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
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
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
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
whyche the noble mayde vyenne herkened ful wel For hyr hert was onely sette to thynke how she myght knowe hym that was hyr louer parys thenne came thyder and was ordeyned for to serue at the daulphyns table where vyenne satte wete ye wel that ful gracyously and curtoysly he serued and kerued before hyr ¶ How Parys gate the prys of the Ioustes in the cyte of Vyenne WHan the day was comen that the lordes knyghtes geÌ„tylmen shold Iuste for loue of the ladyes Parys Edward yede to a secrete place where they armed them secretly and syn came to the lystes with theyr badges tokens and were horsed and armed ful rychely and wel Alle other knyghtes there were knowen by theyr armes but the two whyt knyghtes were vnknowen The daulphyn thenne commaunded that euery one shold mustre or the Ioustyng began along the felde tofore the ladyes damoyselles and soo they mostred rydyng tofore the scaffold of the fayre vyenne were so nobly rychely armed arayed and so godely men they were that euery one sayd the floure of knyghthode may now be seen in thys place a emonge al other prynces Edward of Englond was moost amerous of al ryght renoÌ„med in armes The pucelle Vyenne soyng alle these noble knyghtes sayd to hyr damoysel ysabel Fayr syster whyche of them al thynke you that moost dooth for the loue of me ysabel ansuerd honourable lady me semeth he that bereth the lyon of gold in his armes dooth more for your loue than the other Certes sayd vyenne yonder two whyt knyghtes that bere none armes in theyr sheldes are more to my fantasye than ony of the other alwaye we shal see now what they can doo TheÌ„ne were the knyghtes redy to do fayte of armes And fyrst an hardy valyaunte knyght that bare in hys armes a crowne of gold bygan the fyrst cours ayenst hym ranne the good knyght edward parys felowe recouÌ„tred eche other so vygorously that they brake bothe theyr speres many other mette eche other sodaynlye gyuyng grete strokes somme were ouerthrowen to the erthe somme brake theyr speres worthely kept theyr sterops ryght valyauntly the other recountred eche other so manfully that bothe hors and man were caste to the grounde For euery man dyd hys best to gete worshyp there Edward the kynges sone of englond bare hym ful wel and had the better vpon many a knyÈt there but the strong knyÈt parys broched hys hors toward hym and mette hym so vygorously that atte ende he ouerthrewe hym had the better of hym wherof he gate grete worshyp and was moche praysed for hys grete prowesse Thys Ioustyng lasted tyl souper tyme whan that euen cam many of them were wery of the Iouste rested them but parys dyd theÌ„ne more of armes shewyng his meruayllous prowesse than he had doon of al that day in so moche that none durst approche hym ne with stonde his appertyse in armes so moche he dyd that thonour prys of the Ioustes rested abode in hym that day How the shelde of crystal the garlond with floures of gold were yeuen to Parys as to the best doer in faytes of armes THe feste ended grete worshyp loenge abode to the ij knyÈtes with the whyt armes and Parys was ledde vnto the scaffold there as vyeÌ„ne was the whyche delyuerd hym the shelde of crystal the garlond wyth floures of gold that she helde in hyr honde thenne parys with Edward his felawe departed thens in the secretest wyse that they coude and wente to vâ—arme them to the place where they fyrst armed them self The â—â—â—ons and knyghtes that were there spake wel of the prowesse of the chyualrye of the knyghtes with the whyt armes so that the daulphyn the other grete lordes had grete desyre to knowe what they were to haue theyr acquâ—yntaunce but they departed so secretly fro the felde that no man knewe where they were become nor what waye they toke AFter al thys was thus doon the knyghtes retorned in to theyr contrees spekyng euer of the ryal feste and chere that the daulphyn had doon to them of the prowesse of the whyt knyghtes of the ryght souerayn beaute and noblesse of vyenne And in the mene whyle there moeued a stryf betwyxte the barons knyÈtes of Frauunce and of Englond For somme were there that were amerous of the doughter of the duc of Normandye and somme were that loued and bare oute the bealute of the syster of the kyng of Englond sayeng she was fayrer than Vyenne was and other were there that helde contrarye oppynyon sayeng that the daulphyns doughter vyenne passed in beaute al other wymmen in the world and for this reason was grete debate stryf betwyxte the knyÈtes of fraunce them of Englond for the beaute of these thre damoyselles ¶ Euer multeplyed grewe more the bruyt and the renoÌ„me of the daulphyn by cause of the Ioustes and tournoyment doon in his cyte of vyenne wherof he had grete Ioye for they had be moche honourable and playsaunt to al knyghtes And Vyenne euer thought in hyr self who myght he be that had goten the worshyp and prys of the Ioustes and sayd to ysabel Neuer truste me dere suster but the knyÈt to whom I haue yeuen the shelde of crystal and my garlond is he that so swetely sange for the loue of me tofore our chambre for myn hert gyueth it me and by my fayth syster he is ful noble and worthy in alle hys dedes ryght curtoys and gentyl as we myght haue seen whylere wherfor I say you my swete syster that in hym I haue putte the rote of myn entyere herte my wylle and al my loue nor neuer I shal haue playsyr ne Ioye vnto the tyme that I knowe what he is for my loue is al hys of what so euer estate he be of I neuer shal take myn herte fro hym ¶ Thenne began she to wayle and syghe for the loue of hym ful tenderly for tyl now she had not felte the sparkles of loue that sprange out of hyr hert but parys knewe nothyng herof that she desyred to haue hym to knowe what he was but he kepte hys loue secrete in hys hert For he durst not shewe it vnto hyr wherfore he ledde hys lyf in grete trystesse and sorowe he went euer in the felawshyp of the bysshop of saynt Laurence made semblaunte of nothyng And Iames the fader of Parys that had seen the noble feest and the ryal Ioustes in the cyte of vyenne wenyng to hym that hys sone parys had not ben there was ful sory had grâ—te dysplaysyr of it and sayd Fayr sone Parys I am in a grete malencolye in a thought for you that ye be not so Ioyeful ne mery as ye were wonte to be here afore tyme I sawe you euer redy to the Ioustes and to al maner faytes of chyualrye
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
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
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