am a lytel crased and sodeynly taken wherfore yf it playse you I wold fayne reste a lytel in this chambre and late me be alle allone wyth my suster ysabeau for I wyl haue none other and anone eche body auoyded oute of the chambre and ysabeau dyd shytte the dore that none myght come in ¶ Thenne sayd vyenne now we shal see yf we may fynde ony thynge that we may haue better knowleche of For myn herte sayth yes After that they had serched and vysyted alle the chambre they cam on a syde of the chambre where they fonde a lytel dore of whyche henge a lytel keye by a thwonge and anone they opened the dore and entred therin And there was a lytel chambre whyche was xij foot longe and was an oratorye where as was the mageste of our Lord Ihesu Cryst vpon a lytel aulter and at eche corner was a canstyke of syluer and thyder cam Parys for to make hys sacrefyse whan he aroos and whan he wente to hys bedde ¶ And there were the thre baners that the noble knyght Parys had wonne in the cyte of Parys And the thre Iewellys of the thre damoyselles afore sayd And in the same place was also the shelde of Crystal and the garlond that Vyenne delyuerd to hym whan he waÌ„ne the prys at the Ioustes in the cyte of vyenne And all these he kepte secrete in that place And whan vyenne sawe these thynges she was sure that Parys was he whome she had so moche desyred to knowe and that soo moche honour had doon to hyr and for the grete Ioye that she had she sette hyr doun on the grounde and there abode a grete whyle and coude not speke a word And after she spake to ysabeau sayd my swete syster blessyd and preysed be our lord of thys good Iourney For me thynketh I shold neuer departe oute of thys chambre Alas I haue so longe abyden to knowe who he was that so swetely played in his Instrumentes so nygh vnto me and now he is so ferre thenne ysabeau began to repreue hyr and sayd to hyr Swete lady I praye you that ye say ne do ony thyng whiche myght torne you to folye and be ye ruled by wysedom and reason For not wythstondyng that parys haue so moche good vertues yet ye ought to consyder that he is not â—gal to you in lygnage ne in estate For I knowe wel that many noble puyssaunt lordes haue demaunded you in maryage loue you do grete thynges for you and also thonour of Parys whyche is your vayssal and subget is not egall ne worthy vnto you ¶ Thenne vyenne was moche angry on ysabeau and began to say A veray god I am wel dyscomforted and deceyued by the that thus agayn sayest me of hym that I so longe haue desyred to knowe Alas I had supposed that in noo thyng ye wold haue dysplaysed me And in good fayth I say to the that this man I wyl loue and demaunde and I promyse the in good fayth that yf thou ony more gaynsaye me I shal slee my self and thenne thou shalt be causâ— of my deth For I wyl not lese hym that I haue so longe loued but I say to the for trouthe that yf thou euer say to me suche wordes of my frende parys that thou shalt neuer after haue space to say them ageyn another tyme for yf thou consyderest wel hys noble condycyons and custommes thou sholdest preyse hym better than thou doost And knowest thou not wel that the kyng of frauÌ„ce wold that it had coste hym half hys Royame that hys sone Lowys were as valyaunte as parys is ¶ And also there be many notable lordes that desyre to knowe his namâ— and to haue hys amytye ¶ Thenne take hede and byholde by my fayth yf euer thou sawe man that myght be compared to hym certaynly alle vertues been in hym And sythe that fortune hath brought me to hys loue he is worthy to haue my loue and yet more than is in me And haue I not reason cause theÌ„ne to loue hym whyche hath doon to me so grete good and honour and doubtyng noo peryl of hys persone and is it not wel grete worshyp to my fader to haue for vaissal and subget the beste knyght that is in all the world For in alle the world is noo knyght that I wold forsake parys fore ne oone that hath doon so moche for me And thus to speke of the feates of Parys she doude not stynte ¶ Thenne came two damoyselles knockyng at the chambre dore sayeng Vyenne ye must come to my lady And ysabeau sprange oute sayeng that she shold come anone And vyeÌ„ne seyng that she must nedes departe fro thens sayd to ysabeau My suster syth we must departe hens late vs take somme of these Iewellys and we shal kepe them secretly tyl that Ptrys be comen and we shal see what countenaunce he shal make in hym self ¶ Thenne they took the colyer and the whyte baner of vyenne and other Iewellys and hydde them vnder theyr clothes and wente in to the chambre of messyre Iaques but vyenne desyred gretely to speke with pariâ— and thought longe or he came home And in the mene whyle messire Iaques recouerd of his maladye and bycam alle hool wherof Vyenne had grete Ioye but she durst not shewe it ¶ How Parys and Edward retorned oute of braband AFter certeyn tyme that Parys had be in Braband wyth hys felowe Edward he desyred strongely to see the fayr vyenne For the loue of hyr destrayned hym moche strongly ¶ Neuertheles he durst not telle it to hys felowe to th ende that he shold take noo dysplaysyr of hys departyng And sone after the space of v dayes Parys receyued a letter that hys fader was seek theÌ„ne he sayd to Edward Ryght dere brother felowe pleseth it you to wete that my fader is sore seke me semeth it were good that we departed yf ye consente but I praye you that ye take noo desplayryr in thys departyng for yf it playse god we shal sone retorne And edward seyng the Iuste reason of Parys and hys good wylle sayd to hym that he was wel content plesyd wherfore Incontynente they departed oute of braband and came in to the cyte of vyenne of whos comyng messyr Iaques had souerayn playsyr specyally by cause he had herde that Parys hys sone had doon valyauntly feates of armes ¶ Now it happed that whan Parys was arryued at home wyth hys fader lyke as he was accustomed Allewaye tofore or he wente to hys â—edde he wente to make hys orysons and prayers and after he aduysed yf he lacked ony thynge and fonde that tho thynges that he loued beste were taken awaye wherof he was moche angry and quasi half in despayr in suche wyse that alle the nyght he coude not slepe And whan it came iâ— the mornyng he came to hys moder and sayd Moder how
for to gete honour I now see you al chaunged syn ye took acqueyntaunce wyth thys bysshop for lothe I were to see you bycome a man of relygyon as I fere he wyl brynge you to and ryght wrothe I am that ye were not at that noble and ryal tournoyment that hath be holden in vyenne for the sake of alle the ladyes of thys londe wherfore dere sone I praye you to take hede to your self that ye lese not your good renommee your worshyp ne the praysyng also that ye gate afore tyme and that ye spende not your yongthe in yoâ—enesse And Parys heryng alle thys ansuerd noo thyng to hys fader but abode stylle pensyfâ—â—ll thynkyng on the beaute of vyeÌ„ne NOw sayth thystorye that as ye haue herde aboue a grete stryf befyl emong the knyghtes aforesayd for the loue of the thre damoyseâ—les afore sayd For the erles sone of Flaundres was gretely wrothe for thys cause wyth the Duc of brennes and had beten hurte sore eche other so that none myÈt make the pees betwyxte theym For eyther of hem mayntened bare oute the beaute of his lady ¶ It happed thenne that fyue knyghtes hardy and valyaunte came forth the whyche sayd that they were redy to fyght and for to proue by force of armes that Florye the dukes doughter of Normandye was the fayrest damoysel of alle the world And Incontynent stert vp fyue other knyghtes that said mayntened that couâ—taunce the kynges syster of englond was the fayrest And forthwyth other v knyghtes rose vp that mayntened and vphelde the beaute of vyenne aboue alle other wymmen in the world in so moche that thys debute cam to the knowleche of the kyng of Fraunce whiche sayd that herof myght growe a grete trouble and dyscorde emong his barons other lordes Soo sente he worde to them that they shold come toward hym and that he shold gyue suche a sentence vpon theyr stryf that they al shold be therof contente the whyche message pâ—â—sed them wel and came 〈◊〉 toward hym assone as they myght And whan they were come tofore the kyng they spake of theyr stryf But anone the kyng ordeyned a Ioustes for the louâ— of the sayd thre ladyes made his mâ—undement that they al shold coâ—e wyth theyr armes and hors for to Iouste the viij day of septembre in the cyte of parys and they that shold do best in armes at that day they shold haue the prys the worshyp of the feste and the lady on whos beaute they helde with shold be reputed and holden for the fayrest damoysel of alle the world The kyng of Fraunce thenne sente worde to the faders of the forsayd thre ladyes prayeng them to come atte same feste and that eyther of them shold brynge wyth hym a present of rychesse the which thre presentes shold be yeuen in the worshyp of their thre doughters to the best doer in armes in token of vyctorye And thus the kyng of englond fyrst sent for hys syster Constauâ—ce a fayre crowne of gold alle sette wyth perlys and precyous stones of grete value The duc of Normandye for loue of hys doughter Florye sente a ryght fayre garlond sette wyth dyuers perlys precyous stones moche ryche and of grete extymacyon And the daulphyn for loue of hys doughter vyenne sente a moche ryche coler of gold al enuyronned wyth precyous stones of dyuers colours the whiche was worth a ryght grete tresour And these thre Iewellys were delyuerd to the kynge of Fraunce The forsayd knyghtes thenne made them redy and apparaylled al thynges accordyng to the Ioustes in ryche araye came al to the cyte of Parys and wete ye wel that in Fraunce was not seen afore that day so grete noblesse of barons and knyghtes as were there assembled for there were the moost hye prynces barons of englond of Fraunce and of Normandye and eyther of them dyd sette al hys wytte and enâ—endement to vpholde and bere oute that they had purposed and sayd and euery baron gaf hys lyuerey that they shold be knowen eche fro other the bruyt renoÌ„me was that my lady constaunce shold haue thonour of that feste for thys that many a fayre and hardy knyght made them redy to mayntene the quarelle of hyr beaulte but neuertheles eyther of these thre partyes hoped to haue the worshyp of the feste parys that was in vyenne the cyte and that wel knewe the grete apparaylle of thys feste took counceyl of Edward hys felawe whether he shold goo to parys or not And Edward counceylled hym to goo thyder so that he wente secretly sayd yf ye goo thyder secretly and yf god gyue you grace that ye gete the worshyp of the feste grete wele good shal come to you therby and yf ye goo and be knowen the. daulphyn and the other lordes shal not preyse you soo moche as they shold yf ye were vnknowen for cause that ye be not of so grete lygnage as they be another is yf ye goo openlÌ„y and that my lady vyenne happeth to haue thonour of the feste by your prowesse she shal nought be sette by consyderyng the other grete lordes that shal be there procedyng your degree yf she gete the worshyp of the feste by a knyght vnknowen the loue and honour shal growe the more in hyr courage toward hym that thus hath doon for hyr sake wherfore I counceyl you to goo thyder in the moost secretest wyse that ye may for my truste is that ye shal gete grete worshyp there and but yf ye goo truste me I shal make my self redy to goo thyder for you For I wyl be lothe to sâ—e the beaulte of my lady vyeÌ„ne to be rebuked At these wordes graunted Parys to goo to the sayd Ioustes and whan he was redy haâ—â— al thynges accordyng to a noble knyght he departed in the secretest manere that he myght toward the cyte of parys whâ—re as the kyng of Fraunce maad grete prouysyon of alle maner metes and of al other thynges necessarye to suche a ryal feâ—te And in the myddes of the cyte of parys he ordeyned the place where the knyghtes shold Iouste and dyd doo make many fayre scaffoldes for the ladyes and damoyselles to be sette on for to be holde the Ioustyng Also he dyd do make thre baners ful fayre and ryche the fyrst baner was whyt and there was wryton vpon hit in letters of gold vyenne doughter to my lord godfroy of alenson daulphyn of vyennoys the second baner was rede and was wryton theron in letters of gold Constaunce the kynges syster of englond The thyrd baner was whyt and in letters of gold was wryton theron Florye doughter to the duc oâ— norâ—andye and these iij baners were pyght vp at the thre cornes of the felde and wete ye that so grete prees was there that the peple took theyr place vpon the scaffoldes ij dayes afore the feste for to see the
as to the persone of Parys sayeng I knowe well that ye haue delyuerd my fader oute of pryson Not wythstondyng my fader shal haue suche regarde ageynst you that ye shal lese noo thynge ¶ And I wote wel that ye be a man of grete lygnage are thorthy to haue a gretter lady than I am But the bysshop of seynt Laurence whyche is present knoweth wel that for the maladye that I am in I may not longe lyue theÌ„ne sayd the frere in his name this is by cause I am a moure that ye refuse me I promyse you that I shal become crysten but I thynke wel that yf ye knewe who that I am and what I haue lefte for to brynge your fader oute of pryson that ye wold preyse me more than ye doo knowe ye for certeyn that your fader shal be pariured for he hath promysed that ye shal be my wyf wherof ye shal haue blame therfore yf it playse you graunte ye hym hys wylle Thenne sayd vyenne lord I haue herd say moche good of you that ye be he that haue doon so moche for my fader but neuertheles in the maladye in the whyche I am none ought to counceyl me to take an husbond For my lyf may not longe endure and by cause that ye may knowe that I say trouth approche ye ner to me ye shal fele and smelle in what dysposycyon I am of my persone And thenne they approuched ner to hyr and vyenne had put two quarters of an henne vnder hyr two arme hooles and there yssued so grete stenche that the bysshop ne the frere myght not suffre it Neuertheles the â–ª stynche was to parys a good odour for he smellyd it not sayd I wote not what ye smelle for I fele none euyl sauour And they meruaylled strongely by cause he felte not the odour And the frere sayd in parys name For this odour shal I neuer leue you I assure you I shal neuer departe fro hens vntyl ye haue consented to that your fader wyl and vyenne answerd moche angrely sayd by the fayth that I owe to god I shal rather reÌ„ne wyth my hede ayenst the waâ—â—e that I shal make my brayn yssue oute of my mouth so shal ye be the occasyon of my dethe TheÌ„ne sayd the frere ye shal not so doo madame For I promyse you fro hens forth that I shal neuer speke more to you sythe that it is not your wylle ne plesyr but atte leste of one thyng I praye you that this nyght ye aduyse you and I shal retorne to morn for to haue of you an ansuer and ye shal take counceyll of your felowe and I praye to god that ye may be wel counceylled and alle these thynges sayd the frere in the name of parys to vyenne And after they took theyr leue of vyenne and sayd alle to the doulphyn wherof he was thenne moche dyspleased and bad the frere to telle it alle vnto Parys for to excuse hym and that he shold not leye the blame on hym ¶ And whan they were departed fro vyenne she sayd to ysabeau My fayr suster what semeth you of the wysedom of my fader that thynketh that I shold take thys moure to my husbond and haue refused the sone of the Duke of bourgoyne but god forbede that euer in my lyf I haue other lord than Parys to myn husbond whome I hope yet to haue ysabeau sayd Certes Madame I wote not what to say of your fader whyche wold gyue you to a moure in maryage I haue therof grete thought for he hath sayd that he shal retorne to morn to see you and hath sayd that ye shold remembre and aduyse you ¶ How Parys came to see vyenne in the pryson and how she knewe hym ANd on the morn betymes Parys cladde hym moche more rychely than he had be accustomed gyrde wyth a moche ryche swerde and came to the pryson with the frere and the frere sayd to hyr Madame we been retorned for to knowe your good answer and your entencyon And vyenne ansuerd lordes myn entencyon is that I shal neuer breke my promesse that I haue made For I haue auowed that I shal neuer take husbond ne goo oute of this pryson but dede sauf hym to whome I haue promysed and therfore retorne ye in good tyme ¶ Thenne sayd the frere by my fayth I wote not what to say for it is grete dommage that ye suffre so moche sorowe payne and syth it is thus your wylle that ye wyl none otherwyse do Neuertheles the moure prayeth you that it may playse you to do to hym so moche grace that syth ye wyl not take hym in maryage that ye wyl were thys rynge for the loue of hym Now thys rynge was the same rynge that vyenne gaf to parys whan he departed fro hyr in the how 's of the chappelayn and vyenne by cause they shold nomore come ageyn took the rynge whan she had receyued the rynge parys sayd to the frere I praye you that ye tarye a lytel wythoute For I wyl see what countenaunce she wyl make of the rynge and the frere sayd gladly Neuertheles he meruaylled moche and Incontynent the frere wente onte and vyenne began to beholde the rynge and whan parys sawe that vyenne byhelde the rynge so strongely he began to speke in hys playne tongue and sayd O moche noble lady why be ye so moche admeruayled of that rynge Thenne sayd vyenne Certes to my semyng I sawe neuer a fayrer ¶ Thenne sayd parys Therfore I praye you that ye take therin playsyr for the more that ye byholde it the more ye shal prayse it WHan Vyenne herde the moure thus speke theÌ„ne she was more admeruaylled than tofoâ—â— and was as a persone al abasshed and sayd Alas am I enchaunted what is thys that I see and here speke And in sayeng these wordes she wold haue fledde for fere oute of the pryson by cause she herde the moure so speke thenne sayd parys O moche noble lady vyenne meruaylle ye noo thynge ne haue ye noo doubte lo here is parys your true seruaunte and vyenne was theÌ„ne abasshed more than tofore Certes sayd she this may not be but by werke enchaunted parys sayd Noble lady hit is none enchaunted werke For I am your seruaunt parys whyche lefte you with ysabeau in suche a chyrche there ye gaf to me the dyamond whiche now I haue delyuerd to you and there ye promysed to me that ye wold neuer take husbond but me and be ye noo thynge admeruaylled of the berde ne of the vesture that I were for they take awaye the knowleche of me many other wordes sayd parys to vyenne by whyche she knewe clerely that he was parys and for the souerayn loue that she bare to hym for the grete Ioye that she had she began to wepe in hys armes and tembrace
many noble knyghtes barons yf ye had goten there the iij baners whyche I haue seen in your oratorye I praye you that ye telle to me yf ye haue doon to me suche seruyce for suche thynges ye ought not to hyde And yf by aduenture ye haue doon them for the loue of my fader or of hys courte we be moche holden to you be bouÌ„den to thanke you And yf by aduenture for ony lady or for the loue of me ye haue doon it I thanke you as moche as I may and it is wel reason that ye therfore be rewarded And yet sayd Vyenne to Parys knowe ye for trouthe that it is long sythe that I haue desyred to knowe yet desyre strongely to knowe it wherfore yf ye wyl do me ony playsyr I praye you that ye say to me the trouthe wythout leuyng of ony onely thynge or word THeÌ„ne sayd parys moche humbly with grete shamefastnes that he had to vtter the folye that he had enter prysed Ryght honourable and fayr lady I am not worthy to be named hym whiche hath doon thys whyche it hath pleased you to demaunde of me but notwythstondyng that I be a man of lytel estate I humbly supplye you that in caas ye shal fynde dysplaysyr in my wordes that it playse you to pardonne me and that ye take noo dysplaysyr in that I shal say for your noblesse shal not be the lasse in valure For my caas enforceth me to say that whyche is to me folye to thynke Thenne Parys al shamefast and in grete reuerence knelyng vpon hys knee sayd Ryght worshypful damoysel parys your Indigne seruaunt is he of whome ye haue spoken demaunded shal to you obeye and serue in al thynges that ye haue me demaunded For sythe that I haue had ony rememberaunce my wylle my thought hath be submysed to your persone and shal be as longe as I shal lyue Thenne sayd vyenne Parys my swete frende it is not now tyme that I make ansuer to your wordes for it shold be ouerlonge to recounte But that not wythstondyng I wyl wel that ye knowe that your loue destrayneth me so strongely that there is no thynge in the world that I loue soo moche as you wherfore abyde in good hope Ioyously for yf it playse god ye shal sâ—e that thâ—s whyche I saâ— shal be trewe Thenne sayd parys Madame who may thynke the Ioyouste in whyche I am by your ansuer whiche is to me ryght swete For I neuer supposed to haue had so swete an ansuer of you but for to haue endured in payne in languysshyng For not onely to me but vnto a kyng shold be ouer moche to haue your loue I praye god that I may doo suche thynges as may be to you playsaunt and that I neuer lyue to do to you thynge that shold desplayse you ne torne you to melancolye thus departed that one fro that other in gretter loue than tofore and took terme to see eche other ageyn as hastely as they myght and vyenne retorned more Ioyously than she shewed and wente in to hyr moders chambre and after the bysshop departed parys accompanyed hym vnto his paleys and took leue of hym retorned home vnto hys faders lodgyng after tolde to edward hys felowe alle the parlament that he had had wyth vyenne Edward sayd to hym fayre brother and frende herein is no Iape ne truffes but I praye you that ye do your thynges secretly for there ben many false tonges And Vyenne was moche more Ioyous than she had ben accustomed and Parys also And the sayd Parys edward hys felowe made grete chyualryes dyd grete armes whyche were moche playsaunt to the fayre vyenne Thenne it happed that after certeyn tyme seyng the dolphyn that hys doughter was come to xv yere of age treated for to gyue to hyr an husbond And many tymes he had ben requyred of many noble prynces but by cause he had but hyr onely and no moo sones ne doughters vnnethe he wold consente And in treatyng thus of maryage Parys herde somme thynges wherof he was sore ennoyed in hym self and thought why thynke not I to haue this noble lady whyche is so moche desyred of so many noble prynces barons and sore bewaylled hym self and dyd soo moche that he spake to vyenne and sayd O swete Vyenne where is your fayr and agreable promesse that ye made to me whan I departed fro you and how may it be that your fader speketh for to marye you WHan vyenne herde Parys speke in thys manere she sayd to hym parys yf my fader speke to me of maryage it is noo grete meruaylle for I may not deffende hym Neuertheles I haue not consented to ony maryage And ye knowe wel that maryage is nothyng worth wythout the consentyng of bothe partyes wherfore I praye you to be contente for I promyse to you that I shal neuer haue man in mariage but you and I wold that it shold be shortly accomplysshed yf it pleased god honestly Iustly and not in synne ne in ordure Therfore I wyl that ye assaye one thynge which shal be moche dyffycyle to doo and ryght peryllous but neuertheles it byhoâ—eth that it be doon theÌ„ne sayd Parys honourable lady that whyche shal playse you to commaunde me I shal accomplisshe it with good hert though I shold deye thanne sayd Vyenne I wyl that Incontynent ye say to your fader that he goo to my lord my fader and requyre hym that he gyue me in maryage to you and that herein ther be no deffaute whan Parys herde the wylle desyre of vyenne he was quasi al abasshed sayd Ryght honourable lady how wyl ye that I deye thus I praye you yf it playse you that it be not doo Thenne vyeÌ„ne sayd sette ye so lytel by me that ye wyl not enterpryse this Alas where is your entendement Certes it must nedes be doon Incontynent Parys ansuerd worshypfull lady sythe it playseth you I shal accomplysshe your coÌ„mandement though I shold deye therfore an hondred thousand tymes thus took leue of vyenne and wente to hys fader Incontynent and sayd to hym Dere fader alwaye ye haue shewed to me grete loue wherfore I byseche al myÈty god that he rewarde you lyke as I desyre Dere honourable fader I wold praye you of one thynge and by cause it is doubtous I wyl that ye promyse it to me tofore I say it to you for ellys I wyl not say it vnto you hys fader sayd to hym My sone there is nothyng in the world that I may doo for the but I shal accomplysshe it by the grace of god therfor say to me thy playsyr wylle thenne parys tolde to hys fader a parte of the pryuete and promesse that he had wyth vyenne by cause he shold wyth the letter wylle doo that whyche he wold requyre hym Thenne
to hym possyble wyth ryghtâ— good hert thenne Parys sayd to hym knowe ye for cartayn that I haue wrath rancour to a man of thys toâ—â—ne for certayn desplaysyr that he hath doon to me wherfor I wyl slee hym and Incontynent as I haue slayne hym I wyl departe out of the royame of Fraunce wherfore I praye you that ye wyl goo to Aygues mortes that ye there make redy a galeye furnysshed of al thynges necessarye tyl that we be arryued there as we wold be And also I praye you that ye doo ordeyne fro hens to aygues mortes fro v myle to v myle alwaye good horses redy to th ende that we may surely refresshe vs yf it be nede also I wyl that ye do thys as secretly as ye may and loo here is money ynough for to furnysshe these sayd thynges George sayd I shal doo al thys gladly And Incontynent made hym redy whan he came to aygues mortes he hyred a galeye and establisshed al the passages and dyd wel al that parys had charged hym came ageyn and tolde to parys how he had pourueyed al that he had charged hym wherof parys was moche Ioyous anone parys wente and tolde to Vyenne that alle thynges that she had comaunded were doon And theÌ„ne they concluded that the nexte nyght folowyng that at a certeyn houre eche of them shold be redy theÌ„ne he took leue of hyr and wente home and bad George to take two hors out of hys stable and that he shold sadle them and abyde hym wythoute the cyte in a certayn place tyl he shold come Edward the felowe of Parys wyste noo thynge of alle thys wherof he was moche abusshed and meruayllously angry whan that he knewe it ¶ How parys ladde awaye vyenne and ysabeau by nyght WHan Parys was pourueyed of money and of al other thynges beyng to them necessarye he wente allone the secretest wyse that he myÈt and came to the place emprysed at the houre taken and he made a tokene whiche vyenne knewe And anone vyenne and ysabeau cladde them in mannes araye â—epen oute of the castel by a fauce porte and so came these two damoyselles to the place where as parys was allone whyche awayted vpon theyr comyng Incontynent they departed and went where as theyr horses were whom they took rode as faste as they myght and george rode alwaye tofore by cause to knowe wel the waye and whyles they thus rode aroos a storme wyth a grete rayne whyche endured tyl on the morne at nyght and thenne they arryued nygh vnto a lytel towne but they entrâ—d not by cause they wold not be knowen and wente lodged them in a lytel chyrche nygh vnto the toun where they fonde a chapelayn whiche receyued them gladly the best wyse he myght thenne whan the nyght came Parys and the chapelayn slepte in a lytel hous Ioynyng to the chyrche George and parys seruaunte slepten in the stable with the bestes And vyenne ysabeau slepten in the chyrche and in the mornyng erly they wente lyghtly to horsback rode tyl they came nyghe vnto a ryuer whyche was rysen hye by cause of the rayne that had fallen Thenne parys was moche angry by cause he sawe wel that it was moche peryllous sayd to George that he shold serche aduyse somme good place where they myght passe ouer george wythdrewe hym a lytel from them and chaas a place whiche thought hym good and took the ryuer wyth hys hors And whan he was in the myddes of the streme hys hors faylled hym that he was drowned and hys hors also ¶ Parys seyng that george was drowned was moche sore abasshed and durst make noo semblaunte by cause that fayre vyenne shold haue noo me lancolye And after Vyenne demaunded of Parys where george was bycomen and parys answerd to hyr that he had sent hym for to serche somme good passage and they wold torne in to the chyrche ageyn tyl George were comen And vyenne ansuerd to hym that it playsed to hyr wel soo to doo For she had grete doubte and fere for to passe the water ¶ And whan they were in the chyrche Parys was moche aferde to abyde longe in that place for he sawe that it was not sure wherfore he demaunded the chapelayn yf they myght in ony wyse passe that water And the chapelayn sayd not in thre dayes tyl the water were decreâ—ed and aualed ¶ And parys sayd to hym that he shold goo in to the towne to seche and see yf he myght fynde ony men that wold make a brydge soo that they myÈt passe And that he shold spare for no money For I shal paye to them as moche as they wyl haue the chapelayn sayd that he shold doo hys beste Thus dyd Parys noo thynge but thynke how they myght passe the ryuer Now leue we Parys and torne we to the doulphyn whych had lost his fayre doughter vyenne ¶ How the doulpyn dyd doo serche and seche vyenne by hys seruauntes ON the morne that vyeÌ„ne was loste departed fro the hous of hyr fader that the doulphyn knewe it he supposed to haue goon oute of hys wytte al the courte was troubled sente hastely men on horsback a fote by dyuers partyes the moost secretely that he myght prayed them that they shold brynge home to hym vyenne quyck or dede It happed by adueÌ„ture that one of his men a fote that was sente to seche Vyenne came in to the towne where as the chapelayn was comen to seche men to make the brydge The foteman demaunded euery man yf they had seen two damoyselles whyche were fledde fro the doulphyns courte TheÌ„ne the chapelayn said to hym that it was not longe syth suche tweyne departed wyth other men ¶ And the man supposed that the sayd chapelayn had sayd it in Iape or in mockyng And sayd that the Doulphyn was moche angry and had sworne that yf ony maÌ„ or woman knewe where they were and shewed it not that he shold make them to lose theyr hedes And whan the chapelayn herde these wordes he remembred hym of them that were hyd in hys hous And in grete drede sayd to hym that he shold tarye there a lytel that for the loue of my lord doulphyn he wold gladly seche for them and assone as he myght fynde tydynges of them he shold lete hym wyte And so departed fro thens and retorned home ageyn and tolde al thys to parys and what he had herde in the toune sayeng also that he doubted that it was for them of hys companye wherfore he sayd to hym ferthermore syr I praye you that ye departe from hens and suffre not that I lese my lyf but take ye the beste counceyl ye can For there ben fyfty men on horsback that seche you whan Parys herde hym say this it nedeth not to demaunde yf he were heuy and melancolyous and for the
grete sorowe that he had he chaunged al his colour And he sayd to the chapelayn I praye you that ye tarye a lytel I shal make you an ansuer thenne Parys went to vyenne for to telle to hir al thys feat And whan vyenne sawe hym entre and so chaunged in hys colour sayd to paris what tydynges brynge ye whyche are so pale and your colour chaunged I praye you as hertely as I can that it playse you to telle me Thenne Parys sayd to hyr The tydynges that I brynge ben euyl for you and for me For shortly shal be accomplisshed our aduenture and therfore â— I wyl slee my self and also he said complaynyng O god how my lyf is sorowful and heuy to haue brought thys excellent lady as ye ar in suche daunger O good god why gaf thou not to me the deth tofore or that I fette hir out of hyr faders hous O alas my fader and my moder what shal be falle of you whan the doulphyn shal knowe that I haue stolen from hym hys doughter ¶ O my good felowe Edward why counceylled not I wyth the tofore or I had doon thys folye And after he retorned to vyeÌ„ne sayeng and what shal falle of you my lady whan your fader shal see you Certes I thynke that how cruel that he be whan he shal see your noble persone his hert shal not suffre to do you ony harme O god almyghty do to me that grace that I onely may bere the payn of this fayt none other O lady vnhappy was that day for you and for me whan fyrst ye had acqueyntaunce of me And whan Parys had fynysshed hys complaynte he tolde to Vyenne al that the chapelayn had sayd to hym And forthwyth as a persone despayred took hys swerde and wold haue ryuen it thurgh hys body And Vyenne as vertuouse and valyaunte took to hyr hert and took the swerde fro hym and comforted hym and sayd ¶ O free knyght my Ioye my lyf and my solace what wyl ye doo knowe ye not wel that who that sleeth hym self wytyngly sleeth the soule and the body and yf ye deye I assure you I shal deye also and so shal ye be cause of my deth as wel as of your owne O Parys where is your wysedom and your prowesse Now whan ye shold haue moste strengthe moost vertuous courage ye be aferde O my knyght thys is noo newe thynge that the persones that lyuen in thys world haue trybulacyons of what someuer lygnage they be Certes thys is not the courage of one so valyaunte knyght as ye be For now whome that ye ought to comforte she must now comforte you And therfor my fayr brother and frende I praye you as moche as ye may that Incontynente ye departe fro hens and that ye goo your waye and yf ye do not so I shal slee my self wyth your swerde For your departyng is as greuons to me as myn shal be to you but it by houeth to eschewe of two euyls the werse And also ye ought to consydere one thyng that not wythstondyng the grete faulte and trespaas that I haue made to my fader yet therfore he shal not put me to deth consydered the grete loue that he hath aâ—way had toward me and yf ye were taken I wote wel that ye and I shold bothe deye And yet I haue good hope that myn entencyon shal come vnto a good ende For be ye sure though he neuer pardonne me I shal neuer haue other husbond but you and that I promyse you by my fayth But alle waye of one thyng I praye you that for none other lady ye forgete not me And whan ye shal be in another contreye wryte vnto me of your aduenture And to th ende that ye the better remembre me loo here is a rynge of gold wyth a dyamonde the which I praye you that ye wyl kepe for the loue of me ¶ How Parys departed from Vyenne and lefte hyr in the chyrche AFter moche other langage paris kyssed vyeÌ„ne wyth grete syghes and thoughtes and she comforted hym the best wyse she myght in prayeng our lord Ihesu Cryste that in short tyme she myght see hym lyke as hyr herte desyred moost of ony thynge that was in the world And thenne Parys departed fro Vyenne wyth grete sorowe and heuynesse And took his waye wyth hys seruaunte tyl he came to the ryuer whâ—re they coude not tofore haue passed and as despayred doubted noo thynge but entred theâ—m and the water was soo aualed that they passed wythoute ony peryl And they rode two dayes wythoute ony mete for they durst not passe thurgh ony toun And they passed tyl they came to aygues mortes And there he founde the galeye that george had hyred whyche anone he took and so longe saylled and rowed tyl that they arryued at Gene Parys made meruayllous countenaunces in the galeye that alle they that were therin had supposed he had be a fool for allewaye he was peâ—syf and ymagynatyf and vnnethe wold speke ne say a word ¶ Thenne whan he was at gene he hyred hym a lodgyng lyued there in grete heuynesse sorowe Now leue we to speke of Parys and retorne we to vyenne whyche abode in the chapelayns hous ¶ How vyenne was founde in the chyrche by a foteman and how she was brought ageyn to hyr fader WHan Parys was departed fro vyenne she abode allone wyth ysabeau makyng the grettest sorowe of the world that it was a grete pyte to byholde lyke as she had as leef to deye as to lyue And whan she was wel wery of wepyng and that it was force that she must retorne to the mercy of hyr fader the doulphyn she appeased hyr self And anone the chapelayn went for to seche the foteman and brought hym in to the â—hyrche And whan Vyenne sawe hym she knewe hym wel For she had oftymes seen hym in hyr faders how 's And thys man sayd to hyr alle hys charge that many knyghtes were oute for to seche hyr And Vyenne sayd to hym goo telle them that thou hast founden me here brynge them hyther Thenne the man wente fonde the knyghtes that thenne were comen in to the towne and tolde to them how he had fouÌ„den hyr that they shold come with hym he wold brynge them to the place where she was whan the knyÈtes herde these tydynges anon eche made grete haste tyl they cam to hyr theÌ„ne whaÌ„ they were tofore vyenne they salewed hyr and sayd to hyr that the doulphyn had doo seche hyr in dyuers contreyes and after they comforted hyr and sayd that she shold not be aferde of hyr fader for he wold doo to hyr noo desplaysyr for be shal haue so grete Ioye whan he shall see you that he shal pardonne you and appease hys yre ¶ And than Incontynent they wente to horsbacke and brought forth the chapelayn wyth hyr to th ende that he shold
therin ¶ After that he had redde it at his playsyr he prayed Edward to wryte to hym an ansuer wel at large of alle that was byfallen syth hys departyng thys doon edward departed fro hym wente vnto beale vyenne whome he fonde moche heuy and sorouful for hir loue and frende parys and Edward sayd honourable lady how is it that ye be thus heuy and vyenne sayd to hym alas fayr broder Edward I haue good reason and cause to be heuy For myn herte abydeth thynkyng day nyght on my good knyght Parys and I knowe not whether he be alyue or dede of whyche thynge I moche desyre to knowe For yf he be deed I am cause therof And certes yf he be dede I may not lyue after hym yf our lord wold doo soo moche grace that he be a lyue fayn wold I knowe in what londe he is to th ende that I myÈt sende to hym a lytel money soo that he haue noo necessyte for hys persone And edward sayd to hyr Madame what wyll ye gyue me yf I telle te you good tydynges and sure of hym ¶ Thenne sayd Vyenne by my fayth there is noo thyng that I haue in thys world whyche I may gyue wyth myn honour but that I shal gyue it to you Thenne sayd Edward loo here is a letter whyche he hath sente to me and whan vyenne sawe the letter she opened it and redde it al allonge whan she had redde it she had soo grete Ioye that hyr semed god had appyered to hyr and the Ioye that she had in hyr hert shewed wel in hyr vysage For sythe that she departed fro parys she had not so good vysage ne chere as she had theÌ„ne whan the solace had ynough endured Edward sayd to hyr Madame gyue to me ageyn my letter that I may make to hym an ansuer And Vyenne sayd it pleseth me moche that ye make to Parys my swete frende an ansuer but surely the letter shal remayne wyth me Thenne he sayd Madame haue ye not promysed to gyue to me that thyng that I shal demaunde you yes sayd she Thenne edward sayd I desyre ne wyll haue none other thynge but that ye gyue to me my letter for assone shal I gyue to you my lyf but and yf ye wyl demaunde ony other thynge I wyl wel TheÌ„ne sayd Edward I am contente that the letter abyde wyth you after he ordeyned another letter to Parys which sayd in this manere ¶ How Edwardâ— sente ansuer of his letter to Parys whyche abode in the cyte of genes RYght dere brother frende and felowe parys your fader and your moder grete you wel the whiche haue suffred for you moche dysease payne and desplaysyr and in especyal your fader whiche hath longe been in pryson alle hys goodes were taken fro hym and also I certefye you that by the grace of god and at the request and prayer of Vyenne the doulphyn hath pardonned hym alle hys euyl wylle and delyuerd hym oute of pryson restored to hym alle hys goodes ageyn And plese it you to wete fayre brother that vyenne hath had so moche Ioye and so grete playsyr whan she had knowleche that ye were a lyue that it is wonder to byleue For al hyr consolacyon was for to haue tydynges of you she recommaundeth hyr to you as moche as she may hath moche grete desyre to see you also prayeth you not to wythdrawe you fro hyr ne fro that contreye â—ut that ye wryte ofte to hyr of your estate And she sendeth to you an eschaunge of thre thousand floryns of whiche she wyl that ye take your playsyr Ioye for al hyr hope is in you Also ye shal vnderstonde that she hath be kepte in pryson a certayn tyme but thanked be god she is now oute Also I haue shewed to hyr your letter whyche she reteyneth and after that she had redde it I myght neuer haue it ageyn but she sayd that she had leuer to lese al that she had than the said letter ye shal knowe that the doulphyn treateth a maryage for hyr the which is the sone of the duc of bourgoyn he hopeth fro day to day that it shal be accomplysshed Neuertheles I truste soo moche in vyenne seyng that whiche she hath sayd to me that she wyl neuer haue other husbond but you wherfore lyue ye forth Ioyously in hope Dere brother I thanke you as I can or may for the presentacyon that ye haue doon for me your soule be wyth god to whome I praye that he kepe you in hys holy warde protectyon cÌ„ whan thys letter was wryten he delyuerd it to the courrour whyche made hasty Iourneyes so that he arryued at genes where as the good knyÈt Parys dwelled and abode WHan the noble paris had redde the letter knewe that vyenne had been in pryson almoost for sorowe he was oute of his wytte cursyng his euyl fortune after he cursed the day that he was borne moche dyscomforted hym self also he cursed the doulphyn sayeng O cruel fader and vnconnyng how may your hert suffre to put in pryson hyr that is soo noble a creature whyche is ful of al vertues that is the fayre vyenne whyche is noo thynge cause of thys fayte For I my self onely haue doon it ought to bere allone the penaunce alas wherfore dyd not god to me so moche grace that I had be taken in stede of hyr O fayre vyenne what haue I doo for you whyche haue suffred soo moche payne for me Thus he made a grete whyle hys sorowe in wepyng strongely After Parys sawe that the fayr vyenne was retorned in to hyr fyrst estate wherof he was moche Ioyous whan he had receyued the eschaunge that vyenne had sente hym he hyred a moche fayr hous cladde hym honestly rychely took acqueyntaunce amytye wyth the grettest beste of the cyte in so moche they dyd hym moche good and honour thus duellyd parys a grete whyle alway remembryng in hys hert the loue of vyenne for alleway hys loue encreaced And euery moneth they wrote letters eche to other of whyche here is made noo mencyon for it shold be ouer longe to reherce torne we here in to flaunders for the fayte of the maryage of the excellent vyenne NOw sayth thystorye that whan therle of Flaunders had accorded the maryage with the duc of bourgoyn he made redy hys sone and apparaylled hym of companye and of horses and lete it be knowen to the doulphyn that he shold make redy al thynge necessarye that he shold hastely sende to hym his sone whan the doulphyn herde these tydynges that he whome he so moche desyred shold come he was moche Ioyous and Incontynent dyd doo make redy many grete meruayllous festes duryng the same dyd doo make redy hys sone the duc of bourgoyne horses and peple for to accompanye