Capitulo xxxvij ¶ How Olyuer layde hym downe syke and how Helayne was syke for hym also and how by her faders leue she wente and vysyted hym Capitulo xxxviij ¶ How Olyuer after yâ— the fayre Helayne had vysyted hym came in to the courte and of the messenger of the kynge of Irlonde that came and desyed the kynge of fyre and blode Capitulo xxxix ¶ How Olyuer requyred the kynge of Englande for to gyue hym men to go agaynst them so he had Ca. xl ¶ How Olyuer after yâ— he was departed in armes from London came afore a towne that the Irysshmem had â—esyeged and vaynquysshed them Capitulo xli ¶ How Olyuer sente the kynge of Englande lettres yâ— his enemyes were dyscomfyted and torned in to flyghte and of his enterpryse â—aken Capitulo xlij ¶ How Olyuer entred into Irlonde and assyeged a kyÌ„ge the whiche was socoured of foure kyÌ„ges the whiche he dyscomfyted Capitulo xliij ¶ How the castell and towne where as was assyeged a kynge of Irlonde dyde yelde them Capitulo xliiij ¶ How Olyuer after dyders thynges sente to denounce his comynge to the kynge of Englande and of the honoure that was done to hym Capitulo xlv ¶ How Olyuer came in to the courte accompanyed of seuen kyÌ„ges prysoners of the whiche he made a present to the kynge of Englande Capitulo xlvi ¶ How the kynge of Englande gaue his doughter Helayne to Olyuer in gueâ—don of the seruyces that he had done to hym Capitulo xlvij ¶ How the Kynge made Olyuer for to aryse that was on his knees and of theyr gracyous wordes and how Olyuer handfest the fayre Helayne Capitulo xlviij ¶ How Olyuer wedded the fayre Helayne and of the solempâ—yte that was made Capitulo xlix ¶ How Olyuer was vertuous in appesynge noyses debates and how his wyfe was with chylde of a sayre sone Capitulo L. ¶ How Olyuer wente on huntynge and of the vysyon of his wyfe yâ— whiche she tolde vnto her husbaÌ„de Ca. li. ¶ How the sone of the kynge of Irlonde of whome Olyuer had slayne his fader at the torneyment founde Olyuer all alone from his men and toke hym prysoner and of the grete dole that was made for hym Capitulo li◠¶ How Arthur of Algarbe was regent of Castylle and of the enterpryse that he made for to fynde his felowe olyuer Capitulo liij ¶ How Arthur departed and put hym on the waye for to fynde his felowe Olyuer of his aduentures liiij ¶ How Arthur slewe a meruaylous beest in the forest lv ¶ How Arthur beynge sore hurte lyenge in the wood â—ppered to hym an auncyent knyghte that heled hym tolde vnto hym the place where as his felowe was prysoner Capitulo lvi ¶ How Arthur by the coÌ„maundement of the knyghte wente to London to the kynge of Englande and of the Ioye that they made to hym thynkynge that it had ben Olyuer Capitulo lvij ¶ How Arthur came and vysyted Helayne that wende that he had ben Olyuer her husbande and of the solempnyte that was made Capitulo lviij ¶ How Arthur laye with Olyuers wyfe without vylaynous touchynge and how he departed for to fynde his felowe Olyuer Capitulo lix ¶ How Arthur toke the kynge that helde Olyuer in pryson and made hym delyuer hym clene Capitulo lx ¶ How Olyuer and Arthur departed from Irlonde how Olyuer by Ire kest hym of his hors by cause that he had layne with his wyfe Capitulo lxi ¶ How Olyuer demeaned grete dole for the dyspleasure that he had done to his felowe Arthur Capitulo lxij ¶ How Olyuer departed from London and came to the place where as he hadde lefte his felowe and how he cryed hym mercye Capitulo lxiij ¶ How Arthur after that he was heled by the lycence of the kynge of Englande passed in to Irlonde and had vengeaunce of the kynge that helde Olyuer his felowe in pryson Capitulo lxiiij ¶ How Arthur layde hym downe of a grete sykenesse of the grete dyspleasure that Olyuer hadde Ca. lxv ¶ Of the dreme vysyon that Olyuer had foure nyghtes togyder in lykewyse it semed to Arthur that his helthe was in the power of his felowe Olyuer and that whiche ought to be done for to he le hyÌ„ Capitulo lxvi ¶ How Olyuer for to reÌ„dre helthe to his felowe Arthur slewe his two chyldren for to haue theyr blode and gyue it hym to drynke Capitulo lxvij ¶ How Olyuer in a basyn of syluer brought the blode of his two chyldren to his felowe Arthur and made hym for to drynke it wherfore he was all heled Ca. lxviij ¶ Of the grete myracle the god shewed to Olyuer of Castyll for his loyalte in reuyuynge his two chyldren that he had slayne Capitulo lxix ¶ How Olyuer afore the kynge of Englande and the other barons of the realme and euen afore his wyfe tolde his aduentures and meruaylous fortunes Ca. lxx ¶ How Olyuer sente his felowe Arthur in to Castyl for to denounce his comynge and how the kynge of EnglaÌ„de accompanyed Olyuer and his fayre doughter Helayne in to Castylle Capitulo lxxi ¶ How the whyte knyght appered to Olyuer oppressed hym for to kepe his promesse that was to gyue hym the halfe of that the whiche he had wonne at the torneymente Capitulo lxxij ¶ How Olyuer and his wyfe demeaned grete dole bycause that the whyte knyght toke one of theyr chyldren for his halfe and the whiche it was and of other mysteryes Capitulo lxxiij ¶ How the knyght had pyte of Olyuer hauyÌ„ge knowlege of his loyalte and quyted hym all And how he made hym knowen to hym Capitulo lxxiiij ¶ How Olyuer gaue his doughter in maryage to Arthur kynge of Algarbe and of the dethe of Olyuer and Helayne his wyfe Capitulo ixxv. ¶ How Henry of Castylle Olyuers sone was prysoner and deyed in turkye The last chapytre And after is the epylogacyon of all the boke ¶ Finis tabule ¶ The presentacyon and introyte of this present booke TO the ryght holy and ryght well eâ—rous louynge and magnyfycence of oure saueoure Ihesu cryst and of his ryght doulce and gloryous modâ—r saynt Marye the whiche ben the mocyons of all good operacyons with out the whiche none can be begonne nor ended I Henry Watson apprentyse of London trustynge in the grace of god hathe enterprysed for to translate this present hystorye out of Frensshe in to Englysshe oure moders tonge at the coÌ„maundement of my worshypfull mayster Wynkyn de worde not hauynge regarde for to laye it in another or in more dyffused termes thaÌ„ the frensshe doth specyfye for in doynge so I myght lyghtly haue fayled Wherfore I requyre all them that shall rede it or that hereth it redde for to holde for excused my lytell and obscure vnderstandynge In praynge our lorde that he gyue me grace for to fynysshe it by suche maner that it may be pleasaunt and agreable and profytable vnto the reders and vnto the herers of
loue that proceded from his herte Then the fayre Helayne apperceyued that he thought strongely vpon her and she had no thyÌ„ge kerued afore her for to ete For Olyuer had gyueÌ„ her none wherfore she sayd by dyuers tymes Olyuer my frende I wolde ete gladly yf ye gaue me wherof Olyuer that thought on other thynges herde her not at yâ— fyrst tyme. And whan his vnderstandynge was comen agayn all ashamed he began for to serue and as he that had no thought on that whiche he dyde cut his fyngre â—ll moost of Wherfore he departed from thens incontynent and gaue another to serue Helayne apperceyuynge these thyÌ„ges knewe apperceyued clerely yâ— thought of Olyuer wherof she was nothynge gladde whan she sawe hym in suche poynt for her loue ¶ How Olyuer layde hym downe in his bedde soore syke and how that Helayne was syke also for hym of theyr complayntes and how Helayne gate leue of her fader go to vysyte Olyuer Capitulo xxxviii OLyuer comeÌ„ in to his lodgys entred all alone in to his chambre and layde hym downe vpon his bedde in complaynynge hym so pyteously that it was grete pyte for to here He cursed the god of loue that had wounded hym so profoundly with his hambynge darte and bounde hym in his bandes soo vyolently wherfore he sawe appertely that he must nedes deye for he abode none allegeaunce nor mercye of his anguysshous maladye Ha kynge of EnglaÌ„de sayd Olyuer yf thy worde had ben verytable as a kynges ought to be I had not fallen in this extremyte that I am nowe in Thus as ye haue herde demeaned Olyuer his sorowe by longe space of tyme and contynued so in that he was greuously sycke and layde hym downe in his naked bedde Wherof the Kynge and all they of the courte were ryghte dyspleasaunt And the kynge vysyted hym ryght famylyerly and made hym to be sumptuously kepte and taken heede to of his physycyons But aboue all them that were dolaunt the noble Helayne passed notwithstaÌ„dynge she made no semblaunt outwarde And on a tyme as yâ— physycyens came to her as it is theyr custome for to vysyte prynces and prencesses she demaunded them how Olyuer dyde and yf that he amended not They answered naye and sayd that they had grete doubte of his lyfe Whan Helayne herde these tydynges she was so dolent that she myght scarsely susteyne herselfe TheÌ„ she with drewe her in to her garderobe and gaue them to vnderstande that she was sycke therfore she layde her downe on her bedde made her to be couered for to couer the better her dole And whan the ladyes were voyded she began to saye with a softe voyce O god almyghtye creatour of heuen and erthe the whiche after thy pleasure dysposeth all erthely thynges And thou ryght doulce quene of heuen lady of the worlde and empresse of helle also truely as thou bare .ix. monthes in thy blessyd flankes the veray sone of god thyn espouse and that conceyued hym a vyrgyn and delyuered hym a vyrgyn and yâ— arte aduocate and refuge of all desolate creatures I beseche the that thou wylte counsayll me vnhappy and vnfortuned woman O gloryous vyrgyn Marye wherfore hathe thy blessyd sone gyuen me soo moche beaute for to be cause of the dethe of the moost fayrest and moost valyauntest knyght that euer was sene the whiche am in dygne of this grace Wherfore I beseche the that thou kepe this gentyll knyght the whiche hathe not my soone me in no maner of the worlde wherby I sholde put hym in this ryght daungerous peryll and that thou dysdeyne not for to tell me myn honour saued how that I myght gyue hym allegeaunce of his maladye Whyles that she complayned so to god and to our lady a lyghte sompne toke her wherthrughe she was constrayned to slepe In her slepe her semed that our lady spake to her and sayd Helayne my sone I haue herde thy request The knyght for whome thou hast prayed is sycke to the dethe And bycause that thou arte cause of his maladye thou must be cause also of his guarysshyÌ„ge and helthe go towarde thy fader and demaunde hym lycence for to â—o se hym whan thou shalte be there put hym in memorye that the yeres ende approcheth nere that thou shalte haue so good mynde on hym that it shall suffyse hym Helayne a waked ryght Ioyous of her vysyoÌ„ and in thankynge god and our lady arose and wente towarde her fader the whiche gaue her leue to go vysyte Olyuer and so she wente theder with a lytell company And whan she was entred in to the chambre she approched towarde the bedde where as Olyuer was that alredye had lost his knowlege and with the teres in her eyen named hym her frende in demaundynge hym how he dyde Olyuer knewe the voyce of his mayâ—â—â—esse and lyfte vp his eyen in makynge a lytell syghe anguysshous for other thynge coude he not answere Helayne apperceyued that he had but lytell knowlege wherfore she approched more nerer and sayd with a lowe voyce Alas my frende what lacke ye wyll ye leue me a wydowe do ye not knowe yâ— the ende of the twelue monthe approcheth By my trouth my frende your maladye doth greue me so sore that ye can not byleue it wherfore I pray you that ye wyll thynke for to guarysshe you and yf there be ony thynge that I can do for you tell it me And eueÌ„ so god helpe me myn honoure salued I knowe no maÌ„ for whome I wolde do more than for you ¶ How Olyuer after that the fayre Helayne had vysyted hym came to the courte and of the messenger of the Kynges of Irlande sente to the Kynge of Englande for to defye hym of fyre and blode Capitulo xxxix AS Olyuer herde yâ— swete voyce of his maystres that recomforted hym so swetely he forced hym for to speke and with grete payne thanked her and with payne myght he absteyne hym from saynge that she was cause of his dethe and as she that loued hym sayd to hym Fayre syr thynke for to waxe hole and come to the courte For vpon my fayth ye shall be ryght welcome Then she toke leue of hym and retorned and it was neuer a daye after but that she shente for to knowe how he dyde and with that she sente hym ryght largely of her wynes and dyde so moche that within shorte tyme he was strouÌ„ge ynoughe for to promayne hym aboute his chambre as he that had had a good physycyen in his maladye And it was not longe after that he wente in to the courte and whan he felte hymselfe that he was entyerly hole he serued his maystres as he had done before The whiche made hym greter chere than she was accustomed to do In suche wyse yâ— Olyuer was more beauteuous than euer he had beÌ„ afore Helayne that apperceyued that Olyuer was out of daunger put hym in remembraunce of the regrettes and complayntes that she had made
The prologue vpon the hystorye of Olyuer of Castylle BYcause that the memorye is the reteynynge nature humayne for his fragylyte is strongely mouable goodly hathe ben introducte that the reasons concludynge intendybly yâ— saynges and also auctorytes of sayntes and dyscrete men semblably hystoryes and examples worthy of commemoracyon ben reduced by wrytynge for to shewe to them that ben to come that whiche hathe be sayd and done before to the instruccyon and saluacyon of the soule of euery good crysteÌ„ man ¶ Now it is thus that is this present tyme the scryptures by the arte and ingenyous practyke of Pryntynge be multeplyed in suche a wyle that dyuers fayre and coÌ„modyous ensygnynges and ensamples ben had of whiche fewe folkes had the bokes and congnyssaunce nowe they ben put forth and vttred for so lytell a pryse that it can not be lyghtely lesse neuerthelesse bycause of the vnderstaÌ„dynge comune that is better contente for to reteyne the hystoryes and examples than other thynge dyuers hystoryes ben put in wrytynge And amonge the other hystoryes is one founde of longe tyme wryten the whiche is named the hystorye of Olyuer of Castylle and Arthur of Algarbe his loiall felowe the whiche for theyr vertues and to loue better honoure than to consente to euyll had grete aduersytees and meruaylous fortunes and aduentures the whiche by grete loyalte and ardaunt charyte and also fydelyte and promesse toke an ende solytarye ¶ Here begynneth the table of this present boke ¶ Tabula ¶ The fyrste chapytre speketh of the natyuyte of Olyuer of Castylle and of the dethe of his moder Capitulo j. ¶ How Olyuer was borne to be baptysed and the body of his mod borne to be buryed And how Embassodours were coÌ„mysed for to mary the kynge agayne Ca. ii ¶ How the maryage was treated betwene the quene of Algarbe Arthurs moder and the kynge of Castylle Olyuers fader Capitulo iij. ¶ How the Kynge of Castylle wedded the quene of Algarbe and ledde her in to Castylle with her sone Arthur that resembled Olyuer Capitulo iiij ¶ How Olyuer and Arthur were put to lernynge and of the Iustes that were made by them Capitulo v. ¶ How the quene of Castylle began for to loue Olyuer dyshonestlye Capitulo vi ¶ How the quene gaue Olyuer for to vnderstande that she loued hym carnally and of the couerte answers of Olyuer to honoure Capitulo vij ¶ How Olyuer departed all trouble of the requestes of his stepmoder and how he prayed god for to reuoke her from her carnall desyre Capitulo viij ¶ How the quene yet agayne declared her courage to Olyuer desyrynge hym to fulfyll her carnall desyre of Olyuers fayre denyenge Capitulo ix ¶ How Olyuer refused vtterly the quene his stepmoder of all her dyshonest loue And how she menaced hym to the dethe Capitulo x. ¶ How Olyuer abode all alone in his chambre where as he made dyuers complayntes and of the lettre that he wrote to his felowe and wherat he sholde knowe yf that he had ony thynge but good Capitulo xi ¶ How Olyuer departed all alone withont ouy company and came to a hauen of the see where as he founde a shyp in the whiche he entred with a knyght that he founde there of Englande Capitulo xij ¶ How Arthur of Algarbe came in to the chambre of his broder Olyuer that made grete dole for his departyng Capitulo xiij ¶ How the Kynge of Castylle came in to Oliuers chambre and of the grete dole that he demeaned whaÌ„ he fouÌ„de hym not Capitulo xiiij ¶ How the kynge sente after his sone and of his lamentacyous and of them yâ— the quene made whan she sawe that all doloure was comen by her cause Ca. xv ¶ Of the grete fortune that happened to Olyuer vpon the see and how he and the Englysshe knyght were preserued from drownynge Capitulo xvi ¶ How the knyght Olyuers felowe deyed xvij ¶ How Olyuer dyde burye the knyght and of the Iustes that were publysshed in Englande and he that sholde do best sholde haue the kyÌ„ges doughter to wyfe xviij ¶ How Olyuer was assayled of theues the whiche he slewe and of the whiche happened to hym vpon the waye towarde London Capitulo xix ¶ How a knyghte came and recomforted Olyuer and of the promesses that they had togyder Capitulo xx ¶ How Olyuer came in to the hermytage Capitulo xxi ¶ How Olyuer sawe dyuers knyghtes and other folke in grete estate and dyuersly clothed Capitulo xxij ¶ Of the grete Ioye that Olyuer had whan he sawe the fayre stedes and the ryche clothynges that his knyghte had brought hym and how he armed hym and of the ryche pauylyon and beaute of the fayre Helayne doughter of the kynge of Englande Capitulo xxiij ¶ Of the grete meruaylles â—hat Olyuer dyde at the â—orneyment and how he dyde better thaÌ„ ony other xxiiij ¶ How Olyuer retorned in to the hermytage the seconde tyme without makynge hym for to be knoweÌ„ xxv ¶ How Olyuer came the seconde tyme to the torneyment and how he wanne the sygne of the defendauntes of the Iustes Capitulo xxvi ¶ How Olyuer dyde withdrawe hym in to the hermytage after that he had vaynquysshed the torneyment and of the dyspleasure of the kynge and his doughter by cause of the deed men Capitulo xxvij ¶ How Olyuer came in to yâ— torneymeÌ„t the thyrde daye and bare awaye the honoure aboue all by his grete prowesse and how the kyÌ„ge commysed .xx. knyghtes for to take hym to the ende yâ— he knewe what he was xxviij ¶ How Olyuer was taken by the knyghtes that the kynge had commysed and how his seruauntes vanysshed a waye how he founde clothes fynaunces Ca. xxix ¶ How Olyuer founde grete fynaunces seruantes and clothes and how he was ledde to the banquet and in to the courte with grete honoure of the knyghtes that had taken hym Capitulo xxx ¶ How Olyuer came in to the kynge of Englandes courte where as he was receyued with grete reuerence of the kynge and of all the other lordes and ladyes Ca. xxxi ¶ How in secrete the pryce was ordeyned for Olyuer by the Iuges commyssed and the counsayll of the kynge approued for to aduertyse Olyuer Capitulo xxxij ¶ How the kynge of EnglaÌ„de came towarde his doughter and demauÌ„ded her to whome her semed that yâ— pryce sholde be gyuen to and of her answers Ca. xxxiij ¶ How the pryce of the torneyment was brought to Olyuer by dyuers lordes and ladyes and what was the pryce Capitulo xxxiiij ¶ How Olyuer requyred the kyng of Englande that he wolde reteyne hym of his courte and that he myghte be keruer afore his doughter Helayne the whiche was accorded to hym Capitulo xxxv ¶ How Olyuer was reteyned of the kynges courte and kerued afore his doughter made the othe accustomed Capitulo xxxvi ¶ How Olyuer was surprysed of the loue of Helayne cut his fynger in seruynge her
not fynde hym in defaute saynge that he was not there as he hadde appoynted hym to abyde And in that estate he passed the two dayes And whan it came vnto yâ— daye that euery gentylman and lorde oughte for to be fynde hymself vpon the lystes and ye may ymagyne in what dolour was the poore Olyuer And yf that his herte was sory and dyspleasaunte no body ought to meruayll them for he stode afore the dore of the hermytage alwaye herkeâ—â—nge yf that his knyght came for there fell not a lefe but that he wende that he had comen he abode so longe that he was out of all esperaunce and hope And he stode in that estate sore musynge he herde grete noyse of ryders amonge the leues And then Olyuer thought that it was some grete gentylman that rode to the torneyment as the other lordes dyde And theÌ„ he kest his regarde that waye where he herde the noyse And aspyed to the nombre of fyftene gentylmen clothed in blacke saâ—seneâ— And the surplus of theyr habyllementes was of the same colour and they were mounted on blacke coursers and theyr coursers were trapped all in blacke veluet and eche of them hadde a spere in his hande that was couered with blacke veluet And then he sawe come after therin ten knyghtes â—abylyed in longe gownes of blacke veluet and furred with martres and â—edde after them a courser morell the whiche hadde â—uskynges of clothe of golde vp to the bely and he was enâ—yronneâ— with xv pages mounted vpon coursers of yâ— same colour and buskynges of the same colour And after them was 〈◊〉 score pages of the same lyueâ—ay reserued that it was clothe ¶ Of the grete Ioye that Olyuer had whan he sawe the fayre stedes and the ryche parementes that his knyght had brought to hym and how he armed hyÌ„ of the ryche paâ—ciyon of the fayre Helayne the kynges doughter of EnglaÌ„de of her beaute Ca. xxiij HIs folke clothed and habylyed as ye haue herde afore rode vnto the hermytage and then euery body â—oued and abode there all â—oye and salued Olyuer that was afore yâ— bare and he full gentylly rendred to them theyr salute And as he behelde that fayre company hyÌ„ thought that the knyght with the longest gowne was yâ— same knyght that spake vnto hym in the wood wherof he was ryght gladde and weÌ„te for to salue hym but as soone as the knyght apperceyued hym comynge he aâ—yghted of his horse and came agaynst hym and after he sayd to hym Olyuer good frende these meÌ„ that ye se here I haue brought them vnto you And bycause that we ben comen from ferre for to do you seruyce and honour I praye you that ye do so moche at his â—â—â—neyment that ye haue honour and that we lese not our payne Olyuer answered hym ryght curteysly My lorde and my frende ye do so moche for me that I can neuer rendre you the guerdon wherfore suche as I am ye may coÌ„maunde me for thâ—â—â—dy is yours and at this tyme I can not gyue you no better thynge I praye to god that he gyue me grace for to deserue it agaynst you and that he gyue me strengthe for to doo as well as I haue the volente These wordes fynysshed yâ— knyght sayd to hym that it was hye houre for to arme hym And therfore in a fayre grene place yâ— was afore yâ— hermytage there was a chayre brought wherin Olyuer set hym for to take his refeccyon and then after they armed hym dylygently In yâ— meane whyle that he armed hym the ladyes came in to the felde and brought with them yâ— fayre Helayne doughter of the kynge of Englande and ledde her in to the pauelyon that for her was ordeyned and it was hanged with tapysserye of clothe of golde ryght ryche and there was a chayre reysed vp on hye in the whiche chayre was .x. steppes or that they myght come to the syege aboue ouer the whiche was a canape of purple veluet charged full of grete perles oryentales and had in the myddes therof a Carbuncle that rendred so grete lumere yâ— it was meruayll for to beholde it In the syege aboue as I haue receyted to you was sette the excellent Helayne And vpon eche of the forsayd steppes satte two Iuges That is for to knowe a prynce and a pryncesse echone after his degree The other ladyes and damoyselles the whiche was there without nombre put theym in theyr places and scaffoldes that were for theÌ„ ordeyned and ensygned And in lyke wyse on the other syde was a grete company of noble and valyaunt knyghtes and lordes of this realme of Englande Ye may well thynke that it was grete tryumphe and grete solace for the men of armes for to beholde so fayre a companye aboute the noble and excellent Helayne and euery thynge so well ordeyned as that thynge was there for her sake the whiche was so rychely apparaylled that nonâ— can not reherse the lyght that the precyous stones rendred that were aboutâ— her the whiche embelysshed her excellent vysage Who that hadde sene her in that estate he wolde haue thought that she hadde ben a thyng of the other worlde for I thynke that at her nayssauÌ„ce and byrthe nature had put all her excellence and grace Yf that she was semely of body and excellent of vysage it was nothynge in comparyson towarde the gyftes of grace where with she was endowed for all excellence and bounte honoure huÌ„blenesse doulsure and swetnesse and all other vertues and good condycyons that in ony womaÌ„ of noble lygnage apperteyned florysshed in her And therfore she sholde be ryght eurous in this wretched worlde that myght attayne vnto so hyghe a thynge as for to haue for his parte the floure and lyesse of this worlde And euen thus euery body put hymselfe in payne for to conquere her And there was not one but that hym semed that he wolde conquere her or elles deye in the payne ¶ Of the grete meruaylles that Olyuer dyde at the torneyment aboue them all Capitulo xxiii ANd then the ladyes were not soo sone in the scaffoldes but that the four hondred knyghtes were vpon the felde redy for to withstande all comers as ye haue herde before for the torneyment sholde last thre dayes The fyrst daye was ordeyned for to Iust. The seconde daye for to torneye not as they do nowe a dayes but with sharpe swerdes and not rebatred The thyrde day was for to fyght on fote and euery body myght haue an axe of armes and a swerde aboute hym And bycause that they were many knyghtes they had grete place they with out had knowlege that they of within were alredy at the lystes vpon the felde and all the ladyes redy for to beholde them whiche sholde do best euery knyght put hym in deuoyre for to Iuste the fyrste Neuerthelesse Olyuer was not the fyrste for there was many there afore hym As the kynges sone of Scotlande and dyuers
and how he was broughte in to the Kynges courte with grete reuerence of the knyghtes that had taken hym Capitulo xxx OLyuer that fouÌ„de hymselfe all alone in his chaÌ„bre sat hym downe for the .xx. knyghtes hadde taken leue of hym and were gone for to dysarme them to be at the feest seynge that he had tyme ynoughe begaÌ„ne for to tell his moneye and founde that there was .v. M. nobles wherfore he thanked god and the noble knyght that had had soo good remembraunce on hym Whyles that he put vp his golde in to his bougette entred in to the chambre fyue gentyll squyers clothed in whyte satyn .x. varlets clothed in whyte clothe whiche salued hym saynge My lorde your mayster stewarde hathe ben here this after none and hathe gyuen eche of vs a gowne and tolde vs that it was your lyueray and that ye shold reteyne vs in your seruyce and therfore we come towarde you to knowe and it be yâ—ur wyll for there is none of vs but that he hathe good mayster for some be the Erle of Flaundres men and the other the dukes of Somerset And thus eche of vs hath good maysters but they haue as many seruauntes as theym nede the. And for the valyauÌ„tnesse that we haue sene in you we become your seruauÌ„tes yf it be your pleasure Olyuer answered theÌ„ and sayd My frendes of your grace ye saye more good of me than I haue deserued Ans as I vnderstaÌ„de eche of you hathe a good mayster and better than I am but and it be your wyll I reteyne you all And to morowe syth that ye be men of knowlege I shall enquere of your estate and thenne to eche of you I shall gyue suche estate as to you apperteyneth One of yâ— seruauntes sayd to hym My lorde your mayster stewarde hathe ordeyned me your palfreynere therfore ye shall tell me yf it please you what I shall do with your horses For I haue fyue good coursers two lytell hobyes ryght fayre of whiche he badde me take good heede And bycause that it is ferre to the courte I thynke ye wyll not gâ— on fote therfore yf it please you ye shal tell me whiche of your horses ye wyll haue and what harneys I shall put vpon hym whether that of veluet crymosyn or that of beten golde yf that it please you that your four pages shall come towarde you Olyuer was moche abasshed and made the sygne of the crosse and sayd to hym My frende go in goddes name sadle one of the two lytell hobyes whiche thou louest best and put on hym the harnes of beten golde and make the pages come with two torches for to lyght me in to the courte And theÌ„ Olyuer commauÌ„ded for to vndo the fardell and so it was done And founde thre sortes of clotynge for hym of the same colours that he hadde worne durynge the torneyment that is to wyte blacke rede and whyte The hosen were of scarlet the gownes of veluet the doublettes of blacke damaske fygured and the hatte of blacke vpon the whiche was a ryght gentyll and ryche ouche of stones ryght curyously wrought there was in it an e an o togyder Wherfore he began for to kysse it and sayd alowe Fayre fader god yf that thou wylte extende soo moche thy grace on me that my fortune were suche that Olyuer Helayn myght come so nere togyder as these two lettres I sholde be moche beholden to thanke thy grete maieste In yâ— same wordes Olyuer clothed hym and founde that his clothynge were so well made for hym that there coude none amende them He was not so sone clothed but that his hors was redy abydynge hym at the dore and his foure pages And within shorte tyme after yâ— knyghtes that had brought hym theder came for to fetche hym and tolde hym that it was hyghe tyme to goo in to the courte They they mounted on horsbacke and the torches were lyghted that conduyted them in to yâ— courte ¶ How Olyuer came in to the courte of the ryght noble kynge of Englande where as he was receyued of all yâ— lordes and lâ—dyes with grete Ioye Ca. xxxi WHaÌ„ Olyuer was afore the gate of yâ— palays he began for to smyte his hors with yâ— sporres yâ— whiche made lepes without noÌ„bre dyde all that his mayster wolde haue hyÌ„ do he made fyre to sprynge out of the payment in suche haboundaunce that euery body loked out at the wyndowes to beholde hym in suche estate he came to the place where it was tyme to alyght And bycause yâ— he was so semely a knyght there was grete prece to be holde hym There was so huge a nombre of folke that with grete payne he myghte descende and passe forthe The tydynges came to the kynge and to the other pryÌ„ces that theder were comen how yâ— whyte knyght was comen and mounted vp the steyres and sayd that and his beaute were lost that in all the worlde it myghte not be recouered and in lyke wyse these tydynges were pronounced to the ladyes the whiche demaunded what maner a man he was and it was tolde them that he was a heed of werke that there was neuer sene a more fayrer knyght And durynge these wordes he entred in to yâ— halle where as all the lordes were and salued the kyÌ„ge The whiche by semblaunt made hym ryght grete chere and honour and so dyde all the other lordes the whiche sholdred one another for to se hym for his excellente be aute There was many that at his comynge wolde that he hadde ben a thousande myle thens and in especyall they that hadde done beste nexte hym dyde curse hym in theyr courage but his physnamye and maneres were so swete that he sholde haue ben ryghte cursed yâ— wolde haue done hym ony harme So as he was fested on euery syde the ryght fayr and good Helayne accompanyed with dyuers grete lordes and ladyes came in to the hall apparaylled aourned so rychely that her habyllementes were worthe a realme for there was neuer sene the pareylles or lyke Her beaute enlumyned the palays the whiche exceded all natures werke And thynke not that that Helayne for whome Troye receyued soo many aduersytes passed this But bycause that comparysons be heynous and noysous I holde my peas in retornynge to my purpose The fayre Helayne of Englande seynge the thought of her lorde and fader set her vpon her knees and made to hym reuerence and honoure as it apperteyned The kynge her fader toke her by the hande and made her for to aryse in saynge that she was ryght well come And thenne she was salued of all the other kâ—yghtes lordes vnto whome she rendred echone theyr salute after theyr qualyte as she coude do full well Thenne was Olyuer brought afore her the whiche knewe hym as sone as she sawe hym For he was easy for to knowe amongest them all Wherfore she behelde hym voluntarylye and it
Irlande came and the other twayne abode for to accompany the fayre Helayne ¶ How Olyuer wedded the fayre Helayne and of yâ— solempnyte of the espousaylles Capitulo xlix RYght sone after that all these thynges were redy Olyuer came in to the courte accoÌ„panyed as ye haue herde afore wente to the portall of the chapell where as he fouÌ„de the Arche bysshop redy They hadde not beÌ„ loÌ„ge there whan that they herde comynge to them grete foyson of trompettes and mynstrelles and began for to sowne and come to warde the chapell after them and there came dyuers kynges and herauldes of armes and after came the Usshers And after theym then came Helayne aourned as it apperteyneth to a bryde and to a lady of so ryall a lygnage She was accompanyed of dyuers ladyes and damoyselles that folowed her And with this she was on the ryght hande of two kynges And came a softe paas vnto the place where as Olyuer abode her And they hadde not ben longe there whan the kynge came at whose comynge they were wedded The seruyce was done The tables were layde then they set them to dyner after that the ladyes were retorned frome the chambres Who that wolde deuyse to you the scruyce of the sayd dyner the gyftes that were gyuen as well on the one sydâ— as on the other it sholde be to longe a thynge to recouÌ„te The yonge men of the kynges courte that neuer were dyfferent to no thynge that was for Iustes made crye a Iustynge for the after dyner where as the ladyes were Also a torneyment was cryed .xvj. agaynst xvi that was a ryght fayre syght to se. Olyuer Iusted not bycause he sholde not be defouled to the ende that he sholde be fresshe for to daunce at nyghte but he was mouÌ„ted on a grete courser and dyde meruaylles He serued one of the kynges of Irlande that for to do hym honoure Iusted and foure of the other also And dyde soo well that twayne of the fyue had the pryce one within and the other without And it was gyuen theym or that they departed from the tyltes as they that hadde done best And after that euery body was comeÌ„ to the courte the ladyes were clothed in newe gownes And then they wente to the banquet that was alredy apparaylled Yf they were well seruyd it is no nede to demaunde it For there was neuer a fayrer feest in England after that of the grete torneyment that had ben afore And whan it was after the banquet the daunces began and Olyuer ledde the fayre Helayne at the daunces that euery body sawe gladly For all the worlde sayd that they had neuer sene a more fayrer couple of folke togyder After that yâ— daunces had endured a longe space of tyme the farre noble Helayne was ledde vnto bedde And then wyne spyces were broughte The whiche Olyuer abode not For he was alredy in his chambre where as he dysabylled hym And whan he knewe that the bryde was a bed incontynâ—nt he put hym on the waye towarde the chambre And whan he was there he chased all the ladyes out excepte one And came towarde the table where as the banquet was on and kest it to the erthe to the ende that he shoâ—de not be awaked then he came to the dore and locked it and wente to bedde to her that of longe tyme he hadde loued she hated hym not wherfore they were the better contente togyder and of the surplus I holde my peas But the hystorye sayth that vpon that same nyght they engendred a chylde male the whiche dydde sythe moche good and exalted our crysteÌ„ fayth agaynst the sarasyns in vengynge the dethe of our lorde Ihesucryst ¶ How Olyuer was vertuous in appesynge stryfes and noyses and how his wyfe was greâ—e with a sone the whiche was named HeÌ„ry Capitulo L. WHan it came to the kynges knowlege that Olyuer had casten downe the table yâ— the baÌ„ker was on he began for to laughe And sayd yâ— he had ryght well wrought wherfore no body wolde not medle for to entre in yâ— chambre was not awaked of no body vnto the moro we at a .xi. of the clocke and yâ— the kynge had dyned the whiche came vnto the chambre dore and beganne for to call them and sayd that it was daye tyme for to ryse Olyuer the whiche slepte not came in his sherte and opened the dore to the kynge the whiche entred alone and came vnto his doughters bedde where as he coÌ„forted her as well as he myght In saynge yâ— he knewe it well of longe ago that she was to yonge for to slepe with the meÌ„ The whiche answered nothynge vnto hym for ony thyÌ„ge that he coude doo Wherfore he toke leue of her sayd to her that she was euyll contente with hym sythe that she wolde not speke to hyÌ„ After that he was departed the ladyes came and toke her vp Thenne whan she was redy she wente to masse but this was not without foyson of regardes of dyuers lordes and ladyes the whiche with one accorde Iuged yâ— she halted not The masse was sayd and the dyner passed the whiche was ryghte plenteuous of all goodes And the kynge helde open courte by the space of .xv. dayes after the whiche all the lordes toke leue of hym And the kyng abode in his symple estate reserued that Olyuer had his estate as a kynges sone and reteyned dyuers gentylmen of his courte The kynges of Irlande toke theyr leue for to retorne home In offrynge them alwaye at the kynges pleasure Olyuers for god had gyuen hym suche grace that euery body loued hym The debates and dyscordes amonge the gentylmen Olyuer appeased to his power The poore knyghtes by his largesse were made ryche He was the defendour of wydowes and Orphelyns and to his power to all dyscomforted and dyssolute he gaue comforte and couÌ„sayll Shortly all vertues that were possyble to be in a mannes mortall body florysshed in this ryght valyaunt and gentyll knyght in suche wyse that euery body louyd hym blessyd his comynge And helde the kynge for wyse and prudent that so sone coude knowe his coÌ„dycyons and that he had so kepte his doughter to mary her so vertuously without thyÌ„kynge on couetyse so the kynge lyued in grete ease within his courte in grete louyÌ„ge and glorye without And was so moche fered and redoubted that none durst do hym dyspleasure but was mayster and lorde of all his neyghbours The fayr good Helayne that was with chylde was not of lesse recommendacyon ayenst her for all vertues that a woman ought for to haue habounded in her It happened that after that she had borne her terme she was delyuered of a payre sone the whiche was named at the fonte stone Henry And this chylde gaue so moche Ioye to the kynge and to all them of the realme yâ— it was metuayll But that same chylde wyst and knewe that he ought yet to be the moost
derest holden of all the other For he was one of the best and valyauntest knyghtes that euer was Neuerthelesse he was not kynge of Englande for he deyed yonge wherof it was grete dommage ¶ A lōge tyme dyde passe and so moche that the fayre Helayne was with chylde agayne the whiche was delyuered of a fayre doughter y◠whiche was ryght solempnelye baptysed and she was named Clarysse The fayre Helayne and Olyuer were so assotted and doted on theyr chyldrē that it was a grete meruayll and I am not abasshed For they ought well to be so The moder hadde them alwaye bytwene her armes and myght not forgo the syght of them It was the passe tyme of Olyuer for the realme of Englande was in peas and wyst not wherin to occupye hym saue to goo on huntynge and haukynge and for to make good chere ¶ How Olyuer wente on huntynge of the vysyon of his wyfe the whiche she tolde vnto hȳ Capi. lj OLyuer passed his tyme Ioyously soo as ye haue herde ¶ It happened that the hunters made hym to knowe that the grettest wylde bore that euer was sene was in the forest fyue myle thens Olyuer that loued well hūtynge was ryght Ioyous and sayd that he wolde go ryght gladly wherfore on an after none he departed from the cyte lodged hym in a vyllage by y◠forest where the wylde bore was in That nyght his wyfe dremed a meruaylous dreme for her thought that she was on huntynge with her lorde and that she sawe a Tygre meruaylously grete that with his teeth and his nayles deuoured Olyuer and bare hym awaye she wyste not where Of his vysyon all trymblynge the fayre Helayne awaked and coude not slepe after that And on the morowe she sente worde to her lorde requyred hym that he wolde not hunte as for that daye for and he dyde her herte Iuged her that he sholde haue some hurte Olyuer herynge the message of his wyfe dyde no thynge but laughe for hym semed y◠dremes were but fantasyes wherfore he sente worde to his wyfe that she sholde make gode chere that he wolde brynge her some venyson then he mounted on horsbacke and wente to y◠forest and vncoupled the houndes and began for to hunte Thē Olyuer put hym in to the forest and folowed the houndes wherfore he dyde folye For yf he had byleued the counsayll of his wyfe it had not happened to hym as it dyde For so as he folowed the houndes as nere as he myghte the wylde bore came that was on fote and trauersed afore hym Olyuer that was welhorsed smote hym with the sporres and ranne after And he dyde so moche that he had lost all his men within a lytell whyle Alas yf he had knowen of the euyll aduenture he wolde not haue putte hym so soone in the forest but as he that toke no hede rode on alwaye without kepynge ony waye so as his euyll aduenture ledde hym O kynge of Englande truely of a longe tyme thou shalte not se thy fayre sone Olyuer nor thou ryght fayre Helayne of a longe tyme thou shalt not se thy lorde and husbande ¶ How the Kynges sone of Irlande of whiche Olyuer had slayne his fader at the torneyment founde Olyuer all alone frō his mē toke hym prysoner and of the grete sorowe that was made for hym Capitulo lij AFore that Olyuer apperceyued that no body dyde folowe hym he was ferre from his folke And whan he founde hymselfe alone he blewe his horne but none answered hym Wherfore he put hym on the waye in an vnhappy houre For the more that he wente forwarde the ferder he was from them Thus as he wente so the wylde bore that was ferre from hym came amōgest a company of men that passed thorughe the forest the whiche wente to London And the chyef was one of the kynges of Irlande that same that Olyuer had slayne the fader of at the torneymente As he sawe the wylde bore with suche houndes as he had he folowed and ranne soo moche in the forest that they recoūtred Olyuer whiche was all alone Then Olyuer auaunced hym and salued the kynge but the kynge dysdayned to speke to hym And he escryed to his men saynge here is the murderer that hathe slayne my fader Wherfore I do pray you that ye wyll take hȳ alyue for I can not auenge me better than at this tyme. And whan Olyuer herde these wordes he sethande to his swerde and defended hym ryght valyauntly But in the ende whether he wolde or not he was taken And the kynge made a hode all close to be put on his heed to the ende that he sholde not be knowen and in that estate he made hym to be ledde to a porte of y◠see where as he was put in a shyp and ledde in to a fortresse of Irlande that was that same kynges In the whiche Olyuer was put in pryson full of vermyne and had brede and water ones a daye Abydynge the retornynge of the kynge that sholde do Iustyce on hym at his pleasure And to the ende that his treason were not knowen he retorned not but wente to London towarde the kynge his souerayne lorde y◠whiche he founde gretely dyscomforted for he had herde no tydynges of Olyuer the whiche was soughte on all sydes O what pyteous and innumerable lamentacyons was made whan y◠trouthe was knowen that he coude not be founden Certaynlye neuer so grete dolours was not demeaned in no coūtre The good kynge sayd Ha ryght noble realme thou hast wel lost the floure of thy crowne and the moost parte of thyn armoure Alas my ryght swete sone thou was he y◠trauaylled whan I reposed me he by whome I was redoubted and he by whome I was obeyed and he by whome I lyued in rest and in surete ¶ These regrettes were nothynge in comparyson to the pyteous lamentacyons that his doughter made She myght neyther ete nor drynke but had layde her on a bedde as she had bendeed in suche wyse that all they that sawe her had grete pyte on her And whan she myght speke she escryed saynge My blessyd creat our wherfore dydde thou euer gyue me hym that in his departynge dothe eue me in so grete doloure and dystresse vpon the erthe certes yf it were thy blessyd pleasure I wolde be in his company then she complanyed her vnto the blessyd vyrgyn Marye in saynge Ryght swete vyrgyn mary moder of god what may I haue done to the that thou hast separed me fro the syght of my ryght amyable lorde and husbande that so derely loued me With suche or semblable wordes the ryght fayre Helayne meuyd all theym aboute her that they coude not comforte her ¶ I shall leue her to speke of the kynge ef Englande and his doughter all theym of his realme demeanynge theyr sorowe And shal speke of them of the realme of Castylle and of Arthu◠Kynge of Algarbe and Regente of Castylle ¶ How Arthur Kynge
shyp stroke on grounde by so grete force that it claue in two pyeces and all were perysshed excepte Olyuer and syr Iohan Talbot Whiche seynge londe the whiche was not ferre of tooke some comforte For whan they sawe that theyr shyp was clouen and that all theyr felysshyp were perysshed they sayd that it was better that they put themself for to swymme for to saue theyr lyfe as longe as it myght be possyble And therfore eche of them in makynge the sygne of the crosse and recommaundynge them in the kepynge of our lorde leâ—te in to the see and began for to swymme trustynge for to saue themselfe the whiche was impossyble for them yf that our lorde had not extended his grace for they were swymmynge so longe that there was neyther of theÌ„ but that he lacked breth and were at the poynt to haue ben lost And also the water was so colde and soo aspre that yf they had suffred none other euyll it hadde ben in oughe for to haue deyed And in that estate they lenthed not ferre the one from the others and requyred our lorde with all theyr hertes of his mercy and grace and that he wolde haue pyte on them for they trusted neuer to haue escaped Neuerthelesse our lorde that euer purueyeth for his true seruauntes scute them socour for they were all abasshed whan that that sawe by theym a whyte herte the whiche Olyuer toke by the horâ—â—s and mounted on his backe Talbot the whiche was not ferre from hym gate vp behynde Olyuer And in yâ— estate the herte bare them to the lande and then he vanysshed awaye then eyther of them as well as they myght haue laudes and thankynges to god that of his infynyte grace had preserued them this done they enforced theÌ„ for to go vnto a lytell place the whiche was not ferre from the see syde This place was a gentylmans of the couÌ„tree and whan he sawe them in that plyte he had grete pyte on them And made them a good fyre and warmed chaffed them ryght well layde them in a softe bed And he dyde to them all the pleasure that he coude And whan that they were a lytell amended he demaunded theym how they were escaped And they recouÌ„ted to hym all yâ— daunger and peryll that they had ben in and how that god of his endlesse grace hadde saued them by myracle Wherof theyr hoost had grete meruayll Notwithstandynge he byleued them ryght well for he wyst well that there was nothynge impossyble to god wherby we may haue alwaye memorye herof to the ende that yf we fynde our self in ony daunger or peryll by fortune and also to the occasyon for to flee synne for whaÌ„ a synner gothe to commyt synne and remembreth the mercy and puyssaunce of god and deuoutely reclaymeth the ayde of our lord Then god permytteth and gyueth them suche comforte that they ben delyuered from all temptacyon as to the purpose of these two the whiche he preserued from the peryll of the see ¶ How the knyght that was Olyuers felowe deyed and of that the whiche happened after his dethe Capitulo xvij RYght as they deuysed Olyuer demaunded in what countree they were in And they tolde hym that it was Englande Wherof the knyght that was with Olyuer was moche reioysed notwithstandynge that he was sore syke And enquyred of his hoost yf he knewe not a knyghte that was called syr IohaÌ„ Talbot He answered that he had often herde speke of suche one but he neuer sawe hym but he saed that his pryncypall abydyng was in Caunterburye as they sayd all aboute and sayd that he was but twenty myle from thens Thenne the syke knyght sayd vnto hym blessyd be god that hathe brought vs he ther for I am that same syr Iohan Talbot that I spered after afore and my dwellynge is in the cyte of CauÌ„terburye And bycause that I knowe that without the mercye of god I am neuer lyke to releue of my maladye and also that I fele my dethe approcheth I beseche you that ye make me to be caryed to Caunterbury to the ende that I may make my testament ordynaunces as a good crysten man And ye shall be well recompensed Olyuer seynge this knyght soo greuously vexed with that maladye he was ryght pensyf and sorowfull as he yâ— whiche knewe not whether for to goo or resorte And then the gentyll Olyuer sayd vnto hym My lorde and my frende I am ryght dyspleasauÌ„t of your maladye bycause that I haue founde with you so good company I shall neuer habandon you yf that it please you tyll yâ— tyme that I haue sene as our lorde wyll expose your sykenes for as for my parte I thanke god that I am all guarysshed and in good poynt and redy â—or to mounte on horsbarke for to conueye you whether that ye please The knyght thanked hym full humbly and sayd that al his voleÌ„te was for to go there as he had specyfyed and that he requyred none other thynge and all was at the dyspence of his hoost and wolde take nothynge of them And then he was caryed in a hors bere to his place and Olyuer rode with hym but he lyued not longe after he was comen in to his place and his frendes made grete sorowe for hym but after his dethe they shewed hyÌ„ but lytel sygne of amyte bycause of moneye that he oughte te a burgeys of the cyte he was in the sentence of cursynge vnto the tyme that the burgeys were contended he had ben the space of seuen yere in that sentence as he the whiche had not wherof to paye but yf that he sholde haue solde ryght largely of his godes for to haue payed his dette withall and in suche estate he deyed wherfore the burgeys was not content but yf that he were payed that the knyght were put in holy grounde but his heyres seynge this concluded and loued better for to burye hym in the prophane and vnhalowed grounde thaÌ„ for to paye his derte as they the whiche loued not the soules oâ— theyr frendes so well as they dyde the goodes moundaynes ¶ How Olyuer made the knyght for to be buryed of the Iustes that were publysshed in Englande the whiche was this that who that dyde best sholde haue the fayre Helayne in maryage that was the kynges doughter Capitulo xviij OLyuer seynge the grete falste and auaryce of the frendes of that deed body was no thynge well contente with them He dyde all the dylygence that he myght that he were buryed as wel towarde hym that he oughte the good to as to them that sholde paye it too the ende that the knyght the whiche he had knowen in his lyfe for a good and a vertuous man myght be buryed in holy grounde but it was impossyble for hym to fynde ony appoyntement for the knyghtes frendâ—s wolde not do nothynge And the burgeys sayd that he wolde do nothynge excepte that he were payed all
for to kepe the felde from all debates and noyses The meane whyle the maysters stewardes and controllers were in the palays makynge all thynge redy for the banket and feest that sholde be at nyght the whiche sholde be without comparyson of al that euer hadde beÌ„ sene in this realme The houre approched that they sholde fynde them in the felde And the foure hondred knyghtes of within with the two thousande came in to the felde wherof some of them hadde leuer haue beÌ„ commysed to make redy yâ— feest for the example that the rede knyght had gyuen them the daye afore the whiche all redy dyd arme hym was comen vpon his hors clothed in whyte and all his folke in the same sute in the same manere that they came the daye afore saue that they had ben clothed in rede and soo came in to the felde on horsbacke put hemselfe besyde the kynges sone of Scotlande and all the other alyght in lyke wyse And then whan all were assembled the kynge badde two knyghtes for to goo loke how many they were of without Then they wente downe and tolde the Lordes the kynges wyll and commaundement Then they toke a gyrdell and made them for to passe vnderneth and founde that they of without were well foure hondred And a knyght by the commauÌ„dement of the kynge sayd that euery body sholde vngyrde his swerde and sayd that the axe suffysed and after that the batayll was begonne the Kynge sente men for to departe them and badde that none were so hardy for to smyte on the heed with the trenchauÌ„t after yâ— tyme aduertysed them that the pryce sholde be gyuen at nyght to hym that hathe deserued it And thenne it was tolde them that they myght begynne whan it sholde seme theÌ„ good Then they begaÌ„ne for to smyte in suche wyse that it was a goodly syght to beholde them It was a semely syght for to beholde howe Olyuer demeaned hym with his axe for he smote so puyssauntly that he made hym awaye large ynoughe Whan they approched nere the one smote vpon the other so impetyously that it was meruayll they myght stande Olyuer dremed not for he gaue so pesaunt strokes that hym that he hytte a ryght he made hym to kysse the grounde and he dyde soo moche that there durst not abyde afore hym soo with force of smyâ—ynge his axe that was grete and longe dyde breke And whan he sawe that he approched hym to a knyght and pulled his axe out of his handes by suche a myght and by suche a chyualrous puyssaunce vertue and also manere that whether he wolde or not he made hym kysse the grounde Twayne of the kynges of Irlande had grete enuye at Olyuer bycause they sawe the pryce coude not escape hym therfore by grete dyspleasure they assaylled Olyuer the whiche defended hym so valyauntly that he cloue one of them to the tethe The kyÌ„ge seynge that it myght not endure without grete debate sayd that it suffysed And so they departed whether they wolde or not ¶ How Olyuer was taken by the knyghtes that the kynge had coÌ„mysed and how his seruauntes vanysshed awaye and after how he founde foyson of moneye and vestymentes Capitulo xxix ANd then the kynge and the ladyes retorned in to the cyte euery body withdrewe theÌ„ in to theyr habytacyons so the deed kyÌ„ges body was borne in to London by his men where as his body was enseuelyd and put in a hors lyttere couered with blacke and in that estate in grete lamentacyons was ledde in to his realme Olyuer was yet in the felde where as he cryed after his hors but none answered hyÌ„ nor he coude espye none of them that came with hym wherof he had grete meruayl and was so dyspleasaunt that he wyst not what to do not with standynge his armour he put hym selfe on the waye towarde the hermytage all ashamed saynge that he sawe well his euyll auâ—nture and that in all fortune was to hym contrarye And therfore he delybered in hym selfe for to habandonne the good that myght come to hym by occasyon of the torneyment and not for to make hym to be knowen to ony persone lyuynge Euen so as he wente thynkynge on his euyll aduenture the .xx. knyghtes that by the kynge were commysed and ordeyned for to haue regarde on hym soughte hym on euery syde and dyde soo moche that they apperceyued hyÌ„ goynge alone Then they smote theyr horses with the sportes and dyd so moche that they ouertoke hym and sayd to hym GeÌ„tyll knyght lette it not torne you to dyspleasure yf that weâ— do that the whiche was coÌ„maunded vs by the kynge for he hathe coÌ„maunded vs for to witholde you yâ— whiche requyreth you that it wyll please you for to be this nyght at the daunces and at the banquet and therfore by hym we laye handes on you It was force to Olyuer to obeye the commaundement of the kynge And therfore all ashamed he retorned to London with the forsayd knyghtes But durynge the waye it was not withoute plesauÌ„t thoughtes for whan he bethoughte hym of the grete pompes and ryche habyllementes that he had durynge the other dayes and now he founde hym alone with out ony knowlege and that it was force for hym to be at the banket and feest with the other without gowne or other clothynge saue in his harneys but yf he fouÌ„de some that wolde lenne hym a gowne he was in soo grete dyspleasauÌ„ce that he wolde haue ben a M. myle thens yf it hadde ben possyble for hym In that estate they rode tyll they came to London and dyslodged one of the xx knyghtes for to lodge hym and demaunded hym in what place they wolde fynde his seruauntes for to sende for them The poore Olyuer all ashamed sayd Certaynlye I can not tell you where to fynde theym but for this nyghte I shall be mayster and varlet As they were in these deuyses the hostesse came to Olyuers persone and sayd to hym alowe My lorde it is not longe ago syth one of your seruauntes was here and gaue me this lytell fardell tellynge me that your clothes were in it and hathe layde the bogette vnder your beddes heed For all your seruauntes ben gone and ye shall fynde theÌ„ nomore And tolde me that the knyght that ye wote of recommaundeth hym to you and putteth you in memorye of the promyse that ye made to hym the whiche prayth you that ye wyll haue it in remembraunce Olyuer heryÌ„ge his hostesse was more abasshed than euer he had ben and feynynge that he knewe well ynoughe what it wolde meane wente fyrst to his beddes heed and founde the bogette that his hostesse hadde tolde hym of and founde the keye in the locke and tasted it and felte wel ynough that it was heuy and vndyde it and in lokynge in to it he apperceyued that it was nothynge but golde good nobles of Englande ¶ How Olyuer founde grete fynaunceâ— seruauntes and clothynges
of that whiche he hadde founden in Olyuer and sayd that he founde neuer a more dyscreter maÌ„ nor more worthy and that he was dygne of moche good And the Kynge was ryght Ioyous of that reporte and began for to tell in what maner he wolde that the pryce were gyuen and who sholde bere it and tolde them that he wolde make them haue knowlege the houre that the pryce sholde he gyuen And then he departed and came to the daunces where as he founde his doughter yâ— whiche he toke by the haÌ„de and sayd to her My fayre doughter ye muste tell me to whiche of these lordes that ye haue sâ—ue here ye haue best wyll to whiche hathe done beste by your aduyse My lorde my fader I haue no more wyll to one thaÌ„ to an other Ye be my fader reason it is that I obey to you for your pleasure is myne and also me thyÌ„keth that they haue all done so well that none can amende it Then the kynge demaunded her yf that she wolde be as well coÌ„tente yf Olyuer hadde the pryce as yf a gretter lorde had it She answered it is a fayre thyÌ„ge to do ryghte to euery body Ye be wyse and knoweth what ye haue to do The kyÌ„ge whiche was dyscrete sente for yâ— pryce yâ— whiche was brought in the maner that foloweth ¶ How the pryce of the torneyment was brought to Olyuer by dyuers lordes and ladyes and what it was Capitulo xxxiiii THere came fyrste many torches and offycers for to make place After came a Kynge of armes rychely clothed holdyÌ„gâ— on hyghe with bothe his haÌ„des a grete and massysse cheyne of golde charged enryched with precyous stones After hym came two fayre ladyes clothed in lyke habyllementes the whiche became them so well that it was a pleasauÌ„t syght to beholde them These ladyes were accompanyed with four knyghtes clothed in lyke wyse and eche of the ladyes were on the ryght hande of two knyghtes And in suche estate they came afore yâ— kyÌ„ges persone to whome they dyde the reuerence as it apperteyned And theÌ„ they demaunded hym yf it were his good pleasure that the pryce were gyuen And he answered ye Then they began to walke aboute the halle and came to the place where as Olyuer was hydde amonge the prece To whome the Kynge of armes sayd that he sholde come forth and that it was to hym that they wolde speke and after that he was comen forth the kynge of armes sayd to hym in this wyse CarbuÌ„cle and gemme of all prowesse and hardynesse the kyÌ„ge our souerayne lorde and the ladyes of this company by the grete and hyghe faytes of armes that in you hath beÌ„ shewed and comen to theyr knowlege dothe presente to you this noble cheyne in gyuynge you the pryce of the thre dayes with tryumphe and glorye aboue al them that theder hathe ben comen or founde them there I make you no meÌ„syon of my ryght redoubted maystresse and lady Helayne bycause that the Kynge my souerayne lorde make yâ— to you a request that is that the ryght that ye can demauÌ„de of her by the crye that was publysshed by his coÌ„maundement that it wyll please you for to be coÌ„tente 〈…〉 dyfferre and abyde vntyl a yere be passed And he dothe promyse you that enduryng that whyle my lady Helayne his doughtâ—â— shall not be maryed and then he shall do so moche towarde you that ye shall be well contente For she shall be appareylled for you euen as she sholde be at this presente tyme for he wolde not take fro you for no thynge that the whiche ye haue deserued Oliuer with a symple voyce all rubycuÌ„de answered that he had not deserued the honour that they presented hym but syth that it was the kynges good pleasure and the lordes and ladyes he sholde be a grete fole and mysproude to refuse it As for the surplus touchynge the kynges requestes he answered that his requestes were coÌ„mauÌ„dementes in praynge yf that he had wonne ony thynge that it sholde not be taken from hym For he was well in wyll for to take it yf it fell to hym This notwithstandynge he was well contente that the kynges wyll were accomplysshed and to abyde a yere And thanked the kynge and the ladyes that had made hym that present And toke the chayne of golde and put it aboute his neck And then they demauÌ„ded hym his name and surname he made hymself Olyuer but he sayd that his surname myght not be knowen at that present tyme. And bycause that the heraude coude not tell how to gyue his name in knowlege that the pryce was gyuen to he beganne for to crye in this maner wyse To this blacke rede and whyte knyght the floure of chyualrye that by force of armes hathe obteyned the laste tryumphe of the torneyment hathe ben delyuered the pryce ¶ How Olyuer requyred yâ— kynge of Englande that he wolde reteyne hym of his courte that he myght kâ—â—ue afore his doughter the whiche he vttred hym afore all his barons Capitulo xxxv THen was Olyuer ledde afore the kyÌ„ge yâ— whiche he thanked huÌ„bly of the grete honour that he had done to hym without deseruynge and besought hym for to haue alwaye memorye of hym and of his promyse that he hâ—o made hym and to reteyne hym of his courte The kyÌ„ge answered in saynge that he wolde do it with ryghtâ— good wyll that suche estate as he wolde demaunde sholde be delyuered hym and with that that he sholde not fere hym but that he wolde haue me morye of hym that bycause of the pryce that was his he sholde lese nothynge Syr sayd Olyuer I can not tel you how ye vnderstande it truely I can nothynge lese of what wherof I had neuer nothynge but I holde you for so valyaunt that ye wyll not go agaynst your worde ye gyue me for to chese and take suche estate as shal please me wherfore I thanke you ¶ And therfore I praye you that ye wyll be coÌ„tente that I be squyre keruer afore my lady your doughter And the Kynge answered in refusynge hym and sayd that his doughter was not accustomed for to be serued of a knyght Notwithstandynge he requyred and prayed so moche that the kynge was coÌ„tente that his wyll were fulfylled Neuerthelesse that he was worthy to haue had a gretter estate than that Then he made hym to ryse and toke hym by the haÌ„de ledde hym towarde his doughter and then commaunded her that she sholde kysse hym bycause that hym semed that Olyuer had well deserued it and at the leest yf that he had no more honour but that for to content hyÌ„ the better The fayre Helayne in accomplysshynge the wyll of the Kynge her fader toke Olyuer by yâ— hande yâ— was alredy on his knee and kyssed hym in touchyÌ„ge her mouthe agaynst his This kysse thrugh perced yâ— herte of Olyuer and his entraylles and entred and lodged in the moost secretest place
for hym durynge his maladye wherof Olyuer had his heed dyuers tymes sore troubled ¶ It happened vpon a whytsontyde on the whiche daye he helde open courte And there was the moost parte of the lordes of Englande assembled euen so as he was at dyner and his doughter sette besyde hym came a messanger afore the table the whiche began for to saye That same god all puyssaunt that gouerneth all thynges gyue honoure and glorye good aduenture to the hyghe and puyssaunt prynces my souerayne lordes the seuen kynges of Irlande by whome I am sente hether and that he confounde the crowne of Englande the whiche is not worthy to be named Kynge Now herken tyraunt what I haue in charge for to saye to the by the kynges of Irlande They sende the worde by me and defyeth the of fyre and bloode and that they wyll depose the of thy realme as he that is not worthy for to holde it Some of them hathe ben comen to thy courte for to knowe more playnly thy gouernynge wheras they haue apperceyued thy grete crude lyte and tyrannye and howe that by thy synguler and dampnable wyll hathe accomplysshed thy tyrannye on colde bloode withouten ony cause reasonable wherfore thou arte cause of the effusyon of blode humayne and of the semblable crysten And therfore take heede to that whiche thou hast to do For I tell the that they ben alredy descended on thy grounde and shall do suche Iustyce on the as apperteyneth ¶ How Olyuer after that the messanger hadde fynysshed his wordes requyred the kynge of Englande for to gyue hym men of armes and that he wolde goo agaynst them the whiche was vttred vpoÌ„ hym with a good wyll Capitulo xl FYnysshed the wordes of the messanger the kynge enclyned his heed and sone after lyft it vp agayne and began to rolle his eyen to bende his browes in suche wyse that here sembled a man extracte oute of his mynde Whan the messenger sawe the kynge make suche chere he wolde with a good wyll haue ben in his moders bely There was none that answered for the courte at that tyme was to troubled that it was grete meruayll to beholde it for all they in the halle kepte scylence and sayd neuer a worde Whan the valyaunt Olyuer sawe all the companye so sore abasshed for so lytel a thynge as hym semed he sette hymselfe on his knees before the kynges persone and all ashamed beganne for to speke and sayd Ryght myghtye Emperour redouâ—ted syr I beseche you that your ryall mayeste be not dysmayed agaynste me yf that I auaunce me to speke soner than I oughte to do Syr ye haue herde the iniuryes that these caytyfs kynges of Irlande hathe unposed on you by the saynge of the herauldes And for bycause that I knowe you soo valyaunt and so puyssauÌ„t and with that that ye hadde leuer deye than it sholde abyde thus without vengynge you on your enemyes that alredy ben entred in to your realme wherfore I supplye me in all humylyte that vnto me yonge man notwithstandynge that I am not dygne and that I haue lytell sene vnto this present tyme that ye wyll do me that honoure for to gyue me a certayne nombre of men of armes suche as your good pleasure shal be and that ye shall fynde by the delyberacyon of your good counsayll for to go agaynste these vnhappy folke that withoute cause wyl vsurpe youe lordshyppe ¶ The kynge answered vnto Olyuer and sayd Olyuer I shall counsayll me on the request that ye make to me after dyner and after I shall make you to knowe my wyll And then he commaunded that the messaunger of the Kynges of Irlande sholde be sette to dyner And soo it was done WhaÌ„ the kynge was rysen from the table he assembled his counsayll And then was gyuen an answere to the messanger that he sholde saye to his maysters that they myght be well sure that the Kynge doubted theym but lytell and that he hadde good wyll for to kepe his herytage that yf they myghte wynneâ—â— that it sholde be theyres but by the pleasure of god it sholde not happen so and then they gaue some gyfte vnto the messanger And then the sayd messanger departed and retorned towarde the kynges of IrlaÌ„de that alredy were entred into the realme of Englande to whome he tolde the answere that he had receyued And then yâ— kynge of Englande accorded to Olyuer his request for the grete valyauntnesse yâ— he had sene hym do afore tymes And gaue to hym .x. thousande men of armes the whiche comen he toke leue of the kynge and the kynge gaue hym foure thousande nobles at his departynge the whiche Olyuer toke in good thanke But afore that he departed from the cyte he dystrybued it vnto the poore men of armes that had nede therof and more to and he dyde soo moche that they spake of nothynge but of his grete largesse wherfore he gate the loue of euery body And in yâ— maner departed after that he had taken leue of his may stresse the whiche commaunded hym vnto god And he spedde hym so well on his Iourneye that he came with in thre myle of his enemyes And whan it came to theyr knowlege they reysed vp theyr syege that they had layde aboute a stronge place and putte theym all vpon a playne in fayre ordenaunce redy to abyde bataylle Olyuer in lyke wyse prayed and requyred all his men for to do well in shewynge theym that they sholde haue more honoure without comparyson yf ony good aduenture happened them than yf the kynge were there in his persone and eche of them promysed to do his deuoyre And in that good wyll they approched so nere theyr enemyes that they myght se them clerely the whiche were foure agaynst one man But they were not men of suche chap for the moost parte were comune men and euyll armed at all poyntes ¶ How Olyuer after that he was departed from London in armes came afore a towne that was besyeged of the IrysshemeÌ„ and how he fought with them and vaynquysshed them Capitulo xlj RYght so as these two hoostes approched to gyder ye myght haue herde suche a noyse that it was hydeous to here and whan it came to the strokes gyuynge ye sholde haue sene sheldes câ—ouen and helmes hauberkes brokeÌ„ stedes and knyghtes smyten downe hedes and armes cut of and many one pulled downe that neuer rose after Olyuer wente thrughe the batayll maulgre all his enemyes and dyde suche dedes of armes that he made hym to be knowen within a lytell stounde of euery body wherfore they fledde afore hym and made hym waye For all that he hytte he smote downe none can not reherse vnto you the meruaylous strokes that he gaue for bothe his frendes and his enemyes were all abasshed to beholde them He escryed as hye as he myght yf the kynges of Irlande be here I shall make them crownes One of the kynges of Irlande
Olyuer dyscomfyted Capitulo xliij BY this maner was concluded the vyage in to Irlande and toke in the towne as many pauelyons and teÌ„tes as they myghte gete and all thynge that was necessarye for theyr vyage and departed from thens and toke with them a thousande men on horsbacke and as many on fote without theyr nombre And also they toke with them as moche artyllerye other habyllementes of warre as that they myght well haue without dysgarnysshynge of the towne and it was tolde them afore theyr departynge by them that had charge for to bury the deed folke yâ— they had founde deed of theyr enemyes .xxiiij. M. and of theyr meÌ„ .xij. C. wherfore theyr frendes were ryght dyspleasaunt And they assembled shyppes and entred into yâ— see and dyde so moche that in shorte tyme they were oute of the realme of Englande and entred in to Irlande where as they began for to do moche harme and fouÌ„de but fewe places that resysted agaynst them for they be not so stronge as these of this regyon They that were taken by force had no mercy but that they slewe them all They that dyde yelde them to theym afore that they besyeged them were taken to mercye And with this they fered so sore theyr enemyes that the moost parte of them yelded them or they came to them Then the kynges of yâ— countree that were escaped fro the batayll were soo sore abasshed that they coude not put no consayll to they re affayres for theyr folke were yet full of sorowe bycause of the dolorous fortune that hadde happened theym Wherfore they habandonned all in the wyll of god and alonely fortefyed the places where as they wolde retray them but this was not but that they gaue often assaultes and scarmoshes to the Englyshmen ryght subtyllye gouerned on theyr syde wherthrughe there was many men slayne on bothe partyes And in suche wyse by successyon of tyme that the moost parte yelded them to theÌ„ And the ryche themself helped for to warre agaynst theyr lordes In that estate they wente and assyeged a place where as one of the kynges of Irlande was that hadde ben newe crowned And was his sone that Olyuer dyd slee at the torneyment The whiche they assaylled ryght quyckely and boystously and there was done on the one syde and on the other grete dedes of armes For they that were within the castell defended them vygorously soo that they receyued that daye but lytell dommage The kyÌ„ge Maquemor was aduertysed of these thynges and how the fyege was afore the place of his cousyn Wherfore he was ryght dyspleasaunt And swore by his crowne that it sholde not abyde se. He assembled as moche folke as he myght And then he the thyrde kynge came for to aryse the syege Olyuer was aduertysed of all these thyÌ„ges wherfore he put hymselfe on the felde for to abyde them And lefte a partye of his folke for to kepe the syege He put his folke in ordynauÌ„ce and abode his enemees all redy for to fyght the whiche aâ—ode not longe or yâ— they came And whan they sawe that Olyuer was alredy on the felde they knewe well that they coude not escape without medlynge And then they put theyr folke in ryght fayre ordenaunce and began for to shote gonnes and Olyuer and his folke remeuyd not but abode theÌ„ with ferme fote and with one crye receyued them at the poyntes of theyr swerdes speres And there was slayn at the fyrst recountre dyuers meÌ„ on bothe partyes Full many ladyes lost theyr lordes and many chyldren were faderles and full many maydens lost theyr louers there Olyuer cutte of hedes and armes in suche maner that neuer maÌ„ dyde more dedes of armes than he dyde Not withstandynge the Irysshmen solde theyr lyues ryghte derely as men replenysshed with prowesse for as them semed and they lost that batayll that in lyke wyse they sholde lese theyr countree wherfore theyr courage doubled and dyde as well as they myght In that estate dured the batayll almoost vnto theyr nyght but in the ende the Irysshemen were dyscomfyted as they that myghte not endure the â—adde strokes of the Englysshemen ¶ The pursuyte dured not longe bycause of the nyghte The Kynge Maquemor and two other kynges were taken wherof Olyuer was ryght gladde for he had alredy fyue and so there was no moo lefte but two wherof there abode one enclosed in yâ— place where the syege was whan the nyght was comen Olyuer in his tente made the Kynges prysoners to be seruyd ryght honourably And on yâ— morowe he made to crye that euery body sholde put hym in payne for to do his deuoyre to take the place Then ye sholde haue sene many a valyaunt knyght and squyre and meÌ„ of armes go to the assaulte but they of within defended them soo valyauÌ„tly that it was grete meruayll And the kyÌ„ge sayd that he hadde leuer deye than for to yelde hym in to the handes of his enemyes and to hym that hadde slayne his fader ¶ How the castell and place where as one of the Kynges of Irlande was in was taken Capitulo xliiij EUen so as ye haue herde endured the syege by longe space of tyme afore yâ— castell Durynge the whiche tyme Olyuer made often the kynge of Englande to knowe of his demeanynge And sente hym often worde that he sholde haue noo doubte of them for they had nothynge but good The artellerye that was there endommaged strongely the castell and so moche that a grete parte of the walle was smyten downe and then it was assaylled at that syde Olyuer was in that assaulte and bare hym so valyauntly that he was the fyrste that entred in wherfore al his men folowed hym And at that tyme was the castell wonne and the kynge taken But afore that he was taken he dyde grete dedes of armes and all the other were slayne Olyuer departed from thens and lefte good garnyson there He put hym on the waye for to goo conquere the realme of the sone of hym that he hadde slayne in the fyrst batayll But that same kynge abode not his comyng but came agaynst Olyuer without ony armoure at all berynge in his hande a braunche of Olyue in yâ— sygne of peas And whan he sawe Olyuer he sayd to hyÌ„ O ryght valyaunt conquerour afore whome nothynge can endure by the furoure of thy swerde thou haste subdued seuen kyngdomes and hast the kynges prysoners wherfore I knowe that my persone alonely can not resyste agaynste thy persone and puyssaunce Therfore I come and yelde me at thy wyll and do offre me and my realme for to serue the. Olyuer thanked hym and tooke hym by the hande sayd that he sholde soupe with hym that nyght Then Olyuer commaunded that the teÌ„tes sholde be pyght in a fayre grene felde that was no ferre from theÌ„ by the whiche dyuers ryuers and fountaynes passed by wherfore the place was more delectable Olyuer coÌ„maunded that the kynges that had beÌ„
prysoners of longe tyme the whiche were abyden in a stronge for tresse not ferre from theÌ„ sholde be brought to hym and made to saye to his cooke that he sholde make redy the souper in yâ— best maner that he coude for he wolde feest the seuen kynges in his pauylyon And whaÌ„ the houre of souper approched he made them to sytte downe at a table and souped rychely After souper Olyuer made auoydaunce and sayd vnto the seuen kynges howe that they were prysoners not to come of them but at the plesure and wyll of the kynge of EnglaÌ„de that they hadde so vylaynously offended and made grete doubte that he wolde punysshed them greuously as it apperteyned tolde them that they sholde be ledde to hym on the next morowe and that they sholde thynke on that that they wolde doo for to amende the offence that hadde ben done by them ¶ How Olyuer after dyuers thynges sente for to denounce his comyng to the kynge of Englande and of the honour that was done to hym Capitulo xlv SOne after dyuers wordes came the spyces the wyne after they wente vnto bedde vnto the morowe that euery body by the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of the capytayns made theÌ„ redy to departe and soo euery thynge packed trussed they retorned towarde London And than Olyuer called vnto hym a ryght valyaunt knyght and one of the capytaynes Englysshe to whome he prayed moche curtaysly that he wolde goo towarde the kynge denounce to hym theyr comynge and that he coude tell hym the thynges better than ony coude wryte theym The knyght in accomplysshynge the wyll of Olyuer put hyÌ„ selfe on the waye he dyde so moche that within a lytell space he arryued at London and salued the kynge and made the recoÌ„maundacyons ryght humbly frome Olyuer and all his felowes and than he began to tell hym how they were on the waye to retorne and that the seuen kyngedomes of Irlande were conquered and put in the obeyssaunce of his septre And that Olyuer brought hym the seuen kynges prysoners for to doo with them his good pleasure And began to deuyse hym of the valyaunce that he had sene Olyuer do and that with payne it was credyble that the whiche he hadde sene Olyuer accomplysshe And sayd syre after god and his holy moder gyue thankynges vnto the ryght valyaunt knyght Olyuer for by his ryght arme ye haue obtayned vyctory of all your enemyes And certaynly I thynke that neuer god gaue to no man so moche goodnesse as he hath gyueÌ„ to this same The kynge herynge those Ioyous tydynges was so replenysshed with Ioye that he was a longe space or that he myght speke Neuerthelesse sone after he enbraced the knyght and sayd My frende ye be ryght welcome I thanke god the armes and the swerde of the ryghte gentyll knyght of the Ioyous tydynges that ye brynge me And after commaunded hym for to tell it on hyghe So he began for to recounte it more lenger than he hadde done to the kynges persone And alwaye pray synge and louynge Olyuer saynge that it was a thynge of the other worlde and not for to byleue to theym that had not sene it These tydynges were sone spredde aboute in the ladyes chambres and came to the ceres of the fayre Helayne that was moche Ioyous of that whiche she herde and her thought that and he hadde ben kynge and she quene that all the worlde sholde haue beÌ„ the better Wherfore her courage blamed stroÌ„gly her fader bycause that he kepte from so gentyll a knyght that yâ— whiche was due to hym The kynge enquyred and demaunded the daye of his comynge and made to ordeyne a ryghte grete feest at theyr comynge He commaunded all the grete lordes and prynces of his realme for to be there And whan it came that Olyuer approched nere the Cyte all the prynces weÌ„te agaynst hym and there was none of them but that they dyde hym honoure and reuerence The kynge hadde ordeyned that he sholde be ledde in grete tryumphe thorughe the cyte And therfore the streteâ— were hanged and the fyres alyghted and the belles rougen on all sydes ¶ Also the processyons on all sydes wente agaynste hym to the gate of the cyte And whan 〈◊〉 apperceyued the processyons he alyghted of his 〈◊〉 and consequently all the grete lordes that dydde hym that honoure And in that estate they came vnto the cathedrall chyrche of Poules where as they gaue thanâ— kynges and louynges to almyghty god and to our lady And then they mounted on horsbacke and then Olyuer sente the seuen kynges prysoners in to the places that we reordeyned for them And he all armed wènte towarde the kynge the whiche he salued ryght humbly WhaÌ„ the kynge apperceyued hym he wente agaynst hym and began for to kysse hym colle hym saynge my ryght swete frende blessyd be the fader that engendred the and the moder that bare the. And thanked be my blessyd lorde that euer gaue the wyll for to come in to this countre the whiche at this presente tyme is so gretely honoured and redoubted by thy swerde I praye to god that he gyue me space for to deserue it to you warde Olyuer answered to hym Syr thanke our lorde and after the valyaunt men that ye gaue to me and not me for take that I haue done the best that I can yet I haue not deserued the honoure that ye do to me The kynge answered that he was aduertysed of euery thynge and commaunded hym to go and dysarme hym And whan the houre of souper sholde approche that he sholde retorne that he sholde brynge with hym the seuen kynges for he wolde soupe with them in his palays Olyuer wente towarde his maystres to whome the kynge hadde commaunded that all the honoure that she coude make hym that she sholde do it And therfore whan she sawe Olyuer come to warde her she wente agaynste hym and toke hym by the hande and kyssed hym in saynge that he was ryght welcome and that she was glad of his welfare but bycause that the souper tyme approched that he sholde â—etche the kynges prysoners he abode not longe there but toke leue and wente in to his lodgynge ¶ How Olyuer came in to the courte accompanyed of the seuen kynges prysonets of whiche he made a present to the kynge of Englande Capitulo xlvj WHan yâ— Olyuer was dysarmed and habylled of newe clothes he came ryght well accoÌ„panyed of noble meÌ„ oâ— the kynges courte that had grete desyre for to please hym in to the lodgys of the seueÌ„ kynges the whiche he salued and sayd to them that the Kynge his lorde wolde speke with them and soupe with them they sayd that they wolde go gladlye and mounted on horsbacke and Olyuer also with them that conduyted them And whaÌ„ they entred in to the courte dyuers lordes and prynces of Englande came agaynst them that dyde lede them to warde the kynge the whiche whan he lawe them in
it came after souper he toke the sonest leue of the kynge that he myght as he that hadde grete wyll for to lye with his wyfe the whiche was so â—â—cellente and that of loÌ„ge tyme he had not sene her to whome he coude none euyll wyll of ony thyÌ„ge that was happened her nor that his felowe had done For he knowe wel that she coude not do withall and that ygnoraunce made her for to do it thynkynge that it had ben he whan he was a bedde with his wyfe he began for to colle her and kysse her wherof she was all abasshed sayd My lorde ye haue forgeten the promesse that ye made to Saynt Iames Olyuer demaunded her what it was and how quod she doo ye not thynke on that ye haue layne with me more than a monethe withouten touchynge of me and that of all that whyle I myght not haue of you one onely kysse and ye tolde me that it myght not be tel that your vyage were done I haue herde you saye that ye haue not ben there and therfore I praye you my dere lorde yf that ye haue promysed ony thynge to god that ye wyll holde it Olyuer demaunded her of euery thynge so ferforthe that he apperceyued the loyalte of his felowe wherefore tenderly wepynge he withdrewe hym abacke from his wyfe and of all that nyghte he slepte not but sayd to hymselfe that he was the moost vnhappye that euer was borne of moder And that the euelles and trybulacyons that he had endured had not doone hym the hondreth parte of dyspleasure that he had at that present tyme And sayd that and his felowe had ony hurte that he sholde neuer haue Ioye and that yf he were deed that he sholde â—lee hymselfe for had well deseruyd it ¶ How Olyuer departed from London and came to the place where as he had lefte his felowe and cryed hym mercy Capitulo lxiij REcydently he abode in that doloure and dystresse tyll it was daye and incoÌ„tynente as it was day â—he arose made to sadell his hors vpon yâ— whiche he mounted and dyde so moche that he arryued in yâ— place where as he had lefte Arthur and whan he founde hyÌ„ not he began for to serche hym on euery syde and as he wente heder and theder he herde towarde the wood a voyce that conplayned hym ryght bytterly wherfore he wente thederwarde And whan he approched nere there he knewe yâ— it was his felowe that with ryght grete payne had with drawen hym oute of the waye vnder a tree And whan Olyuer sawe hym he set fote on grounde And truely he had soo grete doloure that he myght not susteyne hyÌ„self And I thynke yf that god had not helped hym that he had fallen in dyspayre and smyten hymselfe thrughe yâ— body with his swerde that he hadde drawen oute And the fyrste worde that he sayd to his felowe was suche in castynge hymselfe on his knees afore hym with the naked swerde in his hande ¶ Alas my broder beholde this caytyfe in pyte the whiche hathe so greuously offended tâ—e wherfore take this swerde and slewe me with all my herte I pardon the for the surplus of my lyfe shall be in dystresse and sorowe Arthur seynge his felowe so meke hym towarde hym sayd My ryght dere broder loyall felowe I praye to god that the pardon you and I doo And thynke that it is a thynge more possyble for to deuyde all the thynges that god hathe made than to departe the loue of vs twayne tyll the dethe Whan Olyuer herde hym speke so huÌ„bly he wolde gladly haue ben deed And coude not tell what to do saue to wepe perfouÌ„dely besyde hym Wherfore Arthur prayed hym for to loke how that he myght be hadde thens for hâ— suâ—â—â—ed had suffred the nyghte afore so moche dolour bycause of his hurte that it was meruayll And then Olyuer axed hym yf that he myght abyde so longe tyll that he hadde ben at a lytell vyllage nere them for to fetche a charette Arthur sayd ye and prayed hyÌ„ for to hye hym Olyuer wente and made suche dylygence yâ— within a shorte space he brought one vpon the whiche he put hym and in this wyse he was brought to LoÌ„don sore syke and Olyuer was in it also for to bere hym companye And made for to be gyueÌ„ hym a house and seruauntes After that this was done Olyuer made all the kynges physycyens and surgyens for to come the whiche put Arthur in poynt And they dyde so moche that within shorte tyme he wente aboute the chambre Olyuer that vysyted hym of ten tolde to his wyfe how â—uery thynge wente and had ben and that by the space of a moneth another man had layne with her the whiche was all abasshed and swore to hym that in no maner of the worlde he had not touched her not asmoche as to kysse her The kynge in lyke wyse dyde demaunde of Olyuer what maner a man he was that he hadde brought in suche wyse theder And Olyuer sayd vnto hym that it was one of his good felowes the whiche hadde ben nourysshed with hym sythe his yoâ—ghthe And thenne Olyuer beganne for to recouÌ„te vnto the kynge of Englande the grete loyalte and also loue that he had to hym in lyke wyse how yâ— he had layne with his wyfe and the maner how that he had conduyted hym and after the payne trauayle that he had suffred for to put hym out of pryson where as he was in And of the grete valyauÌ„â—yses that he hade done for that cause tâ—en he recounted the pyteous guerdon rewarde that he had gyuen hym wherefore he prayed the kynge that he wolde honoure hym as moche or more than hym selfe For he was more worthy it than he ¶ How Arthur after that he was heled passed ouer yâ— sâ—e and had vengeaunce on the kynge that had kepte Olyuer prysoner Capitulo lxiiij THe kynge was gretely abasshed and sayd yâ— it was one of the meruaylous hystoryes that euer he hadde herde sayd to Olyuer that he coude neuer do hyÌ„ so moche honour but that he ought to doo hym more and also yf yâ— he loued hym wel he sholde do nothynge but that he oughte to do For neuer broder had done for another that yâ— he had done for hym wherfore he coude not to moche deserue it And that as touchynge his parte he wolde doo hym as moche honour as sholde be possyble to hym and sente for his chamberlayne and his mayster stewarde and other gouernours and commaunded them that suche and semblable estate as his sone Olyuer had sholde be gyuen to Arthur And began for to tell them all alonge that yâ— whiche Olyuer had rehersed to hym reserued that he made no mencyon how that Arthur hadde layne with his doughter yâ— whiche was not a thynge for to recounte for it was a desloyalte but the kynge kepte hym well from tellynge of it bycause that there was and is
many folke yâ— paraueÌ„ture wolde sooner haue thoughte euyll than good wherfore he deported hym ¶ After the kynges commauÌ„dement all thynges were ordeyned as he had deuysed And dyuers knyghtes and squyres were reteyneÌ„d of Arthurs housholde the whiche began for to gete vp and the kynge vysyted hym ryght often Also dyde the fayre Helayne that made no semblaunte of nothynge And soo moche passed on these thynges that Arthur was heled And whan it came yâ— he myghte walke aboute in the courte and haue acquayntaunce with the noble men that remayned therin euery body began for to loue hym bycause of the humblenes that he was replete with And the kynge hymself loued hym almoost as mochâ— as Olyuer his sone in lawe And whaÌ„ he sawe that he was in the grace of euery body he forgate not yâ— wronge that the kynge of Irlande hadde done to his felowe wherfore he demaunded hym on a daye yf that he hadde ony wyll for to auenge hym And Olyuer sayd naye and sayd that he had perdoÌ„ned hym And how quod Arthur haue ye so feble a courage that ye dare not auenge you on your enemye by the fayth that I owe to god it shall not abyde soo And then all euyll contente he came towarde the kynge tolde hym all alonge in what pryson Olyuer hadde ben in and prayed hym yâ— he wolde gyue hym men for to auenge Olyuer for he knewe well that Olyuer hadde no talente for to doo it Whan yâ— the kyng herde Arthur speke so he toke it more greuously at his herte than Arthur dydde wherfore he sayd to hym My fayre frende lette my sone haue his wyll for it may be that he hathe made some promesses afore that he yssued oute of pryson Ye be well the man for to auenge hym without ony more that he medle hym therof And then the kynge reysed vp a grete armye of yâ— whiche Arthur was the chyef Capytayne the whiche were not soo sone arryued in Irlande but that the Kynge theyr enemye the whiche had knowlege of theyr comynge gaue them batayll where as was slayne dyuers men vpon bothe sydes but fynally the Irysshmen were dyscomfyted and the kynge fledde was assyeged in one of his places that was not well garnysshed with vytaylles wherfore it myght not holde longe So whan he sawe yâ— he had noo more mete and that it was force for to yelde hym as a valyaunt man he sayd that he had leuer deye in the felde in auengynge his dethe with the cuttynge of his swerde on his enemyes than for to yelde 〈◊〉 theyr volente and prayed the lytell folke that he had for to do well and then armed them and made to open the gates of th fortresse in smytynge on theyr enemyes and slew many at the fyrste bronte but there was soo many men agaynst them that they coude not escape And fynably the kynge and all his men were slayne After his dethe all his realme yelded them and were contente for to haue suche a lorde as the kyng of Englande wolde assygne them ¶ How Arthur fell in a grete maladye and of the dyspleasure that Olyuer had Capitulo lxv THese thyÌ„ges done Arthur and his company retorned in to Englande where as they were fested of the kynge of Olyuer and of all yâ— other lordes And the kynge gaue Arthur the realme of Irlande that he had â—onquered of newe And the Irysshemen were sent for the whiche came and dyde hym homage feate wherby Arthur was more puyssaunt thaÌ„ afore but this was not but that he demaunded often of Olyuer what thynge dydde meue hym yâ— he made hyÌ„ not to be knowen for then euery maÌ„ wolde haue made hym better chere and the kynge wolde haue ben ryght Ioyous for to haue maryed his doughter so hyghlye Notwithstandynge that it suffysed hyÌ„ Also he tolde hym how that after his departynge his fader had neuer Ioye and thought that angre hadde put hym to dethe wherfore Olyuer wepte ryght strongely for the dethe of his fader for hym semed yf that he were deed that it was for his sake prayed hym that he wolde not as ye tell what he was for it was yet tyme ynougâ—â— for to make them to be knowen and that whan that it sholde please them they myght do it Arthur that wolde all that his felowe wolde dydde not dysobeye hym in nothynge Also Olyuer made to bere more honour vnto hym than to hymselfe and pleased hym the moost that he myght Truely the two loyall felowes made so many nowe thynges that all they of the realme reioysed them Al theyr thoughtes was but for to make good chere and Ioyous that the whiche the one wolde the other wolde also and theyr two hertes were more agreynge thaÌ„ theyr semblaunce that was all one thynge Thus as ye here they passed the tyme in Ioy but forture that is moder of all â—rybnlacyon had enuye of the goodnes of these two loyall brederen and perfyte felowes for in a shorte tyme all theyr laughynges and Ioyes were chauÌ„ged in to wepynges and lamentacyons for Arthur was soo greuously syke that the physycyens iuged hym but deed but he was not so happy for to deye at euery tyme that he wysshed it His sekenes was without comparyson of all them that euer hadde ben sene for in a maner of wormes descended from his braynes the whiche ete all his face wherby he was so strongely dysfygured that there was neuer man more Out of his body yssued so grete a stynke that none myght approche hym saue Olyuer yâ— at euery thynge was aboute hym and wolde not departe fro hym He sente for all yâ— maystres surgyens on euery syde and prayed theym yf that they coude fynde ony remedy for his fayre broder that they sholde spare for nothynge And fynably none coude put no remedye to it And this sykenes heâ—de Arthur so longe that he was blyÌ„de Whan Olyuer sawe hym so blynde that he semed better deed than alyue he mayde ryght grete sorowe so moche that euery body hadde pyte on hym Often Olyuer sayd vnto Arthur my broder yf there be ony thyng that ye knowe that I may do for to helpe you spare it not for vpon my fayth I wolde be the poorest man in the worlde so that ye had your helthe ¶ Of the dreme and vysyon that Olyuer had by four 〈◊〉 in lykewyse it semed to Arthur that his helthe was in the power of Olyuer his felowe and yâ— he must do it for to hele hym Capitulo lxvj MY broder and faythfull felowe sayd Arthur ye doo me more good than I haue deserued wherfore I thanke you and pray you that ye wyll pray to god for to sende dethe to me for and it were his wyll I wolde fayne be out of this myserye ¶ It happened that Olyuer slepte vpon a nyghte and dremed that it was well possyble to fynde helthe for his felowe And Arthur dremed in lyke wyse that it was in Olyuers power
guerdon of all these thynges I broke one of his legges Now it is happened after all these thynges that he hath had a meruaylous sykenes not foure houres ago And so as I desyred some thynge yâ— myght hele hym It happened me to haue a vysyon and was tolde to me that who that wolde gyue hym a drynke of the blode of two Innocentes sone and doughter medled togyder that he sholde haue helthe So it is happened for to gete hyÌ„ helth that with this swerde I haue slayne my propre chyldreÌ„ and byheded them for to rendre to hym his helthe the whiche he hathe wherfore I gyue thankynges vnto our sauyour And after that I sawe hym heled I thought for to haue departed from this realme But yet I came in to her chambre for to se my chyldren that I had slayne the whiche by the wyll of our lorde that hathe extended his grace and pyteous mercy on me poore synner hath founde them alyue and playnge the one with the other Wherfore faders and moders that hathe chyldren thynke in what doloure I was in whaÌ„ I put them to dethe And what Ioye that I haue herde whan I se theÌ„ reuyued Then he toke his two chyldreÌ„ and afore all the people shewed them alyue lapped in the clothe that was all bebledde of theyr blode Wherfore all they that were the represent were mouyd with inwardly pyte that with wepynges and lameÌ„tacyons they made a grete bruyte The kynge wepte for grete Ioye and pyte The poore Helayne that sawe her chyldreÌ„ so myghte not supporte herselfe but fell in a swowne And whan she was comente herselfe she came to her chyldren in shewynge to theÌ„ moderly loue she coude not be fulfylled with kyssynge and pyteous remuneracyon Bryefely it was a pyteous thynge for to be in that chyrche for some wepte for Ioye and the other for pyte And whan the sorowe was a lytell aswaged the kynge al wepynge came and enbraced Olyuer saynge ¶ Noble kynge blessyd be our lorde whan he hathe gyuen me the puyssauÌ„ce for to mary my doughter so nobly as to a kynge that is extracte of so noble a lygnage Ye recouÌ„te vnto vs yâ— moost meruaylous tale that euer was herde in ony countree And ye maye well ymagyne that they that shall here it after vs shall saye thus for for euermore the compaynye of you and of your broder as loÌ„ge as the worlde shall endure ought to be recounted for the not semblable that euer was herde or that shall be ¶ How Olyuer sente Arthur in to Castyll for to notyfye his comynge And how the kynge of Englande accompanyed Olyuer in to Castylle Capitulo lxxi THe myracle was publysshed thrughe the real me of Englande And after all these thynges they beganne for to make Ioyous feestes in welcomynge the kyÌ„ge of Castylle that was than knowen And euery body sayd that the kynge was happy for to haue maryed his doughter soo And sayd that it was meruayll that he had kepte hym 〈◊〉 longe close The kynge of Englande sente for the lordes and ladyes of his countree And helde one of the gretest feestes that euer he had made Olyuer prayed theym all that they wolde accompanye hym in to Castylle to be at his coronacyon And they accorded hym all and the kynge hymselfe sayd that he wolde go with hym and Olyuer thanked hym And after prayed the kynge of Algarbe his felowe that he wolde do soo moche as to goo in to Castylle for to denounce his comynge Arthur sayd that he wolde do it gladly He departed from Englande well accompanyed and dyde soo moche that they arryued in Castylle where as he tolde the comynge of the kynge of his wyfe the kynge of Englandes doughter Whan yâ— tydynges were denounced that he was comeÌ„ and that Olyuer came after euery body thanked god and apparaylled them for to receyue hym in the moost honourablest wyse that they myghte They of the realme assembled them and by counsayll ordeyned for to make feest â–ª from the fyrste towne of the realme where as he sholde entre vnto the laste that he sholde passe by And all at yâ— expence of the realme Whan Olyuer thought that his felowe myght be well in Castyll he made that the kyÌ„ge was contente to departe And departed from London the fayrest and the moost noble companye and the best in poynt that euer was sene vpon a daye Helayne was accompanyed of ladyes and damoyselles in suche wyse that it was grete pleasure for to beholde theym of theyr Iourneys I can not deuyse to you but they dydde soo moche that they arryued in Spayne where as they were feested of all the grete lordes that they passed by And whan they approched nere Castylle Arthur and all the grete lordes came agaynst them And welcomed theym ryght gracyouslye and Ioyously in thankynge god of theyr comynge Then they made reuerence to theyr lorde to theyr newe quene also The whiche semed them the fayrest lady that euer they had sene Also they salued the kynge of Englande in offrynge them to his seruyce And whan they were entred in to the fyrst towne of the realme the stretes were hanged pagentes vpon scaffoldes and there was soo many other playes that they wyst not yâ— whiche they myght beholde The ladyes were in the wyndowes soo rychely clothed that it was meruayll And whan it came that they entred in to the prynces place all that they had sene afore was nothynge to that yâ— whiche they sawe there They were so wel seruyd at souper that it was mâ—ruayle And fynablye in all the townes that they passed by they founde newe thynges and alwaye better and better From the begynnynge of the realme all the companye were at the good Olyuers expences In that estate they came vnto the cyte of Vaudolytys where as they founde the olde quene of Castyll Olyuers stepmoder Arthurs owne moder the whiche at the request of her sone Arthur was comeÌ„ oute of the realme and countree of Algarbe for to saye vnto the fayre Helayne that was newe quene that she was welcome and to Olyuer semblably Also in that same Cyte was the moost ryalte as in the pryncypall cyte ¶ And whan it came that they were descended at the palays yâ— quene Arthurs moder came agaynst them strongely accompanyed with â—adyes and damoyselles welcomed the newe quene also yâ— kynge of Englande her fader And on yâ— morowe Olyuer was crowned he layne also And at the dyner the kynge of Englande the kynge of Castyâ—â—â— the kynge of Algarbe the two other quenes were set at one table all .v. were crowned ¶ Here it deuyseth how the kynge and yâ— other lordes and ladyes dyde departe And how yâ— whyte knyght appered to Olyuer and oppressed hyÌ„ for to holde his promesse whiche was for to gyue hym yâ— halfe of his wynnynge bycause of the torneyment Ca. lxxij AFter these thynges and that the kynge of Englande hadde ben there by the space of two
monethes he demaunded Olyuer yf that he wolde not retorne in to Englande and he answered hym naye And sayd that he was more at his ease in his realme that had beÌ„ so longe without a kynge than for to retorne in to Englande Then the kynge concluded to departe and Olyuer conueyed hym out of his realme And whan it came that they sholde take leue the kynge of Englande sayd to hym My sone and my frende Olyuer I recoÌ„maunde vnto you my doughter your wyfe and I pray you yf that I haue nede that ye wyll forgete not me And Olyuer sayd to hyÌ„naye and that as often and as many tymes as he sholde haue to do with hym that he sholde fynde hym redy And so they toke leue and the kynge of Englande wente towarde Englande the kynge of Castylle retorned in to his couÌ„tree where as he founde his broder Arthur kynge of Algarbe yâ— whiche wolde retorne in to his couÌ„tree and ledde agayne his moder that tooke leue of the kynge without makynge ony mencyon of ony thynge yâ— had happened afore And whan he founde hymselfe alone and was delyuered of all straunge men he vysyted his realme and made his ordynaunces soo fayre and so good that euery body was contente He with helde dyuers lordes of the realme of Castylle of his courte with some of Englande that were abyden with hym And as he had ben there a whyle he was knoweÌ„ of all the noble men that loued hym as theyr lyfe They were all reioysed of the two fayre chyldren that they had the whiche dyde encrâ—ase in aege in condycyons and in beaute that it was meruayll And whan it came to the knowlege of them of the countree of the fayre myracle that had happened all the worlde was abasshed how he had had the courage for to â—lee them for they knewe wel as to there garde of the myracle that the puyssauÌ„ce of god is so grete that none can comprehended it Thus as ye here the kynge of Castylle lyued in Ioye with his fayre and good spouâ—e resours of all his sykenesses and adueÌ„tures and aledgynge of all his dolours Euery body loued and dreded hym so moche that neuer kynge of Castylle was soo obeyed of his subgectes It happened on a somer daâ—e aboute foure a cloke that the daye was fayre and clere and as the kynge of Castylle slepte with his wyfe a thyÌ„ge came and knocked at the chambre dore soo meruayllous strokes that it hadde almoost broken the dore The kynge awaked and demauÌ„ded what it was That same thynge answered open the dore thou shalte se or elles I shall breke it Whan the kynge herde hym speke soo he put on his sherte and toke his naked swerde in his hande and came and opened the dore It was not soo soone open but that he knewe that it was his knyght that at his nede had alwaye socoured and seruyd hym And yet he was clothed in the whyte gowne that he hadde at the houre that he departed fro hym Whan the kynge sawe hym he toke hym in his armes and sayd My frende ye be welcome And he answered welcome or yll come yet am I comen and not for to tell you ony thynge that is pleasauÌ„t The kynge sayd that he coude saye nothynge that sholde dysplease hym for he had good remeÌ„braunce of the promesse that he had made to hym and was redy for to holde it ¶ Here it maketh mencyon of the sayd whyte knyght And of the grete dolour that Olyuer and his wyfe demeaned for theyr chyldren of whiche the whyte knyghte toke the sone for his parte and of other mysteryes of the quene Capitulo lxxiiij THey entred bothe in to yâ— chambre where as they founde Helayne a bedde that was all a basshed whaÌ„ she sawe the knyght clothed in whyte entre in to the chambre ¶ The kynge badde her aryse soo as she dydde and whan Oly. she was redy the knyght prayed the kynge that he wolde kepe his promesse and that he wolde kepe his fayth The kynge Olyuer hadde then all the thynges redy and apparaylled For it was of longe tyme purueyed in abydynge the whyte knyght and had departed all these thyÌ„ges 〈◊〉 wayne and began for to saye vnto the knyghte in this maner My frende I shall begynne at the Iewel les of my wyfe without the clothynge that hathe ben estymed a mylyon of golde lo there the keye take the whiche that ye wyll for all his departed in halfe my treasoure in lyke wyse ye shall chese the whiche halfe that ye wyll After the mouable goodes of my hous that I am serued with I thynke that ye haue but lytell to do with them saue the vessell And that vpon his fayth he hadde departed in two all that he hadde wonne and moore to for the moost parte of his treasour proceded of the realme of Castylle and that and he had euer ony thynge of that of Englande he sholde be lorde of the Iust halfe as he hadde promysed hym The knyght sayd that he was not contente and sayd to hym ¶ Kynge ye leye to me of that whiche ye saye for ye do not departe it so to me as ye haue promysed Haue ye not woÌ„ne wyfe and chyldren The kynge sayd ye Then sayd the knyghte I oughte to haue parte ¶ Whan the kynge vnderstode hym he set hym on his knees prayed hym with Ioyned handes that he wolde leue hym his chyldren and that he wolde gyue hym the halfe of his realme and with that yâ— resydue of his treasoure In lyke wyse the poore Helyayne in grete humylite with the teres in her eyen prayed hym yâ— he wolde haue pyte on her and on her burdeÌ„ and that he were contente for to take that the whiche her husbande dyde ossre hym by suche moyeÌ„ yâ— the chyldren sholde abyde to them The knyght sayd to hym Dame I wyll do nothynge for you nor for none other And yf that ye wyll not do it it is well in my power for to make you recompence it full derely Then the kynge commaunded the moder for to fetche her chyldreÌ„ the whiche she dyde and founde them a bedde and made them tâ—aryâ— and clothed them and then broughte them Whan the kynge sawe them he demaunded the knyght yf that he wolde be contente for his realme his treasoure for to rendre to hym his chyldren yf prayer myght haue ony place The knyght sayd naye Now sayd yâ— kynge syth that it gothe thus chese whiche that ye loue best The knyght layd that he wolde haue the sone bycause that he knewe that he loued hym best The kynge all wepyÌ„ge toke his sone by the handâ— and gaue hym to the knyght saynge My sone and my chylde I recommaunde the in to the garde of our lorde the pleasure of thy yongthe hathe lytell endured me Who that than had sene the poore Helayne take leue of her chylde he sholde haue had a harde herte yf that he had not
of his countree And whan they were all assembled he made yâ— spousaylles of Arthur and his doughter so grete and so plenteous of all goodes that it coude be noo more And this feest endured a longe tyme. In the whiche whyle tydynges came in to Castylle that the kyng of Chyppres was assyeged of the infydeles and requyred the kynge of castylle of helpe and socoure and also all the other crysten prynces Whan this tydynges came to the knowlege of the yonge prynce the kynges sone he made a requeste to his fader that he wolde gyue hyÌ„ leue and ayde for to goo to the whiche he accorded and gaue hym a grete armye but he retorned neuer after agayne as treateth more at longe the cronycles of Castylle For after that he hadde delyuered the realme of Chyppres of theyr enemyes he wente in to Turky where as he conquered dyuers realmes that he made for to be Crystenned And yf that he had not deyed yonge he had ben a man for to haue conquered the moost parte of the worlde The kynge of Algarbe ledde his wyfe in to his countree And thre yere after his departynge a ryght greuous maladye toke yâ— Kynge of Castylle by the wyll of oure lorde that of these thynges dysposeth at his pleasure and was so syke that Helayne his wyfe as she that abode not but his dethe sente for the kynge of Algarbe the whiche was not so sone arryued but that the kynge of Castyll passed oute of this worlde in grete wepynges and lamentacyons of all his subgectes and frendes and generally of his meÌ„ and all them that knewe hym And whan the tydynges were pronouÌ„ced to Helayne maulgre all them that kâ—â—te her she came to se her lorde that was deed whan she was entred in to the chambre and that she approched the body she escryed on hye A ryght puyssaunt kynge how I se thy fayre face pale by the dethe anguysshous and thy furyous armes affebled and in saynge this she lete her selfe fall vpon the body and she arose neuer after for of doloure her herte dyde breke and deyed Wherby the doloure was redoubled ¶ The poore kynge of Algarbe demeaned so grete dole that it was pyte for to se. And made innumerable lamcÌ„tacyons so moche that it sholde be to longe to recounte it In lyke wyse the quene of Algar became for to see her fader her moder that were deed she made so grete dole that with grete payn she myght be comforted Bothe the deed bodyes were buryed in one tombe the whiche was ryght pyteous to beholde ¶ How Olyuers sone deyed in turky how Arthur was kynge of Englande and of Castylle Ca. lxxvii SOne after that the grete dole had beÌ„ in Castylle Olyuers sone that atte yâ— tyme was theyr kyÌ„ge was enprysonned by some â—â—rasyns in yâ— marches of Turky but that was not but that aâ—ore his prysonynge he had beÌ„ crowned of thre realmes that he had conquered and by cause that there was no moo apperteynynge heyres in castyll than yâ— quene of Algarbe Arthurs wyfe they made her quene and crowned her husbande kynge of the countree in doynge to hym fayth and homage ¶ Alytell whyle after came tydynges to the kynge of Castylle and of Algarbe that the Kynge of Englande grandfader of his wyfe was decessed And that the Duke of Glocestre that was cousyn germayne to the Kynge of Englande had made hym to be crowned kynge of the realme Wherfore he sente in to Englande for to knowe and it were by the consente of the noble men of the countree And for to knowe yf that he sholde not be receyued for kynge as reason wolde It was answered to hym nayâ— wherfore he assembled a grete coÌ„pany of folke and with grete puyssaunce came and descended in Englande and dyde so moche by force of armes after dyuers grete bataylles that he that sayd hym kynge was taken and put in pryson where as he neuer yssued oute after After he made hym to be crowned kynge as reason wolde and yâ— Englysshemen receyued hym for theyr lorde and soo he was kynge of Englande of Castylle and of Algarbe also he was kynge of one of the realmes of Irlande The surplus of his dayes he lyued in grete prosperyte and encreasynge of all goodes He had thre chyldreÌ„ of his wyfe two sones and one doughter that after his decesse they helde his lordshyppes The eldest was kynge of Englande and of Irlande and the other kynge of Castylle and his doughter was maryed to the kynge of Portyngale and he had with her the realme of Algarbe that yet apperteyneth to hym The two sones gouerned well wysely theyr realmes And were redoubted and full dere holden of theyr subgectes and neyghbours After the dethe of the Kynge theyr fader and of the quene theyr moder The surplus of theyr dayes they lyued holyly in seruynge god and the gloryous vyrgyn Marye Then they passed out of this worlde ryght gloryously god for his holy grace haue mercy on theyr soules And gyâ—e gode lyfe and longe and encreasynge of all goodnes vnto all them that this hystorye shall rede or here redde and that wryteth it or maketh it to be wryten and also to all them that shall se it AmeÌ„ ¶ The epylogacyon of the booke The last Ca. ARystotle the phylosophre sayth that the thyÌ„ges yâ— be separed be vnderstoâ—den knoweÌ„ more dystynctely for yâ— whiche cause the table hathe ben made and put in the begynnyÌ„ge of this presente boke for to vnderstaÌ„de it yâ— better And bycause that it sholde seme to dyuers yâ— some passyues of thystorye by symplytude of impossylyte ought not to be byleued for a trouthe for the meruayll yâ— is sayd To the declaracyon of the passages of thystorye by maner of epylogacyon this laste chapytre is câ—mprysed And to the regarde of Olyuer and Arthur that were so lyke the dyffyculte is not to grete for whan yâ— two chyldren be of one aege and of one felte complexcâ—on hauyng some symylytude of vysage corsage facylly one may be taken for another namely bycauâ—e they be nourysshed togyder spekynge all one langage clothed in seÌ„blable clothes instructe vnder one mayster holdynge and kepynge all one maner of doynge and countenaunce all this rogyder and dyuers other thynges make the them be sayd semblable ¶ To the regarde of the quene that was esprysed of the loue of Olyuer it was but fragylyte naturall of women that foloweth sensualyte agaynst honoure ¶ Touchynge yâ— water of the glasse that ought to â—roubâ—e at Olyuers daunger by this ye must not vnderstande that it was water elementall in his nature but bycause that Olyuer was all vertuous that his vnder standynge was all gyuen to good and to loue god perseuerynge in good and vertuous operacyoÌ„s and fleynge all vyces and synnes god permysed that Arthur had knowlege of yâ— aduersytees happened to Olyuer his felowe by the chaungynge of the water of the sayd glassâ— by the prayer
of his felowe Olyuer made vnto god eueÌ„ so as he had wryten in the lettre and all this to the ende that of them were memorye afterwarde for to knowe the puyssaunce of god and the meruayles that on them he wolde shewe as on his frendes good crysten men and â—or to gyue example vnto the other ¶ Almoche as it toucheth of the fortunes happened vnto Olyuer and Arthur as well on the see as on the laÌ„de it is but a thynge naturall and of semblable happeneth often by the dysposycyon of the weder but that whan yâ— they were presetued from deth that was yâ— wyll of god and thynges myraculous that were shewed on them ¶ To the regarde of the whyte knyght that appered so to Olyuer and gaue hym comforte and ayde in his nedes god had sente hym in rewardyÌ„ge hym in this worlde of yâ— grete goodnesse and werkes of myserycorde that he hadde accomplysshed in procurynge the absolucyon of that same knyght that was holden for accursed ¶ Where as it toucheth that Olyuer was taken by one of the kynges of Irlande and retayned prysoner and after delyuered out of pryson by Arthur god caused all this to the ende that the kynge of Irlande that vniustely and without cause was enemye of his herâ—â— and traytour for alredy by iust warre he had made to hym homage and to the kynge of Englande the whiche put hyÌ„ in his realme agayne abode not vnpunysshed in this same worlde of his euyll and traytourous wyll to the ende that all traytours take ensample by hym and kepe them from falsynge of theyr othe ¶ To the regarde that Arthur coude not be heled but yf he dranke of the blode of two Innocentes sone doughter god had done it and gyueÌ„ it to vnderstande by reuelacyon for to preue yâ— loyalte and true loue of these two felowes as we rede of Abraham that was contente for to make sacrefyce of his soue Ysaac vnto god in lyke wyse Olyuer was soner coÌ„tente to hele his felowe by sleynge of his chyldren than for to se hym deye and it maye be that his chyldren were deed and after reuyued or elles that god couered the murdre and semed to Olyuer that they were deed soo as it semed to the Iewes that Moyses had hornes yet had he none ¶ And asmoche as it toucheth that Olyuer was conteÌ„te for to slee his wyfe the quene for to kepe his promesse vnto the whyte knyght Syr Iohan Talbot to whome he hadde promysed the halfe of his wynnynge at the torneyment he was so grounded and resolued in loyalte yâ— of his promyse he coude not nor durst not excuse hym As we haue of kynge Herode yâ— loued of saynt IohaÌ„ baptyst but yet he wolde kepe his promyse to his doughter and make hym to be byheded than to fayle and breke yâ— fayth of his othe ¶ And bycause that to god is nothynge impossyble he hathe done for oure doctryne dyuers myracles that ben worthy of memorye perpetuall as yâ— hystorye specyfyeth here afore made to the praysynge of god and of his gloryous moder and to the honour of the noble meÌ„ and to the felycyte of all loyall true louers to the example of pacyentes to the hope of the cheualrous and to the ferrylyte and occupacyon of the tyme salutarye Amen ¶ Here endeth the hystorye of Olyuer of Castylle and of the fayre Helayne doughter vnto the kynge of Englande Inprynted at London in Flete strete at the sygne of the sonne by Wynkyn de Worde The yere of oure lorde M. CCCCC and .xviij. W C Wynkyn de Worde