serue her without chauÌ„gynge in these thoughtes he toke ofte tymes grete dyscomforte somtyme allegyaunce of his heuy thoughtes Tho it befell y t there was rygour of warre bytwene the kynge of Irlonde the kynge of Englonde Soo there was trewes taken that was broken at Myghelmas and was passed a thre dayes And y e kynge of Irlonde came with grete armes So the tydynges came to the courte And the kyÌ„ge of Englonde sente letters ouer all made his assemble and ordeyned his two sones for to goo Surdyt asked his mayster Syr what tytle hathe the kynge your fader for to warre And Henry sayd that his fader hadde good tytle takynge it on his soule on his peryll Syr sayd Surdit than shall I go with you for in no wronge tytle of warre wyll I not arme me for no thynge for we owe better for to loue y e soules than the bodyes that ben mortelles whiche drawe euery daye to theyr ende and the soule may not dye for she must haue her rewarde of y e good dede and of the badde his mayster herde hym and praysed hym moche in his herte but well he thought that he had good ryght ¶ How the Englysshemen and the Irysshe faught how Ponthus conquered toke the kyÌ„ge of Irlonde and how he made afterwarde the peas of hym and of the kynge of Irlande THe armes were assembled wente ayenst the kynge of Irlonde y t kepte the felde had take a castell with a saute whaÌ„ he herde by his espyes that y e kynges two sones came to y e batayll he went ayenst them for he was a good knyght and a manly What sholde I saye you the kynge of Irlonde had seuen bataylles had many comyns our men had but foure bataylles of the whiche the erle of hampton ledde the fyrst he was marchal of englonde The secoÌ„de ledde syr Henry The thyrde syr IohnÌ„ the kyÌ„ges two sones and in that was moost of barons The fourth ledde y e kynge of cornewayle y t was a good knyght neuewe to the kynge of Englonde and he hadde with hym the walshe men The kynge of Irlonde had moost of his men on fote but the Englysshe men were moost on horsbacke At the assemblynge of the men of armes there was grete noyse and grete crye and there were many knyghtes ouerthrowen that syth had no power to ryse Soo the Erle had moche to suffâ—e by thre bataylles that were agaynst hym And whan Surdyt that was in the seconde batayll sawe theyr felowshyp withdrawe he sayd to his mayster Syr it is tyme to departe for your men lese grounde ye saye well sayd syr Harry Than they lete renne and smote in to the batayll bette downe knyghtes horses in theyr comynge and than they drewe theyr bryght swerdes of stele began the batayll fyers and cruell Soo they droue abacke the Irysshemen with that the other batayll came to theym where as the kynge was and the best knyghtes and there was grete noyse and sowne of trompettes and tabours and taryed but a whyle y t all the bataylles assembled togyder There were many fayre Ioustes but it were to longe to tell Surdyt y t had grere wyll for to do dedes of armes bete doune many with a tronchon of a spere And than he set his hande to his swerde and began for to smyte on the ryght syde and on the lefte syde that he made before hyÌ„ a grete way he made hymselfe be to byknowen of theÌ„ that neuer erst had sene hym and he dyde suche meruaylles of armes that there were many that lefte the batayll for to beholde hym Than sayd the kynge yf he lyue longe he shall make vs to lese the felde Soo y e kynge smote hym a trauers that he reuersed him and yet he feâ— not thoughe he was nyghe ouerthrowen whan he was dressed agayne he preysed hymselfe lytell in his herte but yf he be auenged for he knew well that it was the kynge of Irlonde for he had sene him do many grete dedes y t daye so he sawe hym rychely armed and arayed with peerles and precyous stones Then Surdyt auaunced hym and smote hym so grete a stroke vpon the helme that he astonyed hym and laye ouer the sadyll bowe but he wolde not smyte hyÌ„ agayne for ferde of sleynge And he sayd in his herte that yf god wolde he sholde not slee so good a knyght Than he toke hym by bothe sholders and drewe hym to hym ledde hym forth as the wulfe dothe his pray The Irysshemen wende well for to haue rescowed hyÌ„ but he smote soo grete strokes aboute hym that none durste come nyghe hym put smytynge as the brachet abayeth the wylde bore And so he bare hym out of the batayll and set hym in good kepynge and made hym for to fyauÌ„ce pryson whan y e Irysshemen sawe theyr kynge was taken eche of theym loste hardynes beganne to fle to the wodes and to the mountaynes there were many taken and slayne and ouerthrowen in the chace At the nyght euery man drewe to his baneâ— his standarde they lodged them in the feldes in the sygne of vyctory Syr Harry had grete Ioye that his knyght had taken the kynge of Irlonde Euery man spake of the knyghthode of Surdyt all men sayd that he hadde all ouercome and was cause of the vyctorye vpon the morowe after they wente before the castel y t the kynge of Irlonde had goten and it was yelden agayne and other townes castelles And whan wynter came on euery man came home in to his owne couÌ„tre Grete was the Ioye of the tydyÌ„ges that came to the kynges hous y e Surdyt had dyscomfyted y e Irysshemen and had take the kynge of Irlonde in myddes of all his men Soo there was grete preyse of his knyghthode At his comynge home the kynge and the quene wente ayenst hym and sayd welcome be ye the beste knyght on lyue floure of all knyghthode Surdyt was asshamed of the worshyp that they made hyÌ„ and sayd to the kyÌ„ge to the quene that they shamed hym yf he had wyst he wolde not haue come thyder of all that yere for it behoueth you not to do me suche worshyppe for I haue not deserued it me semeth y t ye bourde with me A sayd y e kynge ryght dere frende in good fayth we wende we hadde done well but syth that it dyspleaseth you we shall doo soo no more And thus the kynge exscused hym Men asked the kynge what he wolde do with the kynge of Irlonde And he answerrd as Surdyt wolde for he wolde neyther put hym in warde nor in pryson but as Surdyt coÌ„maunded And he answered agayne as the kyÌ„ge were pleased so sholde be done And yf it pleaseth the kynge that he myght be at his fyrst comynge out of pryson and be brought in to the hall men doo hym worshyp it were well done The
estates all maner men and it is good reason for he loueth and dredeth god and worshyppeth the aeged and the wyse people is honourable and humble bothe to grete and lytell he is morrour of all largesse of noblesse what his swete herte is gentyll and debonayr what sholde my herte do after his departynge but languysshe daye nyght neuer to haue Ioye nor rest I wote well that his herte shal suffre no lesse Than she fell in a swowne and Elyos toke her in her armes and streyned her and toke rose water and bespryncled her lady and comforted her y e fayrest she myght but it auaylled not she was so sorowefull And after she sayd A Elyos my swete loue I may not hyde my herte from you I loue you truste you soo moche But swete loue this sorowe cometh to me whan I thynke on the grete vntrouth that hathe ben contryued agaynst vs in that that we neuer thought for truer loue was there neuer And after that I thynke on the langage that shall be sayd theron and than after by me he leseth the countre where he was soo moche byloued bothe of lytell and of grete and all the harme that he hathe and shall haue is and shall be by me And I am cause of all his myschyef All these thynges putteth grete sorowe to my herte so she made grete sorowe and after she wyped her eyen And so ne after she wente downe in to her grete chambre amonge her ladyes gentylwomen and made no femblaūt that she had ony sorowe for she was ryght wyse and well coude she hyde herselfe The ladyes gentylwomen wepte for pyte and sorowe of Ponthus sayd that cursed be they that suche false tydynges had contryued but Sydoyne comforted them ryght swetely ¶ How Ponthus departed from the courte of the kȳge of Brytayne POnthus called a squyer and the yomen of his chambre and cōmaunded them to trusse put in a clothesakcke all thynge that hym neded and than he toke his leue of the court and of euery man So ne was there none but y t they ne wepte cryed and rente theyr heer made as grete sorowe as they had sene al theyr frendes deed soo moche they loued hym So he departed frome the courte The barons and the knyghtes and all that euer myght lepe on horsbacke conuyed hym syghynge and wepynge well they wende for to haue witholde hym with fayrnesse saynge vnto hym that the kynge was aeged and redooted and that ye ought not to sette his herte of nothynge that he sayd to hym But he wolde not vnderstonde it and whan they had conueyed hym a two myle he abode prayed theym to torne agayne So he made theym to torne agayne whyder they wolde or not at the leue takynge there was wepynge waylynge ynough saynge A Brytayne so moche thou oughtest well to wepe whan the gentyll and the good knyght whiche had y e in peas and Ioye and kepte the from harmes aduersaryes all enemyes as the henne dooth her chekyns vnder her wynges and he that helde all the Barons and y e people in good loue So they wente by waylnge wepynge and cursynge them that this false tayles had ymagyned And Ponthus rode to saynt Solo And there he dyd ordeyne a shyp And on the mornynge he herde masse and wente to the see And herlaunt his felowes wende for to haue gone with him all saue ganelet but he wolde not suffre them and he sayd y t the kynge had nourysshed them and y t he was of power to make them doo them good therfore he wolde that they sholde torne agayne vnto hym with grete payne they myght beparte from hym so sorowfull they were Soo they toke theyr leue wepynge and whan the shyp was gone out of theyr syght than began theyr sorowe all saue ganellet whiche made semblaunt to wepe but he hadde grete Ioye in his herte And whan Ponthus had lost the syght of Brytayne Than fell the teres frome his eyen and sayd Blessyd be Brytayne and the fayrest the good the trewest y e lyueth and the best and all other ladyes and gentylwomen for the loue of her and al the knyghthode for better nor sweter was there neuer ¶ How whan Ponthus was arryued at the porte of Hampton he founde a wylde bore and cutte hym in the myddes POnthus had his herte heuy and sorowfull for his lady whiche dwelled there and alwaye he refrayned his sorowe the beste that he myght So he arryued and londed at Hampton and came rydynge towarde London Then he met a greyhounde in his waye and a wylde bore whiche greyhoūde folowed pynched the bore Tho Ponthous drewe out his swerde and smote the bore in two peces Harry the kynges sone of Englonde that sawe the stroke was gretely ameruaylled and enquyred hym of whens he was Ponthus sayd vnto hym Syr for as moche as I haue herde grete renowme of the kynges hous of Englonde that he hath two sones whiche ben good knyghtes I am come hether for to se the state and the nobles of his hous Syr sayd Harry ye be welcome and I am one of the kynges sones and praye you for too be with me Syr in the name of god syth that it pleaseth you Soo they rode forth towarde the courte spekynge of many thynge whan they arryued y e kynge was set at dyner Harry cōmaunded y e men sholde delyuer chambre stable to his newe knyght it was done The kynges sone entred in to the halle his newe knyght with hym and salewed humbly the kynge and y e quene The kynge asked hym how he had hunted he tolde hym than he asked hym pryuely who is y t goodly knyght he tolde hym how that he foūde hym and of the grete stroke y t he had stryken the welde bore Moche was Ponthus loked vpon for frome euery parte men came for to se hym as it hadde ben a myracle Anone it was noysed in the courte that there was come the goodlyest knyght of the worlde that the kynges sone hadde brought The ladyes behelde hym and in especyall the kynges doughters Eeuerye of theym sayd that he is y e goodlyest knyght that euer I sawe Ye saye trouthe sayd another yf he be good yet is he more agreable and pleasaunt he was set at dyner with the ladyes After mete the kynge wente out of the hall and sawe the bore whiche was the grettest that he had sene of a grete whyle and was in two peces A sayd harry to the kynge to the quene se what my newe knyghte hathe done with one stroke of his swerde Ponthus turned fro thens and was ashamed bycause that men praysed hym for that stroke The kynge asked hym of whens he was and he sayd vnto hym that he was of the realme of fraunce and what is your name Syr sayd he men calle me Surdyt dedroit voyce So he asked hym of
loue worshyp holy chyrche all the cōmaundementes this is the fyrst seruyce that men sholde yelde to god ¶ The secōde is this that ye sholde bere worshyp and seruyce vnto them that ye be comen of to them of whome ye haue and may haue rychesse worshyp that is to saye loue and serue y e fader of your wyfe wherof moche worshyp seruyce to them that ye be comen of be to hym a very ryght sone kepe you that ye angre hym not suffre endure what langage or wordes that shall be sayd vnto you or of what tales that shall be reported to you some for to pleale you some by flatery or elles for malyce couert of suche men as wolde not the peas bytwene you and hym for fayre cosyn he that well suffreth of his better of his greter he ouercomoth hym It is a grete grace of god of y e worlde towarde hymselfe to haue suffraunce for dyuers reasons the whiche sholde be vnto longe to tell ¶ The thyrde reason is for to be meke gentyll amyable large and free after your power to your barons to your knyghtes squyers of whome that ye shall may haue nede yf ye may not shewe them fredome largesse of your good at the leest be to theym courteys debonayre bothe to grete and to lytell for bothe be good the grete shall loue you the lytell shall prayse you ouer all of your good chere and so he shall auayll you a ryght heralde soo moche ye shall be praysed ouer all And also it is to vnderstande that ye shall be so more to your wyfe than to ony other for dyuers reasons for by worshyp courteys berynge to her ye shal holde the loue of her bounde vnto you and for to be dyuers rude to her she myght haply chaunge and y e loue wherof ye sholde reioyse she myght gyue it to another where as me myght take suche a pleasaunce wherof that ye sholde be ryghte sory and that sholde ye not withdrawe whan ye wolde So is there grete peryll and grete maystry to kepe the loue of maryage also beware that ye kepe your felfe true vnto her as it is sayd in the gospell that ye sholde chaunge her for none other yf ye doo thus as I saye you god shall encrease you in all welth in worshyppe yf ye se her angry appease her agayne by fayrenes and whā she cometh agayne to herselfe she shal loue you moche the more for there is no courtesye but that is yolde whan an herte is fell and angry men wrath it more it ymagyneth thynges wherof many harmes may be fall ¶ The fourth reason is that ye sholde be pyteous of the poore the whiche that shall requyre ryght of the ryche or of y e myghty that wolde greue them for therto be ye sette and ordeyned all tho that haue grete lordshyppes for ye came in to the worlde as poore as they dyde as poore shall ye be the daye of your deth and ye shall haue no more of all erthe saue onely your length as the poore people shall haue and ye shall be bylefte in the erthe allone without ony felawshyp as the poore people shall be and therfore shall ye haue noo lordshyp but for to holde ryght wysynesse without blemysshynge or doubte of ony mayster or represe neyther for loue nor for hate for thus god cōmaūdeth her euery fryday in especyall the clamour of the poore people and of women wydowes put not theyr good ryght in respyte nor in delacion nor byleue not alway your offycers of euery thynge that they shall tell you Enquere before the trouth for some of theym wyll do it for to purchace domage vnto the symple people for hate and some for couetyse to haue theyr good whan they se they may not do with hym what they wyll soo they came with false reportes It is a peryllous thynge of a grete lorde to be lyght of byleue What shall I tell you he taught shewed hȳ many examples And tho Polydes thanked hym sayd vnto hym Syr I knowe wel that ye loue me of your goodnes ye haue purchased me the welfare the worshyp that I haue therfore I praye you that euery yere we may mete and se vs togyder for that shall be my comforte all my sustynaunce I graunte it sayd kynge Ponthus And after whan they had spoken and talked of many thynges they toke theyr leue eche of theym of other halsed and kyssed togyder none of them had power to speke one worde that one to that other for meruaylously they loued well togyder And whan that kynge Ponthus had his herte somwhat clered y t he myghte speke he toke his leue of the lordes of Englonde and offred hymselfe moche vnto them And Polydes tourned agayne to the kynges hous where as men made hym ryghte grete Ioye Polydes withhelde well the good doctryne of his cosyn for he serued obeyed the kynge the quene and made hymselfe to be byloued bothe of the grete and of the lytell by his largesse by his courtesye Ryght well he loued god holy chyrche and was pyteous charytable vnto the poore people The kynge the quene loued hym as theyr owne chylde and aboute a seuen yere after y e kynge dyed thā was Polydes crowned kynge of Englonde peasybly And ryght good loue was bytwene them his wyfe the olde quene soo he reygned in good peas grete Ioye So here I leue to speke of Polydes retourne agayne vnto kynge Ponthus ¶ How the kynge Ponthus arryued in Brytayne HEre doth kynge Ponthus sayle so longe on the see tyl he his barons were londed in brytayne And than they wente vnto the kynges hous where as they were receyued with grete Ioye of all maner of people And whan they hadde soiourned well a seuen dayes Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe de la toure the straūgers toke theyr leue departed And kynge Ponthus gaue them many grete gyftes ryche presentes thanked them whelde them as his felowes and his frendes than he conueyed them a two myle whether they wolde or not and there they toke theyr leue eche of theym of other The kynge of brytayne ne lyued but aboute a thre yere after for he was ryghte aged And than was kynge Ponthus crowned kȳge of Brytayne was ryght well byloued of the nobles of all maner of people he was ryght good ryght full of Iustyce charytable and pyteuous on the poore Ryght well they loued togyder he and the quene his wyfe ledde a ryght good an holy lyfe dyde many almesse dedes And whan the housholde remeued fro one place to another he dyde crye that all they that he ought ony good vnto were it for his housholde or for ony other thynge y t were taken for hym that they sholde
sone Madame sothe by my fayth Thā she gaue hym a rynge with a dyamonde ye shall bere this dyamonde she sayd for the loue of me Madame graūte mercy So he toke it set it on his fynger And after that she ledde hym to daunce and prayed hym to synge a songe and he dyde her cōmaundement as he whiche was tho taken with the loue of her So sange he a meruayllous songe and a swete And he was beholde of ladyes and of gentylwomen whiche praysed hym moche sayd eueryche in theyr hertes that well sholde she be worshypped that he vouched safe to loue And after that they hadde daunced she made to come wyne spyces gaue the senesshall a cuppe of golde full of wyne sayd vnto hym Seneshall I gyue you with my hande the wyne and the cuppe And the sene shall thanked her And whan they had sported theym ynough the seneshall sayd Madame ye shall gyue vs leue to se the kynge your fader she gaue them leue and prayed the seneshall that they sholde come se her agayne often he sayd so they sholde So loked eche of them on other at the departynge she helde her as couert as she myght whā they were departed they asked togyder that one lady of that other what saye ye of Ponthus there was none but y t they praysed hym meruayllously wherof there were some of them that sayd A well eurous sholde that lady be whiche shall haue suche a loue she shall mowe saye that she hath the floure the goodlyest of the worlde So praysed the ladyes Ponthus and it dyde Sodoyne grete good to here this she durste saye no thynge but that she sayd he is fayre ynough but men can not yet saye the sothe wherto he shall tourne therfore he ought not yet to be ouermoche praysed And that she sayd vpon her herte but that was for to here the maner of the spekers The feest dured thre dayes full and there were Iustes and many straunge playes made ¶ How tydynges came to the kynge of brytayne that the sarasyns were comen in to his realme ANd amonge all other thynges there befell meruayllous thynges for there came messangers whiche sayd that the sarasyns were come downe towarde breste had taken the londe and were more than thyrty thousande wherof the courte was all to troubled And at the houre of mydday there came vp a knyghte and two squyers sarasynes in message on kynge Karados behalfe the sowdans sone And that was one of the thre sones wherof ye haue herde That knyght was grete brode in the sholders fyers and proude and had trewes wherby that he myght come and speke So sayd he on hygh that the sowdans sone was come vpon that countre for to do awaye the crysten lawe and for to publysshe mahowmettes lawe And he sente to the kynge of brytayne that he sholde leue his lawe take mahonnes lawe And ouermore that he yelde trybute of euery fyre hous of the realme and yf he wyll not he wyll dystroye brytayne put it al to the swerde The kynge herde the menaces the pryde Soo was there none that answered agayne ne said one worde Thā Ponthus sawe that no man spake a worde and he sterte forth and went to saye I am a chylde I am symple but I shall not here our holy lawe so dispysed tofore me but that I shall speke So wente he kneled tofore the kynge asked hym leue And the kynge graunted hym whan he sawe that the other wolde not speke than he sayd to the knyght sarasyn I answere that your lawe is but dampnacyon of the fende deth of euerlastynge fyre And ours is saluacyon Ioye whiche shall alway endure whā that we yelde you trybute we be false nor neuer shall we do you sernage god wyll Than sayd the sarasyn yf there be ony two that wyll fyght ayenst me y t mahowne is not greter than your Ihesu Cryste I shall fyght with them Than answered Ponthus neuer god wyl ne shall we set two ayenst one I am yonge feble but I caste my gloue in pledge to defende that worde saye that Ihesu cryst is the sone of god and mahowne is the sone of the deuyll he caste it downe tofore the kynge and the sarasyn toke it vp and said Chylde I sholde fyght with y e with another I aske none but me sayd Ponthus The kynge the barons were gretly wrothe that Ponthus had waged batayll but they myghte not amende it And than the kynge sayd A Ponthus ye haue betrayed vs and set vs at grete vnhertes ease whiche haue be soo hasty to caste your pledge be so yonge ayenst that knyght whiche is so grete so harde Syr sayd Ponthus wote ye not how Danyel whiche was a childe saued Susanne by the meane of god meruayll not of the myght of god whome that he wyl helpe hym nedeth not to drede I holde me sure hop◠in hym So ne doubte no thynge of me Whan the kynge herde hym speke he wept and tourned his vysage asyde of the goodnes of the hardynesse of pyte that he hadde of the chylde prayed in his herte that god wolde hȳ saue Syr make me knyghte with your hande sayd Ponthus and gyue me armes and I shall go doo my deuoure And the kynge made hym knyght and gyrde hym with the swerde kyssed hym wepynge that he myght saye no worde syth armed hym with his best armour of his tresourye and toke hym the best hors that he had And whan he was on horsbacke armed he was soo goodly to se soo ryght so well shapen the feet the legges so streyght and sate soo well on horsbacke y t it was a fayre thynge to se his thyrtene felowes wepte for pyte of drede Harlant the seneshall was heuy so were there all maner of folke whiche sawe that he was so yonge had to do with so grete an aduersary for men sayd that he was y e hardest the strongest of the sarasyns Ryght grete was the crye whan Ponthus was armed for to fyght for the fayth so moche that the wordes came to tofore Sydoyne but it nedeth not to aske yf she had grete heuynesse and drede of her knyght and she sent hym a pensell to sette vpon his spere and whan he sawe the pensell his herte awoke and he thanked her And she sette her all styll in her closette in her oryson prayenge for hym ¶ How Ponthus ouerthrewe the sarasyn that sayd that his lawe was better than the crysten ANd whan all was redy the paynym sayd to hym Chylde go seke another for to helpe y e for thou arte ryght yonge I haue pyte of the for y u art ryght fayre so sholde it be ryght grete harme yf it befell that I slewe the. By mahowne it sholde be good to vnsaye that thou hast sayd praye mahowne
Surdyt gaue theym moche good Than sayd one of y e sarasynes se these grete hutches and these grete cofers they ben full of golde and syluer that our mayster had robbed and spoyled vpon crysten londes that were nyghe the see Soo no man myght thynke the grete ryches that was within Eueryche other lordes toke of the shyppes for there were well nyne hondred and the flode fayled theym There was so grete wȳnynge that euery man was ryche by that Iourney Surdyt called of his men suche as he trusted betoke theym y e shyppe to kepe cōmaūded theym that it sholde be broughte to London to one of his lodgynges that lay vpon the water for he thought to wage men of armes for to go in to his realme that the sarasynes kepte in seruage And neuerthelesse he gaue many grete gyftes that euery man praysed hym of his largesse That nyght passed was vpon a tuesdaye the wednesdaye they serched y e felde for to wete who was deed of the crysten people Soo they founde the kynges two sones of Englonde the erle of wales the baron of staunforde the erle of Gloucestre thre other barons and .xii. knyghtes well a two M. of crysten people So some were borne in to theyr countrees the remenaūt buryed at an abbay The kynge and the quene had grete Ioye of the vyctorye and all they sayd with one voyce that the good knyght Surdyt had dyscomfyted the felde and yf he had not ben they had loste the felde but his grete knyghthode saued them dyscomfyted the felde and theyr enemyes So he had all the pryce but he was ryght sorowful of the dethe of the kynges two sones The kynges and y e quene made grete Ioye to Surdyt so dyde all the ladyes they sayd vpon hym that by hym they were quyte of theyr enemyes Surdyt wept whan he sawe the kynge for pyte of his mayster the kynge comforted hym sayd that in more noble seruyce myght they not dye than in the seruyce of god for to kepe y e countree and our holy lawe ayenst the mysbyleuers ¶ How the kynge of Englonde the kynge of scottes made a parlyament wolde haue gyuen vnto Ponthus to his eldest doughter THe kynge behaued hȳ ryght fayre all thoughe he were sorowfull in his herte Than y e kȳge helde his grete counseyll And there was his brother of scotlonde his neuewe of cornewayle all the lordes And the kynge sayd vnto theym fayre lordes ye se y e grete meruayles that haue fallen in this realme how I haue lost my two sones how I am aged and the quene is not yonge Soo we must be aduysed who shal holde the realme after me and who shall gouerne it in myne age The kynge of scottes stode vp sayd I haue your syster to my wyfe And I gaue my syster to your wyfe and so I holde me for your broder And therfore my counseyll is thus Gyue your doughter vnto Surdyt And ye shall be dredde doubted your realme well gouerned And all answered with one voyce he hath well sayd the kynge of Englonde accorded therto with all his herte And the kynge of scottes was charged to speke vnto Surdyt Soo he wente and sayd vnto hym Surdyt ye ought well to thanke god of the vertues that he hath gyuen you for euery man loueth you The kynge and all his coūseyll haue chosen you to haue his eldest doughter and to be kynge after hym in his lyfe to gouerne his realme Syr sayd Surdyt I thanke the kynge and all his lordes of the grete worshyppe that they profre me but they ben symply aduysed as me semeth for it is not syttynge that soo grete a kynges doughter and heyre sholde take so poore a man as I am and of so lowe a kynred And yf god wyll the noble blode of Englonde shall not be abessed by me What is that ye saye quod the kynge we be all one fader and of one moder And more ouer there is so moche worshyp and worthynes in you that ye be worthy to haue a better They spake moche of this mater but they coude fynde noo waye that he wolde consente so fayre he founde Surdytes excusacyons that it was meruayll to here And whan he sawe that it sholde not be he wente agayne to y e kȳge and his counseyll tolde hym what he had foūde how that Surdyt thanked y e kynge how that he exscused hym Truely sayd the kynge he is maryed or ensured or elles he loueth suche one as he wyll not be vntrewe to Truely sayd all the lordes we wene y t it so be Who so euer was glad or sory the kȳges doughter was ryght sory what semblaūt y t euer she made and sayd to herselfe Alas what eyleth me y t god hath not gyuen me y e grace that I myght not haue hȳ Truely I se well that he hath set his herte in some other place where as he wyl kepe kepe his trouth or perauenture he is maryed sore she cōplayned in her hert sorowed for ouer al men of y e worlde she loued hym best ¶ Now here I leue of Surdyt of the kynges hous of Englonde tourne agayne to Sydoyne to the kȳge of Brytayne THe terme dureth yet that Ponthus set to Sydoyne but Sydoyne hathe many a streyght thought heuynesse bothe daye nyght wysely she demeaned herselfe that no man sholde aspye her heuynes saue Elyos the whiche knewe all her counseyll sayd vnto her Alas by me is gone out of this realme the best and the goodlyest knyghte of all the worlde often tymes she sorowed and wysshed for hym but Elyos comforted her in the best wyse that she myght Now it befell that Guenellet had all his desyre for he was mayster of al the kȳges hous of Brytayne by his grete wyles subtyll speche Soo he put out Harlant the senesshall out of his offyce and made y e kynge his heuy lorde and hadde all the rule in his handes Sydoyne was desyred of kynges and of dukes but she wolde here speke of no maryage Soo amonge all other the kynge of Bourgoyne herde speke of her of the erle of moūtbelyart his cosyn that Sydoyne was the fayrest the connyngest that was in ony countre So the kynge was of her so amerous that he myght haue no rest so he enquyred by whome the kȳge was ruled and gouerned And they tolde hym by a knyght that hyght Guenelet So he sente hym many presentes grete gyftes and made hym large promys so that he wolde labour that he myght haue Sydoyne And soo for couetyse Guenelet letted not but laboured y e kynge sayd vnto hym Syr mary your doughter whyle ye be in good helth allye you with some good kynge that shall be wysely done Here is the kynge of bourgoynge that desyreth her and he is ryght noble and a ryche kynge
it were grete foly to refuse hym And the kynge sente vnto Sydoyne hymselfe sayd vnto her fayre doughter I am olde and aged I haue no chylde but you ye be desyred of many kȳges grete lordes and I haue herde saye he that refuseth reason reason wyll refuse hym so it befalleth often wherof god gyue grace it do not so by you Fayre doughter y e kynge of Bourgoyne desyreth you and he is neuewe to the kynge of Fraunce he is ryght myghty and a ryche kynge Soo me semeth he ought not to be refused and as for me yf it lyke you I am accorded therto Syr sayd Sydoyne it is noo nede yet to be wedded Truely sayd the kynge ye haue so longe forborne I knowe noo cause why but I shall neuer loue you but yf ye accorde you to this She was sore abasshed and heuy that her fader helde her soo shorte she sayd vnto hym Syr ye wote well there is no thynge ye wyll cōmaunde me to do but I wyll doo it with a good wyll My ryght dredefull lorde I tell you in counseyll that there is a sykenes in me I dare not tell it but with y e grace of god I shall be hole of it but it wyll be fyrst somer or aboute Pentecost at that tyme I shal fulfyl your wyll Truely sayd the kynge it suffyseth me I forgyue you tyll y e terme that was the seuenth yere that Ponthus set terme that he departed frome Sydoyne The kynge was well pleased with his doughter tolde vnto Guenelet of y e terme that she had set hym Guenelet sayd that it was well done he sente vnto the kynge of Bourgoyne that the maryage was graunted to be on tuesdaye in Pentecoste Sydoyne was in grete dysease sente dyuers tymes to wete yf she myght haue ony tydȳges of Ponthus she coude none here bycause he had chaunged his name and so was she in grete sorowe bothe daye nyght whan he tyme drewe nyghe she was sore dysmayed and sente after Harlant and sayd vnto him A Harlant my dere frende I haue grete sorowe that my lorde is so affonned on Guenelet whiche maketh hym for to do many straunge thynges one is to put you out of your offyce and also by his fals wyles he wyll put awaye the beste knyght that at this daye bereth armes as men saye y t was Ponthus that ye taught nourysshed thre yere the whiche loued you so well he maketh my lorde to do many shamefull thynges by his fals flaterynge in lyke wyse he maketh me to be gyuen to the kynge of Bourgoyne ayenst my wyll for men saye y t he hath many euyll condycyons also he is aged corsyous and lame and dronklew but I may not do ayenst my lordes cōmaundement so the terme draweth nygh of Pentecost And I wote well yf Ponthus wyfte it he wolde set remedy therto so I praye you that by your counseyll remedy may be had for there is no man in the worlde that I wolde discouer me to saue onely vnto you ¶ How Sydoyne sente Olyuer sone to Harlant in to Englonde for to fynde Ponthus MAdame sayd Harlant neuer god wyll that ye shall haue an housbonde of suche condycyons But I shall tell you what we shall do Olyuer my sone is one of the knyghtes as ferre forth as I knowe y t Ponthus loueth best he shall go in to Englonde enquere of hym in to scotlonde Irlonde whyther he be a lyue or deed so he shall knowe the trouth A sayd she in good fayth ye saye well So Harlant spake vnto his sone whiche wente w t good wyll charged hym of all y e mater bytwene Ponthus Sydoyne toke hym money ynoughe for his exspences Soo Olyuer passed the see londed at hampton where he requyred of Ponthus And he founde well that seuen yere afore there was passed in to the courte y e goodlyest knyght the best that euer men myght se but he named hym self Surdyt de driot voyce Olyuer supposed y t it was he that he had chaunged his name for certayne causes soo he rode forth he his man came thrughe the forest where he founde theues bycause he coude not well speke the langage of the countre bycause they sawe hym well arayed rychely they ranne vpon hȳ and toke hym dyspoyled hym toke from hym all that euer he had and hurte hym foule but he escaped from them in the forest and saued hymselfe so he had grete honger thurste grete colde So he sorowed sore for he myght fynde no comforte of his dysease the lettynge of his enquest greued hym wors than all his losse He passed the forest and wente beggynge his mete fro dore to dore tyll he came to the kynges hous and it was the same daye that the kynge of scotlonde had spoken vnto Ponthus of the maryage of his nece Genneuer ¶ How Olyuer founde Ponthus in the courte of y e kynge of Englonde POnthus was in the courte where as he behelde Iustes dysportes of yonge knyghtes dyuers maners Olyuer was all naked dyspoyled loked aboute hym sawe Ponthus knewe hym well So he came kneled downe afore hym sayd to hym My lorde Ponthus god gyue you good lyfe increase you in the worshyppe that ye be in Ponthus was all abasshed sayd vnto hym Frende to whome speke ye Syr I speke to you that I knowe well for ye be ponthus the kynges sone of Galyce ye haue forgoten the countre of Brytayne thoughe I be poore naked it is befall me in sekynge of you And ye ought to knowe me for I am Olyuer the sone of Harlant And whan Ponthus herde hym he loked vpon hym knewe hȳ well And than he toke of his mantell caste it aboute syr Olyuer toke hym by the hande kyssed hym wepynge myght no worde saye vnto hym Thā he toke hym by the hande ledde hym in to his chambre and it was a grete whyle or he myghte speke And whan that he myght speke he sayd vnto hym A dere brother and frende how doo they in your countre how be ye thus arayed tolde hym all the mater frome the begynnynge to the ende Ponthus cladde hym with the best clothes that he had and whan he was arayed he a ryght goodly knyght Than he tolde vnto Ponthus how he was robbed in poynte to be deed and how y t he came beggȳge his brede fro dore to dore after he tolde hym how Guenelet had all the rule of Brytayne and how the kynge byleued in no man but in hym how that he had put out his fader of his offyce of the seneshall shyppe of brytayne And after he tolde hym of Sydoyne how that she sholde neuer consent to no maryagesyth that he departed of the grete dysease
hym w t an hawberke and his helme ranne forth without ony more abydynge as the hardyest knyght that was as men sayd Whan he was departed herde the crye I was sore a ferde toke one of my womennes gownes wente my waye with my launder I founde of auenture the posterne open y t some people had opened soo I went out wente to the woodes faste by the landes where as dwelled an holy heremyte the whiche had a chapell and a lodge at the wodes syde So I abode there and my chamberer whiche was aged came euery daye to fetche the almes at the kynges hous And therby we lyued the heremyte she and I so ye may se how god hath saued me In good fayth sayd y e kyÌ„ge her sone ye ledde an holy lyfe so dyde she for she wered y e hayre wente gyrde with a corde was an holy lady The kyÌ„ge had grete Ioye grete pyte of his moder Than he sente for his taylloures and dyde shape kyrtelles gownes and mantelles for his moder of veluet bothe blewe purple made them to be furred with veer and ermyne fables whan it came to theyr souper they brought in the quene rychely arayed And whan the kynge of Aragon her brother sawe her he toke her in his armes and kyssed her sayd that he wende not that she had ben on lyue The lordes and the ladyes of Galyce had grete Ioye of the quene dyde her grete worshyp for they helde her for a good an holy lady And they were all ameruaylled fro whens she came for they wende she had be deed Her brother the kynge of Aragoon was set at souper at the tables ende and after the quene than her sone the kynge Ponthus for the day of his crownacyon he must kepe his estate The quene was of goodly porte semed well to be a grete lady she was ryght humble had grete Ioye of the goodnes and worshyp that she sawe in her sone Than she sayd to her sone Fayre sone I haue grete desyre for to se our doughter your wyfe for the grete goodes I haue herde of her Madame sayd he ye shall se her hastely yf it please god That daye passed with grete Ioye grete dysportes of ladyes of syngynge of daunsynge and of other maner playes That nyght kynge Ponthus dremed that a bere deuoured quene Sydoyne his wyfe and she cryed sayd A Ponthus my swete lorde suffre me not thus to dye This auysyon fell to hyÌ„ twyes or thryes so he was sore afrayed ther with grete meruayll in his herte what it mente In the mornynge in the sprynge of the daye he called vp his men and sente for his vncle syr Patrycke so they came to hym he tolde them his auysyons he sayd myne herte telleth me that my wyfe hath some sekenes or in some trouble so I wyll no lenger abyde here for I wyll go as faste as I can to se her Whan they sawe his wyll they durste not agayne saye hym Than sayd the kynge fayre lordes I thanke god and you this countree is clensed of the myssebyleuers and I thynke well y t by you two the couÌ„tre hath be saued and the people kepte fro the deth by your good rule as it was goddes wyll So I bethynke me of Moyses Aaron that god set to saue the people of Israell so ye shall haue meryte and the guerdon of god And as for me I am ryght moche bounde to you wherfore fayre vncle I make you my leutenauÌ„t syr Patrycke shall be senesshall constable of this realme for it is grete reason that ye that haue done soo moche good saued the countre ye to haue the rule and the gouernaunce And ye syr Patrycke my dere frende ye saued me soo I shall gyue you londe good so largely y t ye shall not lese your good seruyce Syr Patrycke kneled downe and thanked hym Than the kynge coÌ„maunded them that the estate of y e quene his moder were kepte and that she sholde haue her coÌ„maundement as it were to his owne propre persone also y t they sholde susteyne the poore as well as the ryche that the ryche sholde not greue nor ouerlay the poore And than he coÌ„mauÌ„ded theym to repayre chyrches glasse wyndowes of all other thynges where as they were broken to make them vp agayne I shall take you ten thousande besauntes of golde therto he ordeyned ryght well for his realme all thynges that neded And than he went and herde his masses sent his dyner in to the shyppe and toke his leue of his moder the quene sayd vnto her herynge all men Madame I leue you the realme and the tresoure that I haue all in your grace gouernaunce I haue coÌ„mauÌ„ded coÌ„mauÌ„de all men to obey you as I my propre persone better I leue you myn vncle and syr Patrycke my good knyght y t whiche I haue made my constable seneshall of this realme myne vncle my leutenaunt Soo he toke his leue wepynge she prayed hym that he wolde come agayne in shorte tyme for she wolde fayne se his wyfe and he toke his leue of the lordes the ladyes of the countree and wente to the shyppes euery man arayed hym dressed hym to the see Kynge Ponthus came vnto y e barâ—ns tolde theym what auysyon there was befall hym wherfore he sholde neuer be at hertes ease tyl he had sene his wyfe So he toke the see sayled so longe tyll he sawe the costes of Brytayne ¶ Of y e false letters and treason that Guenelet dyde ayenst Ponthus wherfore he dyed with grete myschefe as ye shall here hereafter GUenelet was abyden keper of the kyÌ„ge and of his doughter for kynge Ponthus had gyuen hym all the gouernauÌ„ce as ye haue herde before wherfore he had grete Ioye Neuerthelesse he myght not kepe hymselfe nor chastyse hymselfe from treason so he bethought hym that he wolde haue the quene Sydoyne to his wyfe by what waye and that he wolde be lorde and kynge of the countree eyther by fayre or by foule so he wolde set hymselfe in auenture Soo the deuyll tempted hym so moche y t he dyde stuffe the cyte and the castelles sente for sowdyours gaue theym syluer in hande for to haue the loue of them of armes So is syluer of an euyll vertue for the good men put them in peryll of deth And whaÌ„ he had stuffed all the fortresses he dyde make a fals seale of kyÌ„ge Ponthus and made two false letters that one to the kynge and that other to the quene Sydoyne the whiche specyfyed that kynge Ponthus recoÌ„maunded hym to the kynge that all his men were dyscomfyted slayne and hymselfe hurte to the deth without ony remedye So he prayed hym that for his welfare for the welth of the countre that he wolde gyue his doughter
to the kynge of scottes laughynge I wote neuer what shall be of the speche that the erle of Rychemonde brought And the kynge smyled sayd ye haue sene hym what saye ye by hym pleaseth he you she wexed all reed and sayd I shall doo as my lorde ye wyll So he sawe well y t she lyked hym he came to the kynge and sayd to hym that it was good to wete of y e mater of his nece Than sayd y e kynge of Englonde ye saye trouth withdrawe you in to yonder chambre And the kynge withdrewe hym and sent for the kynge of Irlonde and the kynge of cornewayle and for the prynces and barons of his realme And whā they were come he tolde them how the erle of Rychemonde had spoken to hym from kynge Ponthus of the maryage of his doughter of Polydes and he sayd vnto them Fayre lordes ye knowe wel that I am aged may bere no more none armes nor laboure nor trauayll for to kepe you yf nede befell So it behoueth that our doughter were maryed to a man that were lykely to kepe you and to holde you in rest peas yf ye take a grete lorde or prynce perauenture he wyll make his dwellynge in his owne countre so sholde ye dwell wtout gouernour yf ony wronge were done to ony of you or too ony of this realme he sholde be fayne to goo out of the countre to seke ryght of his request therfore me semeth it were better for to take a yonge knyght of hyghe kynred that sholde abyde dwell with you and that wolde thynke hymselfe to be beholden to haue worshyp by his wyfe and in so moche he sholde be the more enclyned to obey you and the realme so I wyll tell you all the mater that hathe be spoken vnto me Than he declared them how that kynge Ponthus had spoken to y e erle of Rychemonde of Genneuer of his cosyn germayne the whiche men holde for a good knyght and of good condycyons So there was moche talkȳge bothe of one of other that longe were to tell but the ende was that they were al accorded sayd that they myght no better doo for the surete welfare of the realme for to be abeyed and out of trouble and that as longe as his cosyn kynge Ponthus lyueth there shall no man be so hyrdy for to meue warre ayenst them ¶ How Polydes kynge Ponthus cosyn wedded Genneuer the kynges doughter of Englonde ANd whan the kȳge sawe that they were consented he sayd to the kynge of scottes and the Erle of Rychemonde the whiche were worshyppefull knyghtes Go sayd he to the kynge doo hym to wete of all this mater saye hym that for his loue we wyll haue his cosyn These two departed and called kynge Ponthus a syde and tolde hym ryght gracyously how the kynge and the lordes were consented for the loue and worshyp of hym to the maryage that he had spoken of to the Erle of Rychemonde Kynge Ponthus thanked the kynge and all his barons ryght mekely sayd y t they dyde hym grete worshyp for the whiche god graūte hȳ grace to deserue it And so longe wente came the kynge of scottes that he assembled them in the quenes chambred And there came the archebysshop of Caūtorbury the whiche fyaunced theym It is not to aske yf Genneuer hadde grete Ioye in her herte all thoughe she made tho symple for she loued and praysed hym moche the more for the good name that men gaue hym and also for the loue of his cosyn the whiche that she loued so moche before tyme. And also Polydes thanked god hyghly in his herte that he had sente him so grete a worshyp in this worlde and to haue so fayre a lady and of so goodly behauynge So the daye of weddynge was sette y e eyght daye after Grete were the feestes and grete were the Iustes y ◠whiche began the morowe after the day of maryayge for kynge Ponthus wolde not accorde that there sholde be done dedes of armes the day of the maryage And that he sayd for the kȳge of bourgoyne y e whiche dyed the day of his maryage For to tel of the well Iusters it were to longe to tell but ouer all kynge Ponthus Iusted best for he was without pere Ryght well Iusted Polydes the kynge of Ironde and the lorde de lesygnen the lorde de la toure the lorde Moūfort of brytayne these had the voyse of al well Iusters It were to longe to tell so I passe lyghtly it were a grete thynge to tell of the grete feest and of the grete ordynaunces of the seruyces of the vowes and of the pryces that were gyuen of all dysportes The feest dured from the mondaye to the frydaye ¶ How kynge Ponthus departed from Englonde AFter mete kynge Ponthus toke his leue of y e kynge and of the quene but with grete payne they gaue hym leue Genneuer conueyed hym well a two myle they had moche goodly talkynge togyder she sayd vnto him that she loued her lorde Ponthus moche the more bycause she had loued hym couertly and that she praysed hym the more that he had kepte truly his fyrst loue Kynge Ponthus smyled and sayd that there was noo wyle but that women knewe and thought Soo they spake ynoughe of dyuers thynges than he made her to tourne agayne with grete payne sayd vnto her My lady and my loue I am your knyght and shall be as longe as I lyue so ye may cōmaunde me what it pleaseth you I shall fulfyll it to my power than he sayd afore Polydes my fayre lady my loue I wyll that my cosyn here loue you obey you that he haue no pleasaunce to none so moche as vnto you yf there be ony defaute do it me to wete I shall correcte hym Syr sayd she he shall do as a good man ought to doo God graunte it sayd he So he toke his leue departed The kynge of scottes and the kynge of Irlonde the kynge of cornewayle they wolde haue conueyed hym vnto the porte but he wolde not suffre them There was grete heuynes and courtesye bytwene them at theyr departynge after they toke theyr leue of hym retourned agayne to the kynges hous And kynge Ponthus came to the porte called to hym his cosyn Polydes asyde sayd vnto hym thanked be god ye ought grete guerdon to god for ye are in the waye for to be a ryght grete kynge a myghty of armes of haueour of noble lordshyppes soo ye ought for to thanke god hyghly And therfore it behoueth you for to haue foure thynges yf that ye wyll reioyce in peas and peasybly THe fyrst is that ye be a very true man that is to wete loue god with all your herte drede to dysobey hym yf ye loue hym he shall helpe susteyne you in all your nedes