was so grete that in al the world was none to hyr lyke that yf it pleased the Kyng I am redy for to furnysshe the Ioustes for hys loue ayenst the knyght yet another tyme and to Iuste tyl that geffroy shold be vaynquysshed that was wythoute ony gayn sayeng the heraulde retorned and tolde it to the kyng wherof the kyng was wel contente sayd that the knyght ought to be somme grete lord For he was of grete valoyr and puyssaunce and spake moche swetely and curtoysly And after Parys chaunged and took another hors whyche Edward hys felowe had made redy for hym retorned to the Iustes smote to gyder wyth soo grete myght that by veray force geffroy went to therthe vnder hys hors ryght euyl hurte THenne whan it came toward euen the Ioustes were so grete thycke and stronge that al the thre partyes as wel of one as of other were throwen doun to the erthe that there abode no moo of the partye of vyenne but parys allone and of the partye of normandye thre knyghtes stronge and puyssauÌ„t and they were Balaxo brother of the marquys of Saluces Iohan sone of the erle of Army nack and phelyp of bauyere of the partye of constaunce other thre stronge myghty that is to wete Iohan of braband laâ—er neuew of the duc of bourgeyn and Salamon dalanson brother of the counte de la marche and they sayd that the Iustes shold abyde tyl on the morne for they were moche wery and whan parys saw that they wold haue retorned he fewtred hys spere and there cam ayenst hym balaxo brother of the marquys of saluces And Parys at the fyrst stroke strake hym doun to the erthe vnder hys hors and in lyke wyse dyd to the other v and moche nobly valyauntly he wanne thonour of the Iustes and of the felde ¶ How the kyng commaunded that the thre baners wyth the in Iewellys shold be gyuen to Parys champyon of vyenne THe Ioustes fynysshed Parys wanne the beaute of hys lady the fayre vyenne and he was ledde to the scaffolde where as the kynge was the other grete lordes knyghtes there were delyuerd to hym the thre baners the thre Iewellys that were in them Parys shewed them thurgh all the felde in sygne that the sayd vyenne had goten thonour for to be the fayrest damoysell that was in alle the world by the same yonge knyght and whan Parys had the thre fayr baners and the thre ryche Iewellys he and Edward hys felowe departed out of the cyte of parys and oute of fraunce the moost secrete wyse that they myght retorned in to dalphyne Parys retorned in to the companye of the forsayd bysshop of Saynt Laurence as he had not been at the feste alwaye he demaunded tydynges of the Iustes that were made in fraunce and who had thonour of the Ioustes WHan the feste was made al the barons knyghtes that were there had 〈◊〉 desyre to knowe who was 〈◊〉 that so valyauntly so nobly 〈◊〉 wonne the Iourneye the honour of the Iustes for to doo to hym worshyp but they coude neuer knowe hym wherof they had grete dysplaysyr sayd that the knyght was of grete wysedom by cause he wold not be knowen And after this the barons knyghtes took leue of the kyng and retorned in to theyr londes al dyscomforted by cause they had not goten the honour of the feste and yet were they more angry by cause they knewe not to whome the honour was gyuen of the feste ne of the Iustes The kyng of Fraunce whyche moche loued the dolphyn made to hym grete feste moche grete honour And the kyng delyuerd to hym the crowne that the quene had gyuen for to gyue to hyr that shold haue the honour of the Ioustes to th ende that he shold gyue it vnto hys doughter vyenne in sygne token that she was the moost fayr damoysel of the world whan al thys was doon the dolphyn and the fader of parys retorned in to dolphyne in moche grete honour and greâ—e Ioye whan vyenne knewe that hyr fader came she came and mette hym as she was accustomed Thenne whan the dolphyn sawe hyr he kyssed hyr sette on her hede the crowne whyche the kynge had gyuen hym and tolde to hyr how she had goton the honour for to be the moost fayrest damoysell of the world and loo here is the fayr crowne that the quene of fraunce sendeth to you in token that ye haue goten the honour Not wythstondyng fayr doughter that ye haue had many contrarye therto but ye haue had a good deffendour ryÈt stronge and hath wel quyted hym in your nede For of eche partye were abyden thre knyghtes moche stronge and pâ—yssaunte and on your partye was left but one knyght onely whyche vaynquysshed al the other wythout ony token and is departed alle secretly that no man knewe hym ne the kyng of fraunce hath no knowleche of hym but he hath borne awaye wyth hym the thre baners the iij Iewellys that were in them also the prys thonour of the feste wherfore swete fayr doughter ye wote neuer to whom to gyue thankynges of so moche honour as hath be doon for you but I praye to god of heuen to the glorious vyrgyn marye that it playse hym to gyue to hym good honour Ioye excellence in alle his feates vyctorye lyke as he is chyef hede of al honour and of al chyualrye in thys world For I neuer sawe ne herde of knyght that so gracyously and so curtoysly bare hym in his armes in his chyualryes And whan vyeÌ„ne herde spâ—ke of these tydynges sawe the grete honour prys that she had goten and al was comen by this noble knyght she sayd to ysabeau hyr damoysel My suster sayd I not to you wel but late that I was byloued by the moost noble and valyaunt knyght of fraunce and by my fayth my swete suster this is he that so swetely songe that wanne the Iustes in this cyte bare with hym the shelde of crystal my garlonde and went his waye so that noo man myght knowe hym aduyse you wel fayr suster what hanour is comen to me by his prowesse by his bounte I may wel be sory dolant whan I may not knowe who he is myn herte is moche heuy myn entendâ—ment that I neuer can fynde the moyen to see knowe hym and yet she sayd Certes my swete suster ysabeau I byleue that my dayes be shorte that I shall deye of somme cruel fals deth for the grete desplaysyr that I haue contynuelly in my herte for I can none other thynge doo but wepe waylle alwaye to contynue in sorouful lyf heuy but none apperceyued it but onely hyr damoysel ysabeau THe fader of parys whyche had ben with the
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
¶ Here begynneth thystorye of the noble ryght valyaunt worthy knyght Parys and of the fayr VyeÌ„ne the daulphyns doughter of vyennoys the whyche suffred many aduersytees bycause of theyr true loue or they coude enioye the effect therof of eche other IN the tyme of kynge Charles of Fraunce the yere of our lord Ihesu Cryst MCClxxj was in the londe of vyennoys a ryche baron daulphyn and lord of the lond that was named syr Godefroy of alaunson was of the kynges kynrede of fraunce the whiche daulphyn was ryÈt myghty and a grete lord bothe in hauoyr and in landes was a ryght wyse man in so moche that for his grete wysedom he was moche made of bothe of the kynge of fraunce of al the lordes barons of his courte soo that noo thynge was doon in the sayd royame but that he was called therto had to his wyf a moche fayre lady whiche cleped was dame dyane whyche was of so grete beaulte that she was wel worthy dygne to be named after that fayre sterre that men calle dyane that appyereth sheweth a lytel afore the day and also she was replenysshed of all noblenes gentylnes that a lady may or ought to haue The sayd daulphyn thenne and this noble lady dyane were vij yere to gyder wythoute yssue that moche they desyred to haue and prayed our lord bothe nyght day that they myght haue chyldren playsaunt and redy to hys deuyne seruyce and our lord thorugh hys benygnyte herde theyr prayer and after hys playsyr gaf vnto them the viij yere of theyr maryage a ryght fayr doughter for the whyche grete gladnes â— Ioye was made thorugh all the daulphyns londe and the chylde was baptysed with grete honour Ioye in token of grete loue they named hyr vyenne by cause the cyte where she was borne in was called vyenne and thys doughter was delyuerd vnto a noble lady for to be nourysshed wyth hyr the whyche lady was of the sayd cyte and had a lytel doughter of the age of vyenne the whyche was named ysabel so the fayre vyeÌ„ne was nourysshed wyth the same ysabel from hyr tender age vnto many yere after soo grete loue was bytwene them bothe that they called eche other systers the fayre vyenne grewe and encreaâ—ed euer in souerayn beawte gentylnesse so that the renomee of hyr excellent beawte flourysshed not onely thurgh al frauÌ„ce but also thurgh al the Royame of englond other contrees It happed after she was xv yere of age that she was desyred to maryage of many knyÈtes grete lordes at that tyme was in the daulphyns courte emonge many hys knyÈtes a noble maÌ„ of auncyent lygnage of fayr londes the whiche was wel byloued of the daulphyn of alle the lordes of the lande and was called syr Iames thys noble man had a moche fayr sone that had to name Parys hys fader made hym to be taught in al good custommes and whan he was xviij yere of age he was adressed to the dyscyplyne of armes demened hym self so nobly worthely in al maner dedes of chyualrye that wythin a shorte tyme after he was doubed knyght by the hande of the sayd lord daulphyn ¶ Noo fayte of knyghthode ne none aduenture of chyualrye happed after but that he founde hym self at it in soo moche that the renommee of hym ranne thurgh al the world men sayd he was one of the best knyÈtes that myght be founde in ony contree helde hym self ryght clene in armes and lyued chastly Ioyefully had euer aboute hym fowles hawkes and houndes for hys dysporte to alle maner of huntyng suffysaunt ynough for a duc or for an erle and thurgh hys prowesse and hardynes he was acqueynted knowen of many other grete lordes and emonge alle other he was gretely and louyngly acqueynted with a yonge knyght of the cyte of vyenne that hyght Edward and were bothe of one age and moche loued eche other and as two brethern of armes wente euer to gyder there as they knewe ony Ioustyng or appertyse of armes to be had for to gete honour ¶ And wete it wel that besyde theyr worthynes in armes they were good musycyens playeng vpon alle maner Instrumentes of musyke and coude synge veray wel but Parys passed in al ponytes his felowe Edward Notwythstondyng Edward was amerous al redy of a noble lady of the courte of braban but Parys as yet knewe nought of amorouste but not longe after Venus the goddes of loue fyred his thouÈt with the hert vnto a noble yong lady that is to wete the fayre vyenne the daulphyns doughter of vyennoys that was his lyege lord the more he growed toward his flouryng age the more he was esprysed brennyng of her loue for the grrte beaute that was in hyr But Parys thought euer in hys herte that this loue was not wel lykly ne cordable ¶ For he was not of so hyghe lygnage as the noble mayden vyenne was of therfore Parys kept hys loue secrete that none shold perceyue it sauf Edward his trusty felowe to whom he brake shewed his counceyl And the fayre vyenne perceyued not that parys was amerous of hyr nor parys also durst neyther shewe nor say nothynge to hyr of hyt but the more that he sawe hyr the more grewe the fyre of loue within hym self ¶ How Parys and Edward hys felowe played wyth dyuers InstrumeÌ„tes by nyght tofore the chambre of vyenne PArys thenne edward wyth one accorde dysposed them self for to gyue somme melodyous myrthe to the noble mayde vyenne and wyth theyr musycal Instrumentes as recourders they yede by nyght tyme to gyder toward that parte of the castel where as the fayre vyenne laye in hyr chambre and there they sange ful swetely and sowned melodyously theyr musycal Instrumentes and pypes and certeyn the melodye of their songes and the sowne of theyr Instrument was so playsaunt so swete that it passed al other melodye And whan the daulphyn and his wyf the fayre vyenne theyr doughter herde this swete and melodyous sowne as wel of maÌ„s wyces as of dyuers InstrumeÌ„tes they had grete Ioye and took grete playsyr at it had grete desyre to knowe what they were that so grete solace and Ioye made tofore theyr castel and for to wete knowe what they were the daulphyn assygned a day of a feste at the whyche he sente for alle maner mynstrellys in hys londe chargyng theym vpon grete payne that they shold come for to playe before hym and hys barons in hys castel of vyenne â—ohan they were al come they played and sange in theyr best wyse but â—mong them were not fouÌ„de tho mynstrelles that the lord daulphyn sought fore wherof he was sorouful desyred more to knowe what they were than he dyd afore And whan vyenne herde alle the mynstrellys of the bonde that sowned at the feste she sayd to
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
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
grete peple the fayr ordynaunce that there was WHan it was so that the lordes were redy of alle â—hynges that were necessarye and were departed fro theyr contrees they assembled al at parys the xiiij day of septembre and neuer tofore was seen so grete a companye of nobles For fro alle partyes was comen grete chyualrye the soÌ„me for to do armes and the other for to see the feste whyche was moche sumptuous and noble whan the day assygned came of the Ioustes On the mornyng erly he dyd doo sette these thre Ioyaâ—â—â— or Iewels in the baners the whyche shone and resplendysshed moche merueillously for the nombre of perles precyous stones that were in the baners Now it shold be ouerlonge to recyte of the barons and of the knyghtes that were in that Iourneye For many were comen thyder fro the royame of spayne of aragon and of many other contrees for to proue their strengthe and persones and for to mayntene the barons that mâ—yntened the thre ladyes maydens Of whome we shall reherce of the pryncypallest here after the shortest wyse we may And whan it came in the mornyng that euery man was armed apparaylled in the felde and that the kyng of Fraunce was sette in hys hrete scaffolde and began to say al alowde and moche meruayllously that alle the people myght here and vnderstonde Knyghtes and barons that been here for to do the fayte of armes goo ye eueryche vnder that baner that he wyl mayntene for the loue of hys lady and we gyue in comaundement that this felde be of loue and of curtosye as iâ— to you appertâ—yneth how be it we wyl wel that eche of you do valyantly hys armes and hys chyualryes for that damoyselâ— whyche he wyl mayntene And he that shal wynne the felde shal haue the prys and thonour of the feste and that lady or damoysel shal be mayntened and allowed for the moost fayre damoysel of the world and shal haue the prys and thonour of them of Englond of Fraunce of Normandye and that to thys noo man be so hardy to gaynsay vpon the payne to lose his lyf And yet after thys he sayd ye see here a fayre crowne the whyche the quene of Fraunce hath ordeyned to th ende that it be delyuerd to the fader of the damoysel that shal haue the prys and honour of the felde and of the Ioustes And the knyght that shal gete the prys and thonour of the Ioustes shal haue all the thre baners and the thre Iewels that been in them comaunded that the baner of Normandye shold fyrst make hys mustre nexte the baner of Constaunce and thenne that of Vyenne ¶ And fyrst vnder the baner of Normandye were they that folowe that is to wete Iohan sone of therle of Flaunders Phelyp of bauyers neuew of the kynge of Fraunce Edward sone of the duke of bourgoyne Iohan erle of Armynak Balaxe brother of the marquys of Saluce Geffroy duc of pycardye And after them came many other wel armed habylled After came the baner of CoÌ„staunce the whiche accompanyed Iohan sone of the duc of bremeos Gastamons of gastre brother of the erle of foyes Anthonye alegre sone of the duc of Carnes Larer neuew of the duc of bourgoyne The honourable Iohan of braban Salamon de launson brother of therle of the marche and after them came many other barons and knyghtes and theÌ„ne after came the baner of the fayr vyeÌ„ne the whyche accompanyed hughe sone of the duc of Bourbon Edward sone of the kyng of Englond Wylliam sone of the duc of barry Antonye sone of the counte of prouynce Parys sone of syr Iaques of vyenne Dormando of monferrant sone of the marquys thre sones of the duc of Carnes Iohan peryllous duc of Normandye after them came many other barons and knyghtes wel armed wel horsed And whan the mustre was made euery baner retorned in to hys place whyche moche noble and meruayllous thynge was it to see and to byholde the noblesse of the barons knyghtes soo wel horsed and armed as they were And the daulphyn and syr Iaques fader of Parys were comen for to see the feste the Ioustes ¶ How Parys wan the prys at the Ioustes in the cyte of Parys WHan thenne it came to the houre of tyerce began the Ioustes and cam in to the felde moche nobly armed Iohan sone of therle of flaundres ageyn hym came Iohan sone of the duke of breunes coped to gyder so fyersly that they brake theyr speres and Iohan sone of therle of flaunders tombled to therthe vnder hys hors after ayenst Iohan de breunes came Edward sone of the duke of bourgoyne These ij knyghtes bete doun puyssauntly Iohan de breunes vnto the tyme that there came ayenst hym Iohan peryllous duc of Normandye whyche smote hym wyth soo grete force that he ouerthrewe hym vnder hys hors brake hys arme put hym in suche estate that he wyst not whether it was day or nyght and ayenst Iohan peryllous came Anthonye alegre sone of the duc of carues and dyd so mocâ—â— prowesse wyth his persone that he conquerd Iohan peryllous and v other knyghtes myghty men of his partye whom he smote to the erthe by force of armes After came ageynst anthonie alegre Geffroy of pycardye and smote anthonie in suche wyse that he fyl to the erthe vj other stronge knyghtes of hys partye and after dyd soo meruayllous feates of armes that euery man sayd that he had thonour of the felde And theÌ„ne came the free knyght parys ayenst geffroy beryng lowe hys spere they gaf so grete strokes that the knyghtes and horses wente al to therthe wherfor the kyng sayd that sythe bothe two were throwen to the erthe that they shold retorne ageyn to the Ioustes parys wyth a grete desyre consented and soo bothe retorned came rennyng And Parys gaf to geffroy so grete a stroke that hys hors slode and thenne geffroy ouerthrewe to the erthe but by cause that the hors slode it was sayd that the hors was cause that he ouerthrewe For moche they mayntened geffroy and sayd that he was not vaynquysshed that it shold be wel doon that they shold Iuste ageyn And by cause that Parys was not knowen ther was none that mayntened hym ne susteyned neuertheles the kyng of fraunce knewe wel that geffroy was vaynquysshed loyally wel For he had wel seen the aduenture wold do no wronge vnto the knyght whyche was of grete strengthe and myght and anone sente to hym an heraulde whyche sayd to hym in the name of the kynge of fraunce that the kyng had wel seen wel knewe that Parys had vaynquysshed hys knyght Notwythstondyng yf he wold yet ones retorne to the Iuste by hys noblesse that he shold do hym self grete honour And thenne Parys maad hys ansuer sayeng that the beaulte of my lady vyeÌ„ne
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
of bourgoyne whyche thenne had grete renommeâ— in fraunce and that was for the grete prowesse that was in hym and the sayd erle made thys sayd traytye sente word vnto the doulphyn that hym semed best that the sone of the duâ— of bourgoyn were beste for â—yr by cause that it shold be grete playsyr to the Kynge of fraunce and that he was a noble knyght and of grete prowesse and whan the doulphyn had receyued these letters fro therle of Flaunders he sente to the kyng of fraunce to wyte of hym whyche shold best playse hym of these two prynces aforesayd that shold haue his doughter For whome that he wold shold haue hyr wherof the kyng had grete playsyr and reputed it to hym grete honour And he sente to hym worde that it shold playse hym best that he maryed wyth the sone of the duc of bourgoyn hys neuew and in so doyng he shold doo to hym ryght grete playsyr and wold do as moche for hym whan tyme and place requyreth And seyng the doulphyn the wylle of the kyng of fraunce sente worde to therle of flaunders that he had counseylled wyth hys barons also that it was the wylle of the kyng of fraunce that his doughter shold be maryed to the sone of the duc of bourgoyne And thenne therle laboured so moche in thys mater that he made the sayd sone of the duc to agree as for hys partye ¶ How Parys sente a letter to hys felowe Edward NOw late vs leue to speke of thys mater and retorne we vnto Parys whyche abode in the cyte of gene moche heuy and whyles thys maryage was in trayty Parys dwelled in gene out of al Ioyes and plâ—ysaunses worldly al for the loue that he had to the fayr vyenne whome he had soo moche at his hert And abode alwaye in hys lodgyng allone and bycame so deuoute and soo humble toward god that it was grete meruaylle and also for the good countenaunces that he made he was moche wel byloued of al the peple of the cyte and they helde hym for a noble man and sayd he must nedes be the sone of a grete lord And Parys beyng in thys manere had grete desyre to haue tydynges of vyenne and what was hyr aduenture And anone â—â—dry â—ed two letters that one to hys fader that other to hys felawe Edward Of whyche the letter to hys fader sayd in thys manere RYght dere honourable syr and fader playse it you to wete that I am moche sorouful and heuy of my cruel aduenture and also I endure grete heuynes sorowe and afflyctyon doubtyng that for me ye haue suffred grete payne and trybulacyon and I late you wete that I am at genes dwelle in a lodgyng allone deposed fro al Ioyes and consolacyons mondayne For myn entendement is to serue god and our lady fro hens forth purpose that ye shal see me nomore for I wyl departe goo thurgh the world to seche holy pylgrymages And yf by aduenture I shal deye tofore that ye shal see me I praye you that it may playse you that I deye not in your euyl wylle but humby by seche you that it playse you to pardonne me and to gyue to me your benedyctyon Also dere syr and fader I praye you supplye that my dere brother and felowe Edward ye wyl take in my name and place and that he be recommaunded as your sone in stede of me as wel in your herytage as in other thynges and the grace of the holy ghoost be wyth you Recomaunde me to my moder cÌ„ And the letter of Edward sayd thus DEre and specyal brother and synguler frende edward the peryl of paâ—ris and of hys aduenture is poursyewed of alle euyl and cruel fortune I comaunde me to you as moche as I may say or thynk Neuertheles lyke as we haue ben accustomed to wryte letters of loue and of chyualrye Now I must wryte letters anguysshous of sorowe and of euyl fortune for alas I am vnhappy al allone in a strange contre exyled fro al Ioyes and fro alle playsyr and out of al worldly playsaunce thynkyng nyght day on the bele vyenne the whyche I thynke that for me hath suffred mortal sorowe and I say to you that yf I knewe that for me she suffred payne and sorowe I shold be in despayr for I am worthy for to be punysshed cruelly for that fayte none other wherfore I praye god and alle hys sayntes that she may be kepte from al euyl and gyue hyr grace to prospere in al good and honour lyke as she is worthy and myn herte desyreth ¶ My dere broder felowe the moost dere thynges that I loue in thys world is fyrst the fayr and swete vyenne next you to whom I praye you yf it may be in ony wyse that ye wyl say to hyr in my name how that I am lyuyng in genes Passyng my lyf moche heuy and sorouful for thabsence of hyr noble persone and for the cruel euyl fortune that hath poursyewed me and also say ye to hyr that I crye hyr mercy that it may playse hyr to pardonne me yf by me she haue ony dysplaysyr and god knoweth myn entency on in what trybulacioÌ„ I lyue And syth that it hath not play sed to our lord that we accomplysshe not our desyre wylle we ought to bere it pacyently And also ye shal say to hyr that I praye and supplye her as moche as I may that she yet take no husbond vnto the tyme that she shal see th ende of our aduenture after thys I praye you dere broder of the consolacyon of my fader my moder and that ye be to them as a sone For seyng the loue that alwaye we haue had to gyder I haue wryton to my fader that in the stede of me he take you for hys sone and that after hys lyf he wyl leue to you hys herytage for so moche broder felowe I praye bysoche you that ye be to theym humble and obeyssaunt the better parte shal be youres and yf by aduenture ye wryte to me ony letter late the letter be kepte in my faders hous the holy ghoost haue you in hys kepyng And he delyuerd thys letter to a courrour whyche wythin fewe dayes was at vyenne and secretely delyuerd hys letters to edward the good knyght whan Edward had receyued these letters and knewe that paris was a lyue he had ryght as grete Ioye as ony man coude thynke or byleue Neuertheles he helde the courrour secretely in his hous to th ende that the dolphyn shold not knowe therof and whan he had herde the letters he went to the hous of messyre Iaques the fader of the noble parys sayd to hym ¶ Messyre Iaques I brynge to you thys letter And whan messyre Iaques had redde the letter 〈◊〉 coude not be sacyat of redyng he took so grete playsyr
hym whiche was a fayre thynge to see ¶ And after sent hym to therle of flauÌ„ders whyche receyued hym wyth grete Ioye wyth grete honour fested hym two dayes and delyuerd to hym hys sone in his companye and sente hym to the doulphyn whan the doulphyn knewe theyr comyng he dyd do make redy to receyue hym and whan they were by a day Iourneye nygh vnto vyenne he rode oute wyth moche grete chyualrye receyued them with muche grete Ioye and playsyr eche made grete feste to other whyche were ouer longe to recounte Neuertheles tofore that the doulphyn came to the sone of she duc of bourgoyn hee hys wyf entred in to the chambre of vyenne to whome the doulphyn sayd Fayr doughter it was the play syr of god that I your moder were to gyder vij yere wythoute hauyng ony chylde and in the viij yere our lord comforted vs wyth you in whom we haue al our affectyon For we haue neyther sone ne doughter but onely you ne suppose neuer to haue so we truste that by you we haue one It is trewe â—hot so as god wyl and hath ordeyned we wyl assemble you to a moche honouble maryage the whiche to vs playseth moche for I ensure you the doughter of the Kynge of Fraunce hath moche desyred to haue hym that ye shal haue for god hath endowed hym with so moche good honour as hert of knyght may haue thus to the playsyr of god of the vyrgyn marye we haue made the maryage of the sone of the duke of bourgoyne of you wherfor we praye you that therto ye wyl gyue your good wylle playsyr and also that ye wyl haue the maryage agreable Thenne vyenne ansuerd to hyr fader Honourable fader lord I wote wel that thys that ye entende is for my wele prouffyt But not wythstondyng that I be in age for to marye that in thys maryage I shold receyue honour more than I am worthy Neuertheles I shal not yet be maryed for yf we haue not thys man yf it playse god we shal haue another as good or better And thynke ye not myn honourable lord that I say thys for ony excusacyon but it is sythen xv dayes that I haue be euyl dysposed of my persone the maladye that I haue causeth me to take noo playsyr for to be maryed For I haue auowed vnto god neuer to be maryed to thys man ne to none other as longe as I shal be in thys maladye ¶ Thenne thought the dolphyn that vyenne sayd it for shamefastnes Neuertheles he trauaylled hyr euery day wyth fayre wordes that she shold consente to thys maryage but it auaylled nothyng all that he dyd for the wylle of hir was more in parys than in ony man of the world THenne on the morne the sone of the duc of bourgoyne the sone of the erle of Flaunders entred in to the cyte of vyenne wherof the doulphyn had grete Ioye playsyr and thys feste endured wel fyftene dayes that they dyd no thynge but daunce synge and dyd other dyuers playsyrs and duryng thys feste the doulphyn sayd to the sone of the duke of bourgoyn to th ende that he shold thynke none euyl by cause he abode so longe or he myght espouse hys doughter ¶ Fayr sone I praye you byseche that ye take you to playsyr and Ioye And gryeue you noo thynge of thys longe abydyng here for certayn my doughter is so seke that vnnethe she may speke whyche doth to hyr grete desplaysyr and shame for fayn she wold be out of hyr chambre And thenne the sone of the duc of bourgoyn as he shat mente but good fayth byleued it lyghtly Neuertheles the doulphyn dyd nothyng nyÈt ne day but admonested hys doughter one tyme in fayr wordes and another tyme in menaces but in no wyse he coude make hys doughter to consente And comaunded that she shold nothyng haue but brede water and vyenne abode one day soo in thys manere and al thys dyd the doulphyn to th ende that she shold consente to the maryage and alwaye he dyd to hyr more harme payne vyenne was alwaye more harde and ferther fro hys desyre wherof the doulphyn had moche grete dysplaysyr and not wythoute cause seyng the Doulphyn that hys doughter was soo Indurate he thought that by somme good moyen he wold sende home ageyn the sone of the duc of bourgoyn for he doubted that yf he abode longe that this feat myght be dyscouerd and he gaf to hym fayr Iewellys and after sayd to hym Fayre sone I wyl that ye take noo desplaysyr in that I shal say to you Me semeth wel that at thys tyme this maryage may not goo forth of you and of my doughter for after that I see as me semethe the wylle of god is ferther than I wold at thys tyme For he wyl not that the maryage of you and of my doughter take now effecte wherfore I haue ryght grete desplaysyr in my hert onely for the loue of you Thenne the sone of the duc of bourgoyne seyng that at that tyme he myght doo noo thyng toke leue of the Doulphyn and retorned in to his contree by cause that Vyenne was not in helthe and promysed that assone as he myght knowe that she shold be hool he wold retorne for to accomplysshe the mariage lyke as the doulphyn had promysed to hym ¶ How the doulphyn dyd doo enprysonne vyeÌ„ne by cause that she wold not consente to the maryage to the sone of the duke of bourgoyne AFter certayn dayes that the sone of the Duke of bourgoyn was departed fro the cyte of vyenne the doulphyn for grete desplaysyr that he had dyd do come tofore hym the mayster Iayler of hys pryson and dyd doo make wythin hys paleys a lytel pryson derke and obscure and he dyd do put vyenne and ysabeau in to that pryson and commaunded that they shold haue nothyng to ete but brede and water and one damoysel in whome the dolphyn trusted shold brynge it to them And in thys manere vyenne ysabeau passyd theyr tyme in grete sorowe And thynke not that for thys pryson the hert of vyenne wold in ony wyse consente to the wylle of hyr fader but alway encreaced wyth hyr the wylle toward hir swete frende Parys and wyth swete wordes she comforted ysabeau sayeng My dere suster abasshe you not for thys derkenes for I haue confydence in god that ye shal haue yet moche welthe For my fayr suster It is a moche ryght ful thyng that for the good knyÈt parys whyche for me suffreth so moche payne that I suffre thys for hym and also I say to you that al the paynes of this world be nothyng greuous to me whan I thynke on hys swete vysage And in thys manere that one comforted that other in spekyng alle day of the valyaunte knyght Parys ¶ How the sone of the
duc of bourgoyn departed fro hys contreye for to come see the fayre lady Vyenne WHan the sone of the duc of bourgoyne had abyden longe tyme in hys contree On a day he had grete thought of vyenne that was for the grete beaute of hyr and it dysplesed hym moche that at hys beyng there he had not seen hyr and so concluded to goo see hyr and it was not longe after that he cam to the dolphyn and the doulphyn receyued hym moche gladly and with grete honour Thenne prayed he the dolphyn that it myght plese hym to shewe to hym vyenne also seke as she was For in the world was nothyng that he soo moche desyred to see as hyr And the doulphyn seyng the wylle desyre of hym wold noo lenger hyde hys courage but sayd to hym My fayr sone by the fayth that I owe to god I haue had grete desyre that thys maryage shold be made but my doughter for thys present tyme wyl take noo husbond ne be maryed wherfore I haue grete desplaysyr and that for the loue of you to th ende that ye knowe that it holdeth not on me I swere to you that sythe ye departed fro thys toun I haue doon hyr to be kepte in a pryson derke and obscure and hath eten nothyng but brede and water onely and haue sworn that she shal not goo oute of pryson tyl she shal consente to haue you in maryage And thus I praye you that ye take noo desplaysyr yf at thys tyme ye see hyr not for ye may not faylle to haue grete maryage in caas that this faylle you and thenne he ansuerd honourable syr I praye you moche hertely syth that it is so that er I retorne I may speke to hyr and I shal praye hyr as moche as I shal mowe and shal see yf by ony manere I may conuerte hyr fro hyr wylle thenne sayd the doulphyn he was contente Thenne he sente to his doughter clothyng and vestymentes for to clothe hyr and also mete for to ete For in two monethes she had eten but brede and water wherof she was moche feble and that shewed wel in her vysage thus he dyd by cause she shold consente to the maryage And thenne it was concluded that the sone of the duc of bourgoyn shold come see hyr speke with hyr and thenne whan Vyenne sawe thys and had reâ—â—yued all knewe that the sone of the duc of bourgoyn 〈…〉 speke wyth hyr she 〈…〉 hir damoysel fayr 〈…〉 how my fader moder weâ—â— by these vestymentes thys 〈◊〉 that I shold ete to deceyue me and put me fro my purpoos but god for bede that I shold do so thenne she took the henne sayd to hyr that brought it syth it playseth to the sone of the duke to come speke to me say ye to hym that he may not come these iij dayes whan he cometh that he brynge with hym the bysshop of Saynt laurens She that had brought to hyr the henne sayd alle thys vnto the doulphyn and to dame â—yâ—ne hir moder ¶ Thenne vyenne took the two quarters of the henne and put them vnder hyr arme hooles and helde them there so longe that they stonken moche strongely ¶ And whan it came to the thyrd day the bysshop of Saynt Laurence and the sone of the Duke of Bourgoyne camen for to see vyenne and or they entred they opened a treylle whyche gaf lyght in to the pryson ¶ Thenne whan the sone of the duc sawe Vyenne in the pryson he sayd to hir by grete pyte that he had Noble vyenne how wyl ye deye thus for hungre soo folyly by your owne defaulte ¶ And knowe ye not wel that your fader hath gyuen you to me to haue to my wyf wherfore I lyue in grete payne and in moche grete sorowe for the duresse of your courage wherof ye doo ryght grete synne And doubte ye not that god punyssheth you for thynobedyence that ye doo to your fader and to your moder wherfore I praye you fayre Vyenne to telle to me for what cause ye wyl not haue me in maryage to your husbond Doubte ye that whan ye shall be wyth me that ye may not serue god as wel as ye now do that suffre thys payne I promyse you by my fayth that ye shal haue playsaunces and lybertees in al the maners that ye shal conne demaunde Thenne I praye you that ye wyl not here deye so dolorously and yf ye wyl not doo it for the loue of me yet at the leste do it for the loue of your fader and of your moder whyche lyue for you in grete sorowe and in grete heuynesse wherfore ye ought to haue pyte on them WHan Vyenne had herde these wordes she was quasi abasshed and sayd syr sauyng your honour I am maryed how be it ye knowe hym not whome I haue in myn hert And also I knowe and graunte ryght wel that ye be worthy to haue one moche gretter and more hye a lady than I am and I laâ—e you wete that for hym that I desyre I shold suffre more payne than I fele And therfore I praye you that fro hens forth ye speke to me no more of thys mater And also I am so euyl dysposed in my persone that yf it endure in me my lyf shal not be longe and yf it were honeste I shold shewe it you and than shold ye see how it stondeth wyth me Neuertheles approche ye ner to me ye shall the better byleue me And the sone of the duke of bourgoyne the bysshop of saynt laurence approuched vnto vyenne fro whom yssued soo grete a stenche that vnnethe they myght suffre and endure it whiche sauour came fro vnder hyr arme holes of the two quarters of the henne whiche were roten And whan vyenne sawe that they had felte ynough of the stenche she sayd to them lordes ye may now knowe ynough in what aduenture I am dysposed Thenne they took leue hauyng grete compassyon on hyr And they sayd to the dolphyn that vyenne was theÌ„ne half roten and that she stanke and demed in them self that she myght not lyue longe qnd that it shold be grete damage of hyr deth for the souerayn beaute that was in hyr And Incontynent the sone of the duc of bourgoyn took hys leue of the doulphyn and retorned in to hys contrey and recounted to hys fader the lyf of vyenne wherof alle they that herde hym had grete pyte in theyr herte WHan the doulphyn sawe that the maryage was broken by the deffaulte of his doughter VyeÌ„ne he sware that she shold neuer departe fro thens but yf she wold consente to hys wylle And so she abode longe tyme in that pryson where she had grete thought and sorowe for hyr swete and trewe frende parys hyr desyre was on noo thyng but for to here tydynges of parys hyr loue But in the estate
that she was in no man myght brynge hyr tydynges And Edward the felowe of Parys seyng that Vyenne abode in soo grete payne and that none durst speke to hyr he had in his herte grete sorowe was moche moeued of grete pyte and also for the grete loue that he had to parys And concluded to make a chapel in the chyrche that touched the palays of the dolphyn and in a corner he dyd do dygge so depe that it was nyghe to the foundement of the pryson where in vyenne was and by cause he wold not haue the thyng dysclosed he wold that they shold dygge no ferther and whan the chapel was achyeued and fynysshed Edward alle allone dygged hym self so ferre that he made an hole by whyche he spake to vyenne whan he wold whyche caue was made so secretly that no man myÈt apperceyue it Soo it happed on a day Edward byhelde vyeÌ„ne thurgh this hole salewed hyr thenne whan vyenne herd hym knewe hym she had so grete Ioye consolacyon that she semed that she was rysen fro deth to lyf the fyrst tydynges that Vyenne demaunded of hym were yf he knewe ony tydynges of parys edward tolde to hir that it was not longe syth that he had receyued a letter fro hym wryton at genes Thenne said vyeÌ„ne al wepyng to hym alas whan shal the day come that I shal see hym that doon I wold be coÌ„tente that god shold do his wylle of me for none other thyng I desyre in this world Alas fayr brother what semeth you of my lyf of this fayr chambre in whyche I dwelle in certeynly I byleue veryly that yf parys knewe it that for his loue I suffre thus moche sorowe that the hert of hym shold swelte for sorowe and after she tolde to Edward the parlament that she had with the sone of the duc of bourgoyne also of the henne prayed hym that he wold sende worde of al thys to parys that she recommaunded hyr to hym also that she had none other hope in thys world but in hym Edward brought to hyr euery day fro theÌ„ne forthon mete drynke al that was necessarye to hyr for hyr lyf comforted hyr with fayr wordes the best wyse he myght Edward wrote al playnly to parys how for hungre she shold haue been dede ne had he ben whyche dayly pourueyed for hyr al that was to hym necessarye and he wrote to hym alle the manere that Vyenne had holden wyth the sone of the Duke of Bourgoyne And that thys fayre lady Vyenne desyred noo thynge in this world but for to see hym onely And also that she prayed hym that he shold not departe oute of the contree that he was in WHan the noble Parys had receyued the letter fro Edward and knewe that vyenne abode in pryson it is no nede to demaunde yf he had grete despaysyr almoost was in suche caas as to lâ—se his wytte for sorowe And on that other paâ—â—e he had grete drede that she shold be maryed in eschewyng of the grete harme payne that she suffred and herein he was pensyf nyght and day sayeng to hym self I see wel that I may not escape but that vyenne must nedes be maryed and by that moyen hyr loue and myn shal faylle Alas now see I wel that now me byhoueth noo hoope ne truste Alas caytyf and vnhappy what shal byfalle of me I shal goo so ferre that fro hyr I may neuer here tydynges ne also she fro me and after this he bygan ageyn hys complaynte sayeng O veâ—ay god of heuen wherfore hast thou not doon to me soo moche grace that in the stede of hyr I myght suffre the payne that she suffreth for me ¶ O cruel fortune ful of cruel tormente and what hath vyeÌ„ne doon or made that she must suffre so grâ—uous penaunce Alas were it not more reason Iustyce and cause that I whyche haue doon alle thys euyl bere the punycyon certes yes ¶ How Parys sente a letter to Edward hys felowe AFter that he had made hys coÌ„playnte he wrote a letter vnto Edward doyng hym to wyte how he had souerayn sorowe for vyeÌ„ne whiche was in pryson and he thanked hym of the goodnes and dylygence that he had doon toward hyr in prayeng hym that he neuer wold faylle hyr but contynuelly ayde and helpe hyr ¶ And after he wrote to hym how for veray dysplaysyr and melancolye he wold goo in to somme straunge contreye And that fro than forthon he shold sende to hym noo moo letters And that he neuer reiche for to here moo tydynges fro hym nomore than of a deed persone ¶ Thenne whan Edward had receyued these letters fro Paris and knewe that he wold â—straunge hym fro that contree of genes and wold goo in to a strange contreye he was moche wroth and sore agryeued ¶ And thenne Incontynent parys wente and tolde it to the fader and moder of Parys wherof they toke so grete sorowe that they supposed to haue loste theyr wytte And after edward wente and tolde it also to vyenne wherof it nedeth not to demaunde the grete sorowe that she had for it was so grete and ouermoche that yf edward had not comforted hyr she had been dede And thenne she complayned to ysabeau sayeng that sythen she neuer entended to here tydynges of hyr loue Parys she was ryght wel contente to deye and that she wold neuer more haue playsyr of no thynge that was in thys world and that thenne she wold that she were dede And ysabeau comforted hyr alwaye ¶ How parys wente to shyppe at venyse for to goo to the holy sepulâ—re in Iherusalem AFter that pariâ— had sent the letter to Edward In contynent he departed fro genes wyth hys seruaunte and wente to venyse where he took shyppyng and saylled so ferre that he cam to alexandrye where he abode a space of tyme after in that contrey he enformed hym lerned the waye to the mouÌ„te of caluarye and of Iherusalem and how he myght passe surely And afterward Parys concluded to goo in to that contrey a pylgrymage but tofore or he took hys waye he lerned for to speke the langage of moores And whan Parys coude wel speke mouryske he and his varlet took the waye toward ynde Andâ— so ferre laboured by theyr Iourneyes that they arryued in the londe of prester Iohan In whyche he dwelled a longe tyme And in that whyle hye berde grewe longe and after he took the habyte of a more and also lerned alle the custommes and maners of the contree And he had alle waye faste byâ—â—ue in our lord Ihesu Cryste and in the gloryous vyrgyn marye hys swete moder And thus abydyng in thys maner he had grete wylle to goo to Iherusalem to the holy sepulture for to see the holy sayntuaryes for tacoomplysshe the holy pylgremage TheÌ„ne whan he was in Iherusalem he sette al his courage in
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
fayre Thenne he tolde to hym that it was a moche cruel pryson terryble In whyche the souldan helde a prysonner a grete lord baron of the theste whyche was comen for tespye these contreyes TheÌ„ne sayd parys I praye you late vs goo see hym the admyral sayd he shold gladly Thenne they alyghted fro their horses entred in to the pryson and whan parys sawe the doulphyn he had in hys hert grete desplaysyr by cause of the myserable sorouful lyf that he suffred Parys demauÌ„ded of the kepars what man he was And they sayd that he was a grete baron of Fraunce Thenne sayd parys vnderstondeth he mourysshe and they sayd nay but that notwythstondyng yf he wold speke to hym that they shold fynde tourâ—hemâ—n â—nough Thenne sayd Parys he wold retorne another day for to demaunde of hym of the partyes of the weste prayed thadmyral to gyue comandement to the kepars that as ofte as be shâ—â—d come that they shold shewe hym to hym Incontynent he comanded lyke as parys had desyred thenne they departed a fewe dayes after parys retorned and came to the pryson and brought one of the freres wyth hym that coude speke mouryske whan they were wythin the pryson paris sayd to the frere that he shold salewe hym curtoysly Neuertheles the frere knewe noo thynge that parys coude speke frensshe Thenne the frere sayd to the doulphyn that that lord was come for to vysyte hym that he loued wel crysten men that he was wel in the grace of the souldan and that he trusted ys moche in hym as in ony man of hys contreye thus the frere demaunded many thynges of the doulphyn in the name of parys and sayd yf he myght doo for hym he wold gladly WHan the doulphyn herde the relygious frere thus speke in the persone of the moure he was moche abasshed in hys courage bysechyng our lord that he wold put hym in suche courage good wylle for to brynge hym out of pryson Parys desyred to here tydynges of the fayr vyenne sayd to the frere that he shold aske of the doulphyn yf he had ony wyf or chyldren Thenne the dolphyn began to wepe said that he had a wyf a doughter holden for the fayrest of Fraunce whom he helde in pryson bycause she wold take noo husbond Thenne paris began to comforte hym by the mouthe of the frere sayeng that he shold take alle in pacyence god shold yet ones delyuer hym oute of pryson by whyche wordes the doulphyn was so reioyced Ioyous that hym semed that god had appyered to hym the doulphyn sayd to the frere that it was grete pyte that the moure was not crysten prayed our lord that he wold gyue to hym puyssaunce to kepe hym in that good wylle that he had so departed that one fro that other moche comforted Thenne parys sayd to the kepars that he had founde so grete playsyr in the prysonner that he wold ofte tymes come for to dyspoâ—te hym and they sayd whan it playsed hym he shold retorne be welcome and thenne parys sayd to the freres that were in that place yf I thought to be sure of you I thynke wel to fynde the moyen to brynge thys prysonner out of pryson the freres were moche admerueylled of thys whiche parys had sayd to them and they sayd to hym by the fayth that we owe to our god that of vs ye nede not to doubte in caas that ye be in wylle late vs assaye but it must be doon secretely for ye see wel how many kepars been there contynuelly Thenne sayd Parys I shal gyue to you good counceyl and remedye of alle thys but I wyl haue two thynges The fyrst thynge is I wyl that ye goo wyth me That other is that he shal gyue to me my lyuyng honourably in hys contre for I am in grete doubte whan I haue delyuerd hym and shal be in hys contreye that he wyl sette nought by me and I can noo mestyer ne crafte and soo I myght be wel deceyued Therfore yf he wyl assure me that he wyl gyue to me a yefte suche as I shal demaunde hym whan I shal be in hys contreye I shal delyuer hym shal leue my contree for loue of hym ye may see in what estate I am On the morne Parys and the freres came in to the pryson the frere recounted al thys to the doulphyn whan the doulphyn vnderstood thys hym thought that god bare hym awaye sayd I thanke god thys moure of the good wylle that he hath toward me For I neuer dyd hym seruyce ne playsyr wherfore he ought to do so moche for me Neuertheles I hope that is the playsyr of god that he shal delyuer me oute of pryson I am redy to swere vpon the body of Ihesu Cryst or I euer departe from hens that assone as I shal be in myn owne lande I shal mayntene hym in more gretter estate than he ne is here and I wyl that he doo alle hys wylle of al my londe for it shal suffyse to me onely that I haue a â—yuyng for me and my wyf and I shal do al that he wylle and so say ye to hym on my behalue And thenne the frere tolde al to parys that whych the doulphyn had sayd and promysed to do and to th ende that parys shold be more sure he sayd to the frere that he shold brynge to fore hym the body of our lord Ihesu cryst and that tofore hym he shold swere to holde alle that he promysed and the frere tolde it to Parys and the doulphyn sware it tofore Parys to accomplysshe alle that he had promysed And whan he had sworne to the ende that Parys shold be the better contente the doulphyn receyued the precyous body of our lord Ihesu Cryst sayeng that it shold be to the dampnacyon of hys soule in caas that he accomplysshed not al that he had promysed whan they shold be in his londe and whan thys was doo parys and the freres departed fro the doulphyn and wente to the porte for to wyte yf there were ony fuste that wold come hytherward and by aduenture they fonde a fuste and Parys wyth the freres spake to the patrone and promysed hym a M besaunts of gold yf they wold lete haue passage fyue persones The Patron seyng the grete tresour sayd to them that he was contente but he wold haue half at the porte and sayd to them lordes I praye you make you redy For in caas that the moures of thys londe fonde vs we shold be al dede ¶ Thenne sayd Parys make your self al redy for thys nyght at mydnyght I shal come And after thys Parys retorned to hys lodgyng dyd do make redy moche vytayll and the best wynes that he coude gete he with the freres maad prouysyon of alle other thynges
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
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