doulphyn was loos he cladde hym lyke a moure After Parys slewe alle the kepars one after another by cause yf they awoke they shold not come after them THys doon the doulphyn wyth parys and his varlet and the two freres camen to the porte and hastely entred in to the fuste which was al redy and wonde vp theyr saylle and by the helpe of god began so fast to saylle that wyth in fewe dayes they arryueden in a place that thenne was crysten and there the doulphyn wente a londe by cause he was moche greued and annoyed as wel of the see as for the harme that he had suffred in pryson and there borowed money and fro thens came in to cypres where was a kyng whyche had dwellyd in the courte of the kyng of fraunce The whiche as sone as he knewe that the doulphyn of vyennoys was come he went to mete hym and prayed hym that he wold come and lodge in hys paleys And the doulphyn wente thyder wherof the kyng had grete Ioye there he made hym grete chyere for many tymes they had seen eche other in the kynges court of Fraunce and after the kyng demaunded hym of his aduenture the doulphyn recounted it to hym al alonge and bycause of the comyng of the doulphyn he made moche grete feste and receyued hym moche hyely and made hym to soiourne there as longe as it playsed hym And whan the doulphyn had sojourned there at his playsyr he took leue of the kyng and of al hys courte thankyng hym moche of the grete playsyr that he had doon to hym The kyng seyng that the doulphyn wold departe he gaf to hym grete yeftes and dyd do arme two galleyes whyche accompanyed hym and brought hym vpon the see and had soo good wynde that in fewe dayes after they brought hym in to aygues mortes WHan the doulphyn was arryued the knyghtes of the doulphyne herde it anone and forthwyth maad them redy went to horsback mette wyth hym at aygues mortes there receyued hym in grete honour so came forth the ryÈt waye to vyenne and for Ioye of hys comyng al they of the cyte made a moche noble and meruayllous feste whyche endured wel fyftene dayes the playsyr Ioye was so grete emonge them by cause they had recouuerd theyr lord that noo man shold and coude haue thought it Parys in alle this wyse neuer chaunged hys vesture ne clothyng but contynuelly wente to masse and by the commaundement of the doulphyn the people dyd hym grete reuerence honour so moche that parys was ashamed therof and spake noo thynge but mouryske And he had a grete berde and made to noo persâ—ne of the world ony knowleche and after a whyle of tyme the doulphyn for taccomplysshe that he had promysed to parys by the frere dyd do say to parys and do demaunde yf he wold haue the seygnourye of hys londe and contree For he was al redy for taccomplysshe that whyche he had promysed And Parys made to hym ansuer that he shold kepe stylle hys londe Thenne the doulphyn dyd do demauÌ„de hym yf he wold haue hys doughter vyenne and parys made the frere to say ye for that pleased hym wel And thenne they wente to hyr ¶ Thenne whan they were tofore Vyenne the frere spake first Madame ye knowe wel that my lord your fader hath ben a grete whyle in pryson and yet shold haue been ne had haue been thys moure whyche hath saued hym puttyng hys persone in ryght grete peryl and daunger for the loue of my lord your fader And thus ye may wel knowe how moche he is holden to hym by cause herof your fader is subget to hym euer wherfore your fader prayeth you that vpon al the playsyr that ye wyl doo for hym that ye wyll take hym for your husbond And he shal pardonne all the desplaysyr that euer ye dyd to hym whan the frere had fynysshed his wordes vyenne ansuerd to hym sayeng The bysshop of saynt laurence knoweth wel that is here present that it is longe syth that yf I â—â—old haue be maryed I myght haue ben maryed wyth more honour vnto my fader than vnto this moure for the sone of the duc of borgoyne had espoused me yf I wold haue consented but god hath put me in suche a maladye that I may not longe lyue in this world euery day my maladye encreaceth so enpayreth me that I am half roten wherfor I praye you to say to my fader that he holde me excused for at thys tyme I wyl not be maryed Thenne they took theyr leue of vyenne recounted alle thys to the doulphyn TheÌ„ne the doulphyn sayd to the frere that he shold say it to the moure so the frere tolde it al to parys and thenne parys which was aferde to lese the loue of vyenne wente for to see hyr in the pryson with the frere the bysshop of saynt laurence Thenne whan Parys sawe vyenne in that dysposycyon he had moche grete sorowe grete merueylle and thenne he made the frere to salewe hyr in hys name and vyenne ansuerd vnto hys gretyng ryght curtoysly the frere sayd in the name of parys Madame ye knowe wel I haue delyuerd your fader oute of pryson wherof ye ought to haue synguler playsyr yet he shold haue been there yf I had not haue been and holpen hym oute he pardonneth you with good hert and good wylle alle the desplaysyrs that euer ye dyd ageynst hys playsyr And prayeth you that ye take me for your husbond and wyll that we haue the lordshyp of the doulphyne and therfor I praye you that neyther ye nor I lose not thys honour ¶ And yet more though thys were not ye ought not to dysobeye the commaundementes of your fader ¶ And thenne vyenne ansuerd to the frere
excuse hyr tofore hyr fader and tolde how she was pure and clene of hyr body NOw sayth â—hystory that whan Vyenne was comen tofore hyr fader the doulphyn he made toward hyr heuy and euyll â—here But not wythstondyng Vyenne kneled doun on bothe hyr knees to the erthe sayeng and in wepyng Redoubted fader I see wel and knowe in my self that I haue mesprysed and faylled toward you wherof I haue grete desplaysyr Neuertheles folysshe loue hath enforced me to loue hym whyche is wel worthy to be byloued of the moost grettest lady of the Royame of fraunce allewaye seen the noblenes that is in hym For I wene that in alle the world is none to hym lyke ne pareylle ¶ And also I thynke that I am not the first that haue trespaced by semblable reasons wherfore redoubted fader I am in your mercy and take of me vengeaunce suche as shal playse you and to me chastysement and example to other Neuerthâ—les I wyl wel that ye knowe and that I â—swere by my soule that I am as pure and clene of my body as I was â–ª that day that I departed fro hens And loo here is the chapelayn whyche can say to you the trouthe And thenne the chapelayn tolde how she came wyth in men of whom that one was a moche fayre knyght yonge curtoys the whyche I byleue is drowned in passyng a ryuer And they were in myn hous and the two damoyselles slept to gyder in the chyrche and the knyght slepte wyth me And the other two slepte in the stable with the horses Thenne whan the doulphyn herde these tydynges he had ryÈt grete playsyr of which he made noo semblaunte and gaf to the chapelayn moche money gâ—â—te yeftes and bad hym retorne ¶ After the doulphyn took vyenne by the hande in repreuyng hyr moche gretely and lad hyr in to hyr moders chambre wyth ysabeau for hir moder was seke of the grete sorowe that she had for hyr doughter and there the moder blamed them bothe two And ysabeau sayd that vyenne was as pure and clene of hyr body as she was the day that she departed Alas sayd the doulphyn thou hast put vs in the moost grettest shame of the world And I promyse that alle they that haue consented therto shal be wel punysshed â—nd in especyal that euyl traytre Parys whych is cause of al thys fayte and yf euer I may haue hym I shal make dogges deuoure hym and also bothe ye tweyne shal suffre therfore grete penytence Thenne sayd vyenne wepyng I see wel and knowe that ye haue entenâ—ion to do to me moche gryef and harm and I see wel that my lyf shal not longe endure Therfore I swere to you in good fayth that there is noo man in the world that I so moche loue as I doo hym whom ye so menace and thretene For in hym I haue my thought courage wythoute euer to faylle hym and yf ye shortly gyue to me my penaunce so moche shortly shal be my deth And yf ye suffre me to endure it longe so moche more shal I bere it and my soule shal be the more sure to fore almyghty god knowe ye for certayn that for hym and hys loue I am redy to deye TheÌ„ne the doulphyn yssued out of the chambre in grete Indygnacyon and commaunded that the fader of Parys shold be put in an euyl pryson And that al hys goodes shold be taken fro hym And also that vyenne ysabeau shold be enclosed in a chambre and that wel lytell mete shold be gyuen to them and moche he menaced and thretened them and thus they abode a longe tyme in that chambre and contynuelly Vyenne dremed of Parys ¶ And whan she myght haue ony space to speke to Edward felowe of Parys she requyred hym that he shold serche yf he myght haue ony tydynges of parys and that he shold lete hyr knowe therof ¶ In thys maner vyenne passed hyr tyme in grete sorowe in grete thought alle waye desyryng for to here somme tydynges of that noble knyght Parys WHan Vyenne had ben a grete tyme in thys manere The doulphyn bythought hym that thenne hys doughter Vyenne had been wel chastysed ¶ And thennne the Doulphyn fader of Vyenne ordeyned that she came oute of pryson And theÌ„ne he purposed to gyue to hyr an husbond and sette hyr in hyr fyrst estate wherof alle the courte was moche Ioyous and in especyal Edward felowe of Parys ¶ And after certayn tyme the doulphyn wrote to the Erle of Flaunders that he wold doo marye hys doughter vyeÌ„ne wherupon he requyred hym that he wold gyue to hym counceyll in thys mater For it was vnto hym chargeable And duryng the tyme that vyenne was oute of pryson hyr herte was neuer in reste but euer she was heuy and sorouful for hyr swete and faythful frende parys whome she myght not see and knewe not whether he were dede or a lyue And whan the doulphyn sawe hyr so heuy On a day he sayd to hyr My swete doughter wherfore be ye so sorouful gyue your self to playfyr For as to me I remembre nomore the thynges passed And there is noo thynge in the world that ye demaunde me but I shal doo it for you And thenne vyeÌ„ne whyche had not forgeten Parys sayd to hym Honourable fader yf I were sure of the thynges passed that they were forgoten by you I shold be more sure than I am but I byleue fermely that ye haue them yet in your remembraunce For ye holde alwaye messyre Iaques in pryson the fader of Parys whyche is not culpable of ony parte of thys dede ne cause And yf ye wold do to me soo moche grace that ye wold pardonne hym and rendre to hym al hys goodes thynges I shold be moche Ioyous And the doulphyn for the playsyr of hys doughter sayd to hyr that it wel playsed to hym and Incontynt the doulphyn dyd do delyuer messyre Iaques out of pryson and dyd do retorne to hym al hys goodes and thynges that had be taken from hym wherof messyre Iaques had grete playsyr for yf he had abyden lengâ—r in pryson he had be dede for hungre for there was none that comforted hym but edward whiche comforted hym the best wyse he myght gaf to hym dayly that whyche was necessarye for hys lyf whan vyenne knewe that messyre Iaques was oute of pryson she was moche Ioyeful and had grete playsyr Neuertheles al the consolacyon of vyenne was whan she myght speke wyth edward of hyr loue Parys And thus she passed hyr tyme in ryght grete payne and heuynesse the beste wyse she myght WHan the Erle of flaunders had redde the letters of the doulphyn vnderstood that he wold marye his doughter vyeÌ„ne whych was of the age ef xv yere he trayted that she shold haue of two barons that one that is to wete the sone of the kyng of englond or the sone of the duke