the tydynges of frauÌ„ce and many other tydynges but the kynge founde hym so wysely answerynge that he was all ameruayled And than he wente vnto the quene and to the lordes knyghtes and sayd vnto theym that he had not of a grete whyle spoken with so wyse nor with so gentylmanly a man as is that goodly knyght in talkyng And truely sayd the kynge myne herte sayth me y t he is gretter more noble than he maketh hymselfe So he dwelled there a longe tyme and the more that men sawe hym the more they loued and praysed hym ¶ How Ponthus put the stone before y e ladyes at london at the request of syr Harry his mayster SYr Iohan the kynges eldest sone had grete sorowe for that he had not founde hym afore his broder Harry of all maner of dysportes he coude well entermete hym as hawkynge huntynge he wold neuer auaunt hymselfe of nothynge y t he dyd his maner his behauynge pleased well euery man he loued well holy chyrche euery daye he wolde here masse gyue his almes to y e poore people his byggest oth was in good fayth it was thus or it is thus On an euenynge the erles sone of Gloucestre y t was a fayre knyght and a stronge but he was somwhat proude he cast y e stone with the kynges sones many other so he ouer caste syr Iohan well a foure fyngers auauÌ„ted hym selfe y t he had cast before them all So syr Harry bad Surdyt y t he sholde put the stone syr sayd Surdyt I can not but syth y t it pleaseth you I shall do as I can So he wente to the stone and put it with the ferdeste A sayd syr Harry by the fayth y t ye owe to the woman of y e worlde that ye loue best put it as ferre as ye may whan he herde that he was soo coniured he bethought hym of his lady sayd syr ye haue coniured me â—ore for I owe to grete fayth to my lady my moder A sayd Geneuer the kynges eldest doughter Surdyt Surdyt it may not be that ye be now vnpurchaced and be so moche so goodly Madame quod he I am so symple so boustous that none wolde lyste for to loue me God wote wele sayd Geneuer And than she thought in her herte y e wolde god he loued me as moche as I wolde loue hym And than Surdit toke the stone and put it wel a .vii. large fore afore them all whan y e kyÌ„ge the ladyes sawe y e cast they meruaylled y e erles so ne was abasshed sayd I am ouercome Than sayd syr Harry to Surdyt why haue ye so longe taryed of this caste A syr sayd he had it not ben y t ye coÌ„iured me so sore I wolde not haue medled me for I haue dyspleased hym me forthynketh for it was but for to obeye your pleasure ye wote well y t it sytteth not me to be in no mannes dyspleasauÌ„ce So his mayster apperceyued well his gentylnesse Geneuer came to her brother sayd vnto hym Fayre broder come play you in my chambre and brynge youre newe knyght with you Fayre syster I wyll well sayd he So they wente to playe and to dysporte them in her chambre then came wyne and spyces and after they began to daunce and to synge but with grete payne they coude make Surdyt for to daunce saynge that he coude not daunce but whan he hadde a whyle daunced he daunced best of all and also with grete payne they myght make hym for to synge and at the praynge of the kynges doughter he sange a songe the best of all he made hymselfe alwaye vnconnynge of euery thynge but at the last he dyd euer best After that they had songe the kynges sone his syster began to sharpe whan they had harped a whyle they prayed Surdyt for to harpe but with grete payne they made hyÌ„ for to harpe At the last he harped a newe laye passynge well A sayd Geneuer Surdyt in good fayth I haue grete Ioye that ye can that laye for we haue had grete desyre for to knowe it for it is the laye that the good knyght Ponthus made for his lady as it hathe ben tolde vs and we suppose wel for whome he made it Madame sayd he I wote not who made it Soo he was some what ashamed and chaunged coloure whan he thought on her he made it for â–ª So he taught it to Geneuer and to her syster whiche made it to be wryten And so the two doughters came to the kynge and to the quene and shewed theym Truely sayd the kynge lerne it fayre doughters I praye you for it is ryght good and the knyght playeth it well Of all dysportes and playes he coude ryght well on a tyme Geneuer resonned hym sayd Surdyt se ye in this realme lady or gentylwoman where ye set your herte and your pleasaunce tell it me in good fayth I am she that with good herte wyll helpe you in worshyp Madame sayd he I thanke you for alwaye haue I nede of your good ladyshyp and helpe but as in that I loue them all as I ought to doo good ladyes A Surdyt sayd she ben they all incomune is there none that hathe auauntage one ouer another Madame they ben all soo good y t there may no man to moche preyse them nor loue theÌ„ in worshyp and as for me the loue of a poore knyght is but of lytell thynge A sayd she he is not poore that hathe the beaute the bounte the good condycyons and y e good behauynge that ye haue for in good fayth I knowe none so fayre nor so grete a lady in this countre that she ne ought to holde herselfe ryght wel worshypped for to be byloued of suche a knyght as I hope that ye be Madame I am ryght fer froÌ„ suche one as ye saye but it pleaseth you for to talke and dysporte you with so poore a knyght as I am A sayd she ye byleue me not in good fayth I saye but as I thynke al waye the knyght toke her talkynge in myrthe and in bourde and gaue her no maner of comforte in so moche that she aspyed that he was not in wyll for to loue the whiche dyspleased her moche for yf she had fouÌ„de in hym ony maner of comforte y t he wolde haue loued she wolde haue dyscouered herselfe more largely and so apperceyued her well Surdyt often tymes many fayre ladyes gentylwomen gaue him many wordes of loue preue lokes y t they wolde haue loued hym yf he wolde haue loued them but he made all fayre chere wtoute gyuynge ony comforte of loue wherfore there were many ryght sorowfull in especyall the kynges doughters ryght wysely demeaned hym selfe Surdyt and pleased all Many nyghtes he thought on his lady and made layes of her the whiche fell all in complaynynge of sorowe that he sholde alway
¶ How Broadas sone to the Soudan toke Croyne and slewe the kynge Tyber SO befell it as fortune iâ— wolde one of the thre sones came as y e wynde brought his nauy by grete tourment that he passed besyde Croyne in galyce and there he came vp So toke he the londe in a balyngere and toke of the men aboute the ryuage And whan he had taken them he asked of them who was lorde of that countre And they answered sayd that it was the reaâ—me of Galyce and that kynge Tyber was kynge therof Than asked the Sowdans sone what lawe they helde And they answered sayd the lawe of Ihesu cryst ThaÌ„ made he to withdrawe his nauy so as he wolde haue withdrawen hym fro the realme from the countre toke twelue shyppes and made theym to be ledde to the porte of the towne of Croyne charged them that they sholde make them marchauntes of swetâ— gommes of spycery and of clothes of golde and of sylke And than they sholde at euen go lye in the towne in theyr hauâ—ergeons vnder theyr gownes and aboute the poynt of the daye they sholde go vpon the walles of the gate towarde the see And that they sholde geâ—e the gate the walles and that they sholde helpe them to scale to come vp in to the towne And so as he had deuysed it was done So came the twelue vesselles made them marchauÌ„tes and solde spycery clothes of damaske solde grete chepe ynough And sythen the marchauntes lodged in the towne as nyghe the gate as they myght And dyde make redy ryght good mete made theyr hoost to soupe with them whiche thought none euyll nor no gyle whan they had well sported them they wente to rest had take theyr poyntment 〈…〉 poynt of daye vpon the gate and deuysed theyr ordynaunce And whan tyme came they wente vpon the walles and at the same tyme the Soudanes sone whiche was named Broadas the fyrst sone of theym came to the fote of the wall with a grete nombre of ladders so wente vpon hyghe And they aboue the wall drewe theym vp soo many that with in a lytell whyle there were vpon the walles more than a thousande and gate the gate and the towne without ony gayn saynge and dyde there moche harme And syth assayled y e castell and there in was the kynge Tyber and hym they toke by strengthe and y e kynge defended hym as moche as he myght ryght vygorously and he wolde neuer yelde hym and so longe he defended hym that he was deed and slayne and that was ryght moche harme and the quene tho wente out by a posterne had but a mantell wrapped aboute her and went in to deserte And an olde preest toke the kynges sone .xiii. chyldren more with hym wihche he taught and wente out and ledde theym all and hydde theym in an olde roche besyde a gardyne and there were they two dayes without mete or drynke the olde preest whiche was called syr Denys had so grete drede whan y e chyldren wolde go out of y e caue he came tofore them and sayd vnto theym goo not out yf ye wyll not dye and so he withhelde theym two dayes but at the thyrde daye Ponthus sayd to hym mayster better it is to dyâ— with swerde than to be enfamyned and to dye for hunger for thenne sholde we be cause of oure dethe homysydes of our selfe by auenture we sholde mowe fynde some remedy The preest sayd that he had moche leuer to dye of hunger than to fâ—ll in the daunger of theyr enemyes handes and trembled for drede and by strengthe Ponthus steâ—te out of the caue he his cosyn germayne Polydes and were apperceyued and ledde to the kynge Broadas whiche than named hym to be cleped kynge of the countre And whan the kynge sawe these .xiii. chyldren whiche were meruaylous fayre he asked what children they were And ponthus answered and said y t they were chyldren whiche y e kyÌ„ge made to be nourysshed for goddes loue for to serue hym whaÌ„ they were of greter age And of what seruyse sayd Broadas Syr sayd Ponthus that one sholde haue gouerned his grehoundes and the kyÌ„ges 〈◊〉 houndes And that other the gosshawkes 〈…〉 hawkes of the towre and the other of nedes in the hall and in the chambres O sayd the kynge clothed he his seruynge people so worthely as ye be clothed ye seme to be grete lordes sones after the estate I se you in Syr sayd Ponthus we be but vauasoures and of small gentylmen comen By mahowne I wote not what ye be but of beaute ne of well spekynge haue ye not fayled but it behoueth that ye leue your lawe whiche is no thynge worth take mahownes lawe And I shall do you moche good And yf ye wyll not do it I shall make you to dye a myscheuous dethe now chuse whiche that ye wyll Sothely sayd Ponthus of the dethe mowe ye well ordeyne to your pleasynge but for to forsake our lawe for to take mahownes ne shall we neuer do for to dye therfore No sayd the kynge to the dethe be ye thenne come so sayd he that they sholde dye an euyll dethe ¶ How a crysten knyght saued .xiiii. chyldren that is for to wete Ponthus and his thyrtene folowes in a shyppe vpon the see THan sterte forth a crysten knyght whiche had take mahounes lawe for drede of deth had alwaye his herte to Ihesu cryst the whiche knyght y e kynge loued ryght moche and sayd Syr I take the charge vpon me to delyuer you yf they wyl not byleue in mahoune I shall ordeyne for them in suche maner that neuer shall they hurte youre lawe I praye you sayd the kynge bethynke you And I take theym you to gouerne Than went Ponthus the other to haue be deed but god remedyed theym the knyght ledde them to his place made them strongly aferde afore the kynge And whaÌ„ he was at his place he made his folkes to withdrawe them and than asked of theym for to assaye them in this wyse ye must byleue in mahoumet or ye be but deed And they answered sayd they sholde neuer byleue vpon hym to dye therfore And whan he sawe theym swere he had ryght grete Ioye asked them yf they had ete ony mete that daye and than he made them to ete drynke for they had grete hunger A sayd one of theym wherfore ete we syth that we shall go to the deth Do waye quod Ponthus by the grace of god we shall lyue yf it be to his pleasynge we shall hope in him he shall saue vs. Soo ete they prayed our lorde to haue mercy vpon them The knyght herde what Ponthus sayd praysed hym ryghte moche and sayd in his herte that it sholde be grete pyte yf suche chyldren sholde dye for they were meruayllous fayre fayre spekynge Soo departed he fro
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
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
kȳge sayd that this coūseyll was good and true and so was it done ¶ How the kynge of Irlonde by the counseyll of Ponthus dyned in the hall with the kynge of Englonde SYr Henry brought hȳ in to the hall The kynge of Irlonde was a ryght goodly knyght and of the age of .xxx. yere he was ryght rychely arayed as in purple mantell furred with fables Eeuery man behelde hym The kynge of Englonde and the quene made hym grete chere for the worshyp of Surdyt was set bytwene the kȳges doughters at mete The kynge of Irlonde was ryght sadde and made symple chere Surdyt came before hym sayd vnto hȳ Syr be of good chere for ye haue good pryson for to be set bytwene two so fayre ladyes Truely sayd y e kȳge as longe as god gyueth me so good pryson I ought not to be dysmayed After mete tho Surdyt began for to bourde with the kynges yongest doughter and sayd Madame how lyke ye the kynge of Irlonde and yf I thought he myght please you I wolde touche of maryage bytwene you and him all thoughe it sytteth me not to do it for poore men are seldome herde amonge grete lordes A Surdyt quod she fayre swete syr are ye bethought theron Ye madame yf I thought that it were to your good pleasure God wote said she he sholde please me well yf it pleased my lorde my fader and my brethren yf so be that I myght not haue another that is neyther kȳge nor duke but he is y e best knyght of y e worlde Madame it is harde to knowe y e best for there be many good so he thought well that she sayd it for hym so dyde she so he wolde not supporte her and fell in to other maters After that they wente to playe and sporte theym in the gardynes some at the chesse and some at the tables and at other dysportes And at after souper they songe and daunced And on the morowe after the kynge helde his grete counsayll and there was the kynge of scottes that had wedded his syster And the kynge had wedded y e kynges syster of scottes And there was the kynge of cornewayle the prynces and y e barons for to wete what sholde be done with the kynge of Irlonde So it was spoken of in dyuers maners that longe were to tell Soo at the laste the kynge asked Surdyt and sayd Surdyt saye ye youre auyse for it is reason youre wyll be herde for by you we haue hym in subgeccyon Fayne he wolde haue exscused hym sayd Syth it pleaseth you that I shall saye forgyue it me yf I speke rudely as a man symple and of lytell connynge but it semeth me that the warre that is bytwene you is onely but selfe wyll fulnes of hertes of grete lordes and it is not after the holy lawe nor the cōmaundement of god for he sayth loue thy neyghboure as thy selfe And also whan god was borne the aungell came to the shepeherdes and anoūced them the byrth of god than wente agayne vp in to the skye sayenge Gloria in excelsis deo et in terra pax hominibus bone voluntatis That is for to saye y t glory be to god y e fader peas to men of good wyll also whan god came in to ony place he sayd to his apostelles peas be amonge you therfore yf god haue gyuen you grete realmes and lordshyppes it is not that the ryche sholde warre vpon the poore for the poore people of the countre ben dystroyed and exyled and ye ought for to kepe them and nourysshe them in peas So I shall tell you how that I thynke that gode peas sholde be amonge you and that ye gyue hym your yongest doughter with the debate that is bytwene you and what it pleaseth you ouer All men sayde that blessyd be he that soo hathe thought and sayd for it is a ryght true counseyll soo this counseyll was holden Than sayd the kynge of Scottes fayre dere frende syth that from you is come so good a counseyll and so pleasaunt to euery man as we may see perfourme ye this dede and go speke with the kynge your prysoner brynge vs worde what his wyll is for we charge you of all this mater Surdyt sayd that he sholde go with good wyll syth that it pleaseth theym So he wente and spake with the kynge of Irlonde and tolde hym that god loueth theym y t loueth peas to theyr neyghbours and how y t many men were lost by theyr hye courage theyr couetyse And than he asked hym yf it myght be that he wolde haue the kynges yongest doughter and that his raunsom the debate bytwene theym were forgyuen A sayd y e kynge yf ye myght brynge it aboute I were moost beholden to you nexte god of all the worlde and wyll ye that it be soo sayde Surdyt yf I may brynge it aboute ye sayd the kȳge with all myn herte there is nothynge I desyre so moche Soo Surdyt departed and came to the counseyll where as they abode y e answere And they asked hym how he had done and he sayd that y e kynge of Irlonde thanked them moche and that this mater pleased hym with all his herte And how he had grete desyre for to haue her with the accorde bytwene theym And the kynge of Englonde made y e archebysshop of cantorbery for to handfest theym a moneth after they were wedded there was a grete feest for the kynge of Irlonde came with an hondred knyghtes in a sute And he gaue vnto Surdyt foure stedes syxe coursers ten thousande besaūtes of golde with grete foyson of clothes of of golde of purple and of sylke gode furres of veer and of sables he was moche beholden vnto the kynge of Irlonde for the grete gyftes y t he gaue hym And whan the kynge had wedded her he ledde her home in to his owne realme where as she was ryght well beloued and worsshypped ¶ How Corboran the thyrde sone of the Sowdan arryued in Englonde and how Ponthus occysed hym IT befell in the .vii. yere y t there came tydynges in to the courte y t the soudans sone whiche was named Corboran had robbed pylled many Yles realmes had done moche harme to the crysten people had may countres trybutary to hym soo he londed in Englonde as his two bretheren dyd one in Galyce another in lytell Brytayne So he was sore dred for he came wel w t a .ix. C. shyppes what grete what small And whan he was londed he defyed the kynge of Englonde And badde that he sholde auoyde the realme or elles to forsake his fayth and yelde hym trybute All the countree was aferde for the grete nombre that he had of men The kynge toke his counseyll and sente for his people Thenne he sente for his broder of Scotlonde and his sone in lawe of Irlonde and for his neuewe of Corne
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
that she hath suffred and how that she may no lenger abyde than tuesdaye in Pentecost that than she shall be maryed vnto the kynge of Bourgoyne y e whiche is full of euyll tatches but Guenelet made the maryage that had grete gyftes of y e sayd kynge So Sydoyne sendeth you worde by me that ye wyll sette remedy in this mater vpon all the loues y t is bytwene you her And whan he herde of the grete trouth of his lady the teres fell frome his eyen he sayd yf god wyll he sholde set remedy so they spake of dyuers thynges ¶ How the kynge of Englonde knewe Ponthus of what lygnage he was exscused hym that he had not more honoured and worshypped hym THe tydynges wente in to the courte that there was come a man of lytell Brytayne y t knewe well Ponthus the whiche named hymselfe Surdyte whan the kynge and all his housholde wyste of it they were sore ameruaylled And the kynge and the quene sayd to the kynge of scottes it was neuer but that my herte sayd thought that he shold be of greteter byrth than he made hymselfe by the noble dedes of hym A sayd y e quene I meruayll me no more though he wyll not haue our doughter for I haue herde saye that he loueth our cosyn Sydoyne of Brytayne without ony shame Truely sayd the kynge it may well be whā he wyll not be maryed in this coūtre So at souper tyme Ponthus came in to the hall his knyght with hym the whiche was rychely arayed as in clothes of sylke furred with sables so he was a ryght goodly knyghte to se. The kynge of Englonde and the kȳge of scottes came ayenst Ponthus sayd vnto hym A Ponthus why haue ye made vs to do ourselfe suche dysworshyp as ye haue done for ye sayd that ye were but a poore knyghtes sone so therby they were disceyued we haue gretely offended for bycause we haue not done you worshyp as we ought for to haue done but all the blame is in you for in good fayth we dyde but as we knewe whan Ponthus sawe the grete courtesye of y e kynge how he dysblamed hym selfe he sayd vnto hym All thoughe I be a kynges sone it is but a lytell thȳge for a man dysheryted is but lytell praysed so it is a lytell thynge of poore noble his dedes ben ryght symple and therfore men ought to sette lytell by hym A sayd the kynge saue your grace he that hath the noblesse the bounte with the good condycyons and worthynes that is in you it is worth a kynges raunsom for ye be lykly to conquere your owne and dyuers other Ponthus was asshamed of the grete prees and chaunged his wordes in to other maters The kynge made hym to syt at souper bytwene the quene and his doughter whyther he wolde or not but it was with grete payne After souper they wente to dysporte them in the gardyn at dyuers dysportes Ponthus came to the kynge of Scottes and the kynge of Irlonde and the kynge of cornewayle and some of the grete lordes and they set theym downe in an erber and than he sayd to the kynge Ryght hyghe and myghty prynce and to you al my lordes and frendes I wolde made a request vnto you all my lordes frendes I wolde make a request vnto you of a nedefull mater of myne Than he tolde them how y e sowdan had sente his thre yongest sones for to conquere vpon crysten realmes and how he delyuered them grete army and nauy and tresoure and how that he sayd vnto them he that shall moost conquere and be moost worthy of knyghthode he sholde be best welcome to hym And how one of them londed in Galyce and by wyle and treason they gate the towne of Columpne in Galyce and of the grete sorowe myschefe that he dyde and how they slewe the kynge his fader And than he tolde theym how that an olde preest hydde them two dayes and two nyghtes in an olde caue in a roche and of y e grete fere that they had and as the wolfe gooth out of the wode for honger ryghte so I and my thyrtene felowes of grete lordes sones wente out of the caue and how they were taken and also how the knyght saued theym and how they landed in lytell Brytayne and how theyr shyppe brake vpon a roche and how they were saued And as he tolde his tale many of the lordes the teres fell frome theyr eyen for to here the peryll and the shrowe that he escaped from ¶ How Ponthus departed out of Englonde with a grete company of people ANd after whā he had all tolde his tale he said vnto theym that he wolde goo for to conquere the myssebyleuers that helde his londe that was his faders for I thanke god sayd he I haue ben in the felawshyp of them where as the pryde of two of theym hathe ben dystroyed soo is there no more on lyue but the thyrde that holdeth the realme y t was my faders and that I oughte for to haue and I vnderstande y t the countre is well gouerned wysely fewe people of the countre slayne for they lyue in seruage paye trybute euery pece a besaunte of golde for the grete tresoure that the kynge reyseth he suffreth euery man to lyue in what byleue that euer he wyll Syr sayd the kynge of Englonde I offre you my body with good herte all thoughe I be olde and aged after my men and my tresoure Syr sayd Ponthus I thanke you hyghly The kynge of scottes the kynge of Irlonde and the other kynges the lordes all they offred hym body men and goodes soo there was none but y t they offred themselfe to hym Ponthus thanked the kynge and all the lordes ryght humbly and wysely and sayd vnto the kynge and to the other kynges and lordes y ◠that god of his grace yelde theym the worshyppe that they offred hym My lordes sayd he to the kynges I shall neyther lede kynges nor other grete lordes but men of armes sowdours a twelue thousande the whiche that I wyll wage I thāke god I haue ynough wherof and he sayd trouth for at the laste batayll he founde ynoughe in kynge Corborans shyppe ryghte grete tresoure so moche that it was meruayll to here with grete payne it myght be nombred They offred hym ynoughe of golde haueour but he wolde none take of them but toke of euery kynge of the best men that they had so many that he had well a twelue thousande men well arayed in good shyppes Soo he waged theym at theyr owne wyll they had grete Ioye for to go with hym he ledde with hym y e erle of Gloucestre the erle of Rychemonde and the erle of Derby chyeftaynes and captaynes of the englysshe men Of scottes the Erle of Douglas and of euery countree a lorde to gouerne the men of theyr countre
the body to the nauyll after he cutte of his heed in sygne of a traytoure in two peces made hym to be drawen out coÌ„maunded y t he sholde be borne to the gallous whan the kynge and his doughter sawe the kynge Ponthus they lepte fro the table came rennynge theyr armes abrode halsed hym kyssed hym Quene Sydoyne wepte for Ioye kyssed his mouth his eyen and she myght not departe frome hym Kynge Ponthus had so grete pyte for the dysease that they had suffred that the teres fell from his eyen so sore his herte was And whan theyr hertes were somwhat lyghted the kynge sayd Fayre sone it had but lytell fayled that ye sholde haue loste the syght of your wyfe me Than he tolde hym of the grete treason of the false letters of the hunger that he made them to suffre Kynge Ponthus blessyd hym was all abasshed sayd that neuer erst was borne suche a traytoure nor neuer was thought suche a false treason I bethynke me sayd he of Ihesu cryst y t had .xii. apostles of the whiche one solde hym And so we came hyder .xiii. felowes as it pleased god wherof one was wors than Iudas but thaÌ„ked be god he is well payed of his rewarde A sayd the kynge yf ye had lenger abyden ye had be yet more mocked God wolde it not sayd kynge Ponthus Now lete vs leue this talkynge sayd the kynge for this mater is well fynysshed to my pleasure and lete vs thynke for to lede Ioye dysporte and also tell vs of your dede how ye haue spedde Ryghte well I thanke god sayd kynge Ponthus Than he tolde hym of the batayll of the dyscomfyture how the countre was clensed well laboured and than there were some that tolde all the rule the maner how he was crowned They had all grete Ioye to here of the fayre auenture that god had sente hym Than they set theym downe to souper and songe daunsed ledde Ioye Quene Sydoyne was mery glad it is not to aske how in her herte she thanked god mekely to be escaped from soo grete peryll That nyght they were wel eased for both theyr hertes had ben in dystresse They talked of many thyÌ„ges had ynoughe of Ioye and dysporte togyder for they loued full well togyder They loued god and holy chirche were ryght charytable pyteuous of y e poore people That nyght the sowdyours of Guenelet fledde awaye who so myght go wente All y e people thanked god of y e comynge of kynge Ponthus they wente on pylgrymages processyons yeldynge graces to god for euery man wende he had be deed ¶ How the erle of rychemonde toke leue of Ponthus came in to Englonde tolde the kynge of the grete dedes of armes y t Ponthus had done ON the morowe after arryued the nauy of Englonde of brytayne of normandy whan they herde the treason of Guenelet they hadde moche meruayll how euer he durste thynke suche falsenesse The kynge of Brytayne receyued theym with grete Ioye And kynge Ponthus withhelde with hym the Erle of Gloucestre well a .xii. knyghtes more and sayd that within .xv. dayes he wolde go in to Englonde to se the kynge and y e quene her doughter Genneuer sayd to the erle of Rychemonde recoÌ„maunde me to theym and yf my lady Genneuer be not wedded I shall bryÌ„ge her an husbonde yf it please the kynge her to take hym So he tolde hym in his ere y t it was his cosyn germayne Polydes the whiche was a ryghte goodly knyght full of good condycyons lykely to come to grete worshyppe In good fayth sayd the erle ye saye trouth I can thynke the kynge wyll be ryght glad of hym haue hym in grete chere for the grete loue he hath to you So he conueyed hyÌ„ as fâ—rre as he myght and after toke his leue of theym So they departed came in to theyr owne countre with grete Ioye The erle of Rychemonde came to the courte and fouÌ„de the kynge the quene and the kynge of scottes that was come to them The kynge asked hym of the tydynges And he tolde hym of the begynnynge and endynge of all auentures And how the countre was delyuered of the sarasynes how that the countre and the people hadde be saued by the Erle of desture syr Patrycke in suche wyse that it was well laboured pleopled of men by y e trewage that they yelded wherby they lyued in peas And than he tolde hym of the grete treason falsenes of Guenelet afterwarde he tolde them of y e grete gyftes the good chere grete gentylnes y e kyÌ„ge Ponthus had shewed them And whan he had all tolde he called in couÌ„seyll y e kynge y e quene her doughter Genneuer the kyÌ„ge of scottes tolde them how kynge Ponthus wolde come thyder within .xv. dayes and had withholde with hym the erle of Gloucestre how he had spoken to hym of y e maryage of his cosyn germayne of Genneuer The kynge asked what maner knyght he was he answered y t he was the goodlyest knyght he knewe saue onely kynge Ponthus I tell you sayd he that he resembleth moche of person and of condycyons saue that he is somwhat lesse By my fayth sayd the kynge I accorde me yf it please my doughter And she kneled downe sayd what it pleased hym to coÌ„maunde her she sholde do The quene the kynge of scottes praysed agreed to the maryage And y e kyÌ„ge of scottes sayd syr it nedeth not to mary your doughter to a kynge or a lorde y t wolde not dwell in this realme for a kyÌ„ge or a grete lorde perauenture wolde not dwell in this countre that were not good for the people nor for the countre And wete well that as longe as kynge Ponthus lyueth there shall be noo man so hardy to assay to greue his londe Than sayd the kynge that he had sayd soth Genneuer that loued so moche the kyÌ„ge Ponthus sayd in her herte that the knyght pleased her more than ony other enquyred of hym frome ferre of the Erle and of the knyghtes that haue ben at y e warre that haue sene hym and the more that she enquyreth the better she fyndeth And the more she loueth hym Now hath she no desyre so grete as to se hym and she prayeth vnto god that he may come soone ¶ How kynge Ponthus made a grete feest at vennes and a grete Iustynge for to feest y e strauÌ„gers where as he wonne the pryse aboue all other THan kynge Ponthus tourned agayne to vennes whan he had conueyed the lordes of Englonde and of the countrees beyonde Soo they wente for to here masse and after they wente to mete And than sayd kynge Ponthus vnto all the barons of Brytayne Fayre lordes yf it pleaseth you we must
se our ladyes of this countre feest theym for the loue of the erle of Gloucestre and of these knyghtes of Englonde the whiche must be feested and to disporte them with some dedes of armes for within .xv. dayes we muste go in to Englonde so se the kȳge for certayne maters I haue to speke with hym They answered y t it sholde be done Now quod he I charge eche of you to brynge of y e fayrest ladyes gentylwomen of your coūtrees And eche of you shall brynge others wyfe ye shall be here by this daye seuen nyght So this was graunted and euery man wente to his wyfe his frendes and eche of them sought of the fayrest ladyes gentylwomen best syngynge and daunsynge that they myght fynde came to vennes And kynge Ponthus wente ayenst them receyued them with grete Ioye of mynstrelles other dysportes On the morowe after were the Iustes grete Quene Sydoyne was on the scaffoldes the kynge her fader the grete ladyes of Brytayne the aged knyghtes Kynge Ponthus was of the inner partye the erle of Gloucestre Barnart de la roche Gerarde de vyttry Peers de vyttry Roger de loges the vycount de donges and Endes de doul for to Iuste ayenst all comers So the Iustes began grete harde Kynge ponthus bette downe knyghtes and horses Soo euery man doubted for to mete with hym the ladyes praysed them moche and so dyde all maner men grete was the feestes the Iustes and the dysportes lasted tyll the sonne goynge downe there were many fayre Iustes harde strokes that longe it were to tell At euen they wente sette them to souper and were serued with many dyuers seruyces Mynstrelles and heraldes ledde grete myrth and grete noyse The pryce of the vtter syde was gyuen to the lorde mountfort for ryght wel sore had Iusted so he had the cuppe of golde And kynge Ponthus had the pryce within and he had a chaplet that the ladyes sent hym And with that came thyder Geffrey de lesygnen and Androwe de la toure Guyllam de roches Leoncel de mauleon the whiche kynge Ponthus had sente for for to go with hym in to Englonde for ouer all knyghtes he loued theym best for theyr worthynes kynge Ponthus rose ayenst them toke them in his armes and made them grete chere And they sayd vnto hym that he had done euyll to ryse ayenst theym and that he was to courteyse and to gentyll After souper the lorde de lesygnen sayd ye haue this daye Insted with out vs. And yf it please you sayd he to kynge ponthus we foure y t be last come shall Iuste to morowe Than sayd kynge Ponthus ye shal haue with you my cosyn Polydes y e vycount of lyon for to be .vi. for I vnderstande by the vycountes wordes this day that he was wrothe bycause he was not of the inner partye so we shall mowe at this tyme ease his herte Than he was called Polydes tolde them that to morowe they .vi. sholde Iuste ayenst al comers So y t crye was made y t the whyte felowes sholde Iuste delyuer al maner of knyghtes he of without that sholde haue y e pryce he sholde haue a gyrdell a purse of the fayrest lady of the feest he of within y t sholde gete y e pryce he sholde kysse her haue of her a rȳge of golde So there were grete Iustes many grete strokes gyuen but who so euer Iusted well or not I lette it passe for to abredge this story And neuertheles the pryce wtout was gyuen to Geffrey de chateau bryaunt the pryce of within to Polydes but some men sayd y t Geffrey de lesygnen had wonne it So there was therfore a grete debate On the morowe after kȳge Ponthus toke his leue of the kynge of Sydoyne of the ladyes of Brytayne and than he wente to saynt Malo toke the see and ledde with hym .xii. of the barons of Brytayne and y e foure before sayd So they passed ouer for the erle of Gloucestre departed before hym a daye for to tell the kynge of Englonde that kynge Ponthus came for to se hym The kynge vnderstode well by the erle of Rychemonde that he came So was he garnysshed and stuffed of all thynges that hym neded for to receyue hym worshypfully with hym was the kȳge of scottes his brother y e kynge of Irlonde he of cornewayle his neuewe the erles the barons of his realme So they had grete Ioy of his comynge The kȳge prayed to them all for to make kynge Ponthus good chere all y e worshyp that myght be done for sayd he ye wote well all how by him this realme was releued bothe of neyghbours and of sarasynes They sayd al that they sholde do theyr power The kynge lepte on horsbalke and the other kynges rode ayenst kynge Ponthus well a myle with all maner mynstrelsy they receyued hym with grete Ioye and grete worshyppe The chere that they made hym is not for to tell for it was grete Kynge Ponthus was rychely arayed of perles and of of precyous stones and had a cercle vpon his heed of stones and of perles The were .xx. knyghtes with Polydes the .xvi. that I spake of before and foure hondred of Galyce ¶ How Ponthus came to London w t grete noblesse where y e kynge and the quene receyued hym with grete Ioye THese .xx. knyghtes were full rychely cladde in syglatons furred with veer all in one sute wel rychely arayed of gyrdelles of golde purses fayre ryche the whiche appered vnder theyr furred mantelles they were moche loked vpon theyr ordynaūces were holden for fayre good With grete Ioye entred tho kȳge Ponthus in to London there he foūde the quene her doughter the ladyes in y e coūtree abydȳge hym So whan he sawe the quene he alyght a farre wente rennynge to her warde she kyssed hym halsed hym and was than receyued with grete worshyp· The quene asked hym how he had done syth he departed from theym and he sayd ryght well And Genneuer the kȳges doughter hadde alwaye her eye for to se Polydes the whiche she hadde grete desyre for to fe So she knewe hym by the tokens and lyknes of his cosyn kynge Ponthus And she sawe hym so gracyous so pleasaunt that she lyked hym ouer all thynges and yet for to be the more in certayne she axed of the erle of Gloucestre and she shewed her by sygne syth she sayd in her herte that he had not fayled for to chese hym that her herte tolde her well that it was he they wente to mete and there were many straūge seruyces and notably serued for the barons serued by the kynges cōmaundement After mete they dronke and ate spyces Genneuer had grete desyre that they sholde speke of her mater So she sayd
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
come to hym or to his offycers and all he dyde paye for he sayd that they were foles that abyde to theyr heyres or to theyr executours for fewe were contented also they that helde the good from the poore people sholde haue therof full lytell meryte He vsed ledde a ryght good an holy lyfe So than they wente dwelled a yere in Galyce where as they were well byloued dredde doubted worshypped The erle of desture thanked moche the kynge his neuewe for the grete worshyp that he had done to his sone The kȳge gaue grete londes herytages to syr Patrycke that had saued hym in the shyppe and he that had done so moche good to the countre Ryght grete reuerence and worshyppe bere quene Sydoyne vnto the olde quene her lordes moder The kynge sente for his vncle y e kȳge of Aragoon and for lordes and barons of the countrees aboute and made grete Iustes that dured well a ten dayes ¶ How Ponthus Sydoyne came to saynt Iames. ANd after they all and the quene wente on pylgrymage to saynt Iames in galyce And after his ertournynge agayne they dwelled not longe that they wente to warres in to spayne ayenst y e sarasyns and he ledde w t hym the barons of Brytayne of anioy of mayne of poytow of tourayne of Normandye Of the normans he ledde the erle of mortayne the vycounte of auerenches Tesson paynel many other knyghtes Of mayne hongres de beaumount Guy de la vale and dyuers other of anioy Pyers de donne Androwe de la toure Guyllam de roches the lorde of Nermount Iohan de poytow the lorde de lesygnen Guy touars leoncel de manleon hongres de partenei Of Tourayne Hubert de mayllye Hondes de Bassye patrycke damboyse many of theym of brytayne of goscoyne they were well a .xv. M. dyscomfyted y e hethen folke there dyde many grete dedes of armes and toke many townes and castelles and than in the wynter euery man wente home in to his countre and euery man gaue grete loos and pryce to kynge Ponthus For he payed them well of theyr wages and gaue them gretes gyftes in so moche that they sayd there was no ryght chyefteyne but he y t he was lykely to conquere all maner of countrees by his knyghthode largenes courtesy for all maner of good cōdycyons ben in hym after the rule of god the worlde in hȳ is all goodlynes for he oweth grete guerdon to god He dwelled a lytel whyle after in galyce than came agayne in to brytayne than he wente sawe his cosyn whiche was crowned kynge of Englonde where as he was receyued with grete Ioye It is not to aske yf the quene Genneuer set grete payne to feest hym make hym grete chere After that wente the kynge of Englonde in to Gascoyne in to galyce to se his fader and his kynnesmen gaue theym grete gyftes And than he tourned agayne in to Brytayne where as he was moche made of had grete chere And after that he wente agayne in to his owne realme Kynge Ponthus y e quene reygned longe ynoughe· And lyued to the pleasure of god And than they dycessed fynysshed to y e grete heuynes sorowe of theyr people But thus it is of the worldly lyfe for there is none so fayre nor so ryche so stronge nor soo goodly but at the laste he must nedes leue this worlde Deo gratias ¶ Here endeth the noble hystory of the moost excellent and myghty prynce hygh renowmed knyght kynge Ponthus of Galyce of lytell Brytayne Enprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the sonne by Wynkyn de Worde In the yere of our lorde god M. CCCCC.xi
theym sought a vessell made to be put therin by nyght lyuynge for a moneth And vpon the morowe full erly he ledde the chyldren to y e shyppe and set them therin set within it a crysten maryner whiche was prysoner with them and made him to be hydde with the lyuynge vnder y e hatche of the shyppe And whan the chyldren were in the shyppe he made the sayle to be lyfte vp the shyppe departed into y e hyghe see the maryner sterte out fro byneth toke the gouernayle asked them wheder they wolde go And Ponthus sayd fayre frende syth god hath sente the to vs thanked be he lede vs brynge vs into the couÌ„tre of Fraunce And he answered sayd he sholde And badde them no thyÌ„ge be abasshed tolde them how the knyght had made hyÌ„ to be put in to y e shyppe by nyght tyme theyr lyuynge with hym Than said Ponthus fayre lordes knele we downe thanke we god whiche hath done vs so moche good praye we hym that all be at his pleasynge And soo dyde all the chyldren and were daye nyght vpon theyr knees sayd theyr prayers and theyr owres deuoutly hadde theyr trust all onely in god So leue we of y e thyrtene chyldren and retourne to the knyght that had theym in to the shyppe The knyght was called patryke he wente and tolde the kynge y t well was he auenged of the chyldren whiche wolde not byleue in mahowne How sayd the kyÌ„ge haue ye done Syr sayd y e knyght ye shall neuer se them for I haue set them in an olde shyppe without ony maner of lyuynge of the worlde And within haue I made two or thre holes and let drawe the sayle vp to the toppe whiche bare theym in to the see that neuer shall ye here tydynges of them I wyll it well sayd the kynge for I haue dremed to nyght that I sawe the .xiiii. chyldren in a wood And the fayre chylde whiche spake to me became a lyon deuoured me hurte me so moche that I dyed as â—e semed soo was I sore afrayed Syr sayd the knyght that was but a dreme of that that be ye quyte I wyll well sayd the kynge than sayd the knyght vnto hym By mahoune I ought to couÌ„seyll you truly wherfore I rede you that none be put to the dethe but he wyll defende hym for ye haue made a fayre conquest for this is the fayrest countre the moost delectable that is And who that sholde slee y e people the londe sholde be without fruyte And men saye comynly as moche auaylleth a myl that gryndeth nought as an ouen y e baketh nought lette euery man byleue in suche lawe as he wyll but all the fortresses and the countre that wyll not obey vnto you and yelde trybute be they dyscomfyted and lete y e other lyue and labour ye shall be as ryche as ye wolde ye shall be lorde of the countre and the ryche men whiche may be raunsoned that ben prysoners take theyr fynaunces and by fayrenes drawe them to our lawe of mahoumet Than sayd y e kynge by mahoune ye counseyll vs truly Gooth and serche the prysoners and they that wyll not byleue in our lawe be they trybutayrye in seruage and yelde vnto vs trybute after theyr puyssaunce and we put all the rule of our lawe in you ¶ How the knyght Patryke delyuered from pryson y e Erle Desture and y e other crysten men THus was the knyght all gouernoure of theyr lawe of the prysoners and of the ordynaunce of the countree And the knyght whiche that toke no hede but to saue the crysten people and the countre to his power wente all aboute to serche the prysoners putte theym to lyght raunsome after that he founde with them And amonge the other prysoners he fouÌ„de the kynges brother of Galyce that was the erle of Desture whiche was hurte of two woundes but not to the dethe So was he taught to whiche he was whan the knyght knewe hym he toke hym and ledde hym asyde in to a chambre they two alone sayd vnto hym Syr yf ye be the kynges brother I wote well ye haue grete desyre to saue the countre and the people whiche is fall in grete caytyfnes and seruage tyll that Ihesu cryst sette remedy there to soo saye I you in good fayth pryuely by youre good counseyll all the best remedy that I can or may I shall putte there to Thenne the erle hadde ryght grete Ioye to here speke of the name of Ihesu Cryste and that he wolde the auayle of the crysten people sayd vnto hym syghynge ryght sore Ryght swete syr I wote neuer yf ye say these wordes for to assaye me but yf it pleased god y e youre herte wolde it as your mouthe sayth it I sholde than oure lorde Than sayd the knyght vnto hym all his doynge and how he hadde be take in bataylle and how for to refuse the dethe for to auayle vnto the prysoners of that batayle to all crysten men he had feyned too be a Sarrasyn and bare the sygne but his herte was alwaye in Ihesu cryste And he tolde hym how he hadde saued .xiiii. chyldren and how he hadde doo so moche to the paynym kynge that none sholde no more be putte to the swerde And that euery man sholde holde his lawe and yelde trybute and be in seruage to the kynge And that he had do tyll god wolde sette remedy therto how he had be charged to rauÌ„some the prysoners Than the erle kneled doune and thanked god wepynge â–ª And the knyght toke hym vp than clypped they togyder kyssed wepynge thaÌ„ked Ihesu Cryste And whan they had longe weped of pyte than sayd they that god had assembled theym for to do some good to y e people whiche were in waye to be dede destroyed And syr patryke sayd Swete syr I thynke yet y e god shall haue mercy on this countre and of the people it behoueth to haue the more space to speke togyder and to ordeyne y e comyn good and profyte of the crysten people that ye feyne you to be a sarrasyn as I am the kynge shall haue ryght greâ—e ioye therof I shall saye it vnto hym yf god wyll we shall sette suche ordynaunce vpon it that it shall be profytable in a bydynge the mercy of god I shall tell you what myn herte sayth me Myne hert sayth me that the chyldren whiche I haue saued shal yet relyeue this couÌ„tre agayne also the kynge tolde me suche a dreme And than he tolde hym of the .xiiii. chyldren and how y e gretest became a lyon and deuored hym· A sayd the erle how moche ye ease my poore herte for that is my neuewe and my sone whiche god them lede as myne herte wylleth and desyreth ThaÌ„ swore they felowshyp togyder to endure togyder in good or in euyll and
arysē to wasshe his handes to saye his prayers and to here his masse ryght deuoutely Ne neuer ete he ne dranke he tyll he had sayd all his prayers suche as they were he gaue of that he hadde pryuely to poore men and neuer ne swore he ryghte grete othe but his othe was surely or soo god helpe me my frende it was thus Yf he played at the playe of y e tenys or ony other playe also Ioyous was he whan he loste as whan y t he gate and yf men dyde hym ony wronge he shewed it within a two wordes or thre that men dyde hym wronge and neuer ne strofe he ne brawled he lete rather all his ryght passe but he sayd well ye sholde not haue this for custome but I shal rather leue of playe than I sholde stryue w t you men myght not be angry with hym he spake soo many swete wordes and alway vpon bourdes myrthes Neuer ne loued he to mocke man and yf men spake ony wordes of vyces of ladyes or of gentylwomen or of gentylmen or of folke of the holy chyrche he brake of the wordes sayd men ought not for to byleue all that euer they herde some haue sayd it you whiche knewe it not but by herynge it is no nede that al reportes sholde be soth also he blamed all maner of vngentelnesse After that he was the goodlyest y t mekest the curteysest that ony man myght fynde for no man dyde of his hode so soone to hym that he ne dyde of his as soone agayne he salewed y e lytell the grete mekely made hȳselfe to be beloued by his grete curtesye he played neuer with no play that touched to harme ne bourded not of no bourdes dishoneste ne of dyspleasaūce What sholde I say you he was the best enteched the gracyousest that men myght fynde after that the goodlyest the best fourmed that men myght beholde for he was grete and large in y e brest small in the waste y e shuldres y e armes y e thyghes and y e fete were made of ryght deuyse y e vysage was clere browne the eyen so meke the mouth rede the nose streyte he semed lyke an aungell for the more ye had beholde hym the more sholde it haue pleased you to haue sene hym What sholde I saye you more all aboute ne was there no speche but of hym men speke soo moche of hym that the wordes came to courte suche y e fayre Sydoyne y e kynges doughter herde spake therof and herde the grete wordes the beaute the good maners of hym had grete desyre to se hym by suche maner that she quaked all for desyre and prayed god y t she myght se hym in shorte tyme. She was the fayrest lady holde of the realme of Fraunce or of Brytaygne the swetest the courteysest whiche best coude mayntene her estate amonge al maner folke HOw it befell that the terme of thre yere was to come and that the kynge helde his feeste at Uennes at Penthecoste sente gownes of a sute all of one clothe to the .xiiii. chyldren so sente for theym that they sholde come to the feest and eueryche of the barons brought his Herlant brought Ponthus and the lorde of Lauale broughte Polydes his cosyn germayne with hym whiche was ryght goodly more agreable than all the other saue Ponthus And whan that Ponthus was come euery man behelde hym praysed hȳ And whan y e kynge sawe hȳ it nedeth not to aske yf that he made hym grete chere and myrthe and sayd vnto hym that he was welcome and that god graūted hym as moche honoure and worshyppe as he wolde hym The kynge helde his feest of the barons of knyghtes on that one syde And the kȳges doughter of ladyes of gentylwomen on that other syde Grete was the feest and the Ioye of meruayllous dysportes Sydoyne whiche herde of y e grete wordes of the grete beaute connynge of Ponthus was daye and nyght in grete thought to se hym whiche she desyred so moche and she wyst not nor knewe to fynde the maner how she sholde come to her desyre and to her worshyp therwith all for drede of euyl speche But the ende was whan y t she had bethought her ynough she sent for Herlant the seneshall And whan he was come she gaue him a ryght fayre palfraye and a meruayllous gentyll faucon and a good and made hym ryght grete chere Herlant meruayled moche of the good chere y t she made him doubted well that some thynge she wolde after that she sayd vnto hym a fayre seneshall fayre frende it nedeth that we se your chylde that ye haue nourysshed that is Ponthus whiche is well lerned and ryght wyse I pray you brynge hym to vs to daye that we may se hym come youre selfe with him for men haue tolde me that he syngeth and daunceth well therfore I wolde se hym synge daunce Madame sayd the Seneshall I shall brynge hym syth that it pleaseth you Than sayd she we shall se yf it be sothe that men sayne The seneshall toke leue and departed And alwayes he was a wyse knyght and doubted that his good chere his presentes were for Ponthus loue so was he in grete study what he sholde do and sayd to hymselfe A saynt Mary yf I brynge Ponthus he is soo fayre so goodly that these women sholde mowe be enamoured on hym in suche wyse that she sholde not haue none other but hym she sholde mowe haue suche loue that she sholde be apperceyued than myght she haue blame than the chylde sholde be loste by enuy soo ne wyste he what to do so he thought he wolde brȳge his cosyn germayne in stede of him for many causes for he doubted moche the kynge for euyll that myght befall Soo came he agayne and brought with him polydes And Sydoyne wente in to her wardrope had a mayde whiche was named Elyos whiche she loued in whome she trusted more in than many other she had tolde her all redy how she had grete desyre to se fayre Ponthus of whome all folke spake of And she hadde a lytell wyndowe where she had alway her eye for he sholde come on that partye Another tyme she toke her myrrour called Elyos to se yf there neded her ony thynge that were not well at the poynt So at the laste as they loked out they sawe the seneshall come Polydes whiche was ryght fayre goodly So came she downe in to the chambre and made them ryght grete chere and ryght grete Ioye toke Polydes by the hande and wolde haue made hym to haue syt downe besyde her And Polydes sayd Madame I shall not be so nyghe you for that were no reason Sothely sayd she yf ye be a kynges sone wherfore is it no reason Madame saue your grace I am none And be
that he forgyue the the vylany that thou hast sayd of hym Knyght sayd Ponthus leue thy Ianglynge y u shalte se sone ynoughe the vertue of Ihesu cryst defende the yf y u wylte he afrayed hym a lytell toke his spere came to hym a grete pace and smote hym bytwene y e shelde and the helme that he perced the mayle and the doublet put the Iren the tree bytwene y e necke the sholders the tree brake well a two fote from the heed whiche greued hym moche the paynym smote Ponthus in the shelde brake his spere in his breste And whan the kynge other sawe these Iustes they thanked god sayd that Ponthus had Iusted ryght fayre prayed that god sholde helpe hym Ponthus passed forth made his cours sette his hande on his swerde came towarde the paynym gaue hym soo grete a stroke that he kytte a two halfe his ventayle vnmaylled it so that y e vyser bename hym the syght the paynym rent it of so boystously y t his vysage was all dyscouered than had the crysten men grete Ioy grete hope the paynym drewe his swerde of stele smote Ponthus so that he made all his heed to shake his eyen to sparkle in his heed so he felte hym astonyed of the grete stroke smote the hors w t his spores came agayne smote him a grete stroke So was y e batayle bytwene them strōge longe endurȳge all wayes Ponthus wayted to smyte the paynym in the vysage whiche was dyscouered soo moche that he wente to caste suche a trauers that he smote the nose the mouth the chyn so y t all helde not but the skyn so bledde he strongely soo moche he bledde y t all his shelde before was blody The kynge the people whiche sawe that stroke made ryght grete Ioye thāked god The paynym lost the blode febled fast so moche that vnnethes he myght holde hym on his hors Ponthus ranne vpon hym sharpely tyll he caste hym downe as he that hadde loste his blode myght holde hymselfe no more Than Ponthus toke rente of his helme from ▪ his heed and afterwarde smote hym suche a stroke that he made his heed for to flee too the grounde And he bowed downe and nyghed it with his swerde and lyfte it vp and bare it vnto the two squyers sarasynes and sayd vnto them in this wyse Fayre lordes I present you ▪ with your maysters heed and bere it to the sowdans sone your kynge tell hȳ that at his request for the profe of your lawe ours that batayll hath be done that Ihesu cryst hath shewed by a chylde that he is very goddes sone and also that by his myght he shall shewe bytwene vs whiche holdeth the wycked lawe and tell hym that wtin short tyme men shall se who shall haue y e myghtyest god So goo your waye all surely For messangers ought not to haue no drede yf they of theyr request be come be it to doo dedes of armes or for to do other thynges The two squyers sarasyns toke y e heed so dyde they the body bare it to theyr kynge and sayd vnto hym the maner of y e request of y e batayll fro poynt to poynte and how the batayll had be do And how he whiche had fought ne was but .xviii. yere of age at the moost And the kynge was ryght sory of it ryght heuy all other lordes sarasynes and meruaylled moche of suche an auenture for they helde hym the strongest and the best knyght of theyr partye Soo made they hym to be buryed after theyr lawe was moche playned and bewaylled ¶ Here leueth of hym now and tourne we agayne to Ponthus POnthus smote his horse with the spores and wente to the chefe chyrche alyght there and wente to thanke god mekely sayd lorde swete Ihesu cryst it is meruayll of you of your dedes for by your grace I haue y e better of myn aduersary lorde it hath not ben I but it hathe ben ye whiche remembred you of your lytell seruauntes lorde haue mercy pyte of me thy seruaunt of this poore countree whiche is in thyne hande And than he made his offerynge and after toke his hors agayne wente alyght afore the kynge So nedeth it not to aske yf the kynge the barons all they made hȳ Ioy ryght grete chere The kynge beclypped hym and kyssed hym saynge fayre swete frende we hope in you of y e delyueraūce of this coūtre whiche our aduersaryes wyll vndo After that nedeth it not to aske yf Sydoyne the ladyes made Ioye and myrth and sayd sothely beaute bounte ben assembled in Ponthus he shall do many meruayles god saue hym and kepe hym from all euyll After that the kȳge made his barons his knyghtes to come togyder for to haue theyr aduyse of y e mysbyleuers whiche were come in to that countre So asked the kynge theyr aduyse they were all afrayed abasshed for y e grete nombre that were of them it was spoken of in many maners And than the kȳge asked of Ponthus and he made ryght straunge for to speke but y e kynge cōmaūded prayed hym that he wolde tell his aduyse And he sayd to me it appertayneth not to speke whiche am so yonge so lytell of connynge there where as be so many good knyghtes but to fulfyll your wyl and to please you I shall speke as a scoler of armes as a chylde amonge wyse folkes but alwaye ye shall foryeue me my foly Syr it semeth me y t how many there be of these folke in grete nombre they ought not to be doubted nor we ought not for to make so moche doubte for we shall be ben in god almyghty whiche may saue dystroye by a lytell folke a grete nombre that is to saye one agaynst an hondred in his fayth to kepe theym all this dede toucheth to all crysten men for this is the seruyse of god and all y e crysten people shall come hyder to our helpe for yf they had gete our countree the other sholde not be assured And therfore I say by the good coūseyll of the good knyghtes whiche ben here ye shall sende to the good knyghtes prynces barons your neyghbours for to be here within .xv dayes by the helpe of god theyrs ye shall do them suche harme that neuer shall they can amende it and anone present ye shall sende by your fortresses make them to be stuffed well of lyuynge of theyr thynges make townes castelles to be reprayed ayen and make the vytayl to be withdrawen bytwene this and them And specyally vpon the partyes where as they ben This counseyll was holden for good aboue all and was fulfylled And messangers were sente
to neyghboures by all the countre that is to wete vpon normandye to the vycounte of auerenches to rhe erle of Mortayne and to paynel and in to Mayne to the vycounte du lieu to the lorde de la vale de doucelles of Sygle also to the coūtesse of Anioye for the erle was deed her sone was but .x. yere olde And there was wrytē to payne of chateau Goutyer to Guyllam de roches to Bertram de donne to Androwe de la toure in to poytowe was wryten to the erle of poytyers he was departed to goo to Rome also there was wrytē to Geffrey de lesygnen to leoncel de manleon to Henry de la marche Soo were they chosen for the best knyghtes in that countree and the kynge of Brytayne prayed theym that eche of theym sholde do all the good knyghtes and squyers to wete therof that they knewe in these countrees and that wrote so hastely y t he myght not wryte to all Eueryche of them that these letters were wryten vnto wrote to all them y t they thought wolde arme them eueryche of them wyste that the sarasyns wolde gete brytayne the crystyente all maner folkes came drawȳge downe to y e nede eueryche in the best wyse that they myght soo many y t within the .xv. daye there was of all coūtrees neyghbours ryght moche folke the barons were all redy the assemble was made at vennes the kynge made theym grete chere dyde them grete worshyp So departed they to go towarde breste where y e hoost of sarasynes were whiche pylled the countre set it at destruccyon But than were there gone foure thousande for to see the hoost and they doubted to haue a batayle men approched vnto quypercorentyne there the kynge Ponthus the barons ordeyned theyr bataylles The kynge had a batayll partye of his barons for y t he was olde there was take to gouerne hym the vycounte de lyon the lorde of clymaux of y e brytons brytonauntes And of Galos Guy de vetre Rowlande de dueil Rogier de ronge and y e other batayll was take vnto Ponthus to Herlāt to gouerne Of y e normannes y e erle of Mortayne the vycounte of Auerenches the gouernaunce the erle of Mans gouerned the mansaus of the gree of barons and knyghtes of anioye Guyllam de roches Androwe de la toure and the lorde of donne were ordeyned to gouerne the herupoys that be the aungeuynes And the poyteuynes were gouerned by Geffrey de lesignen the erle of manleon The normannes were nombred .xi. hondred the manseaus .ix. hondred the aungeuynes .x. hondred the poyteuynes two hondred and the brytons foure thousande and of the normannes and the manseaus were one batayll and of the poyteuynes and the Torengeaulx that other batayle for of Touraine there was Bansaye maille la haie Amboise And so made they foure grete bataylles wherof Ponthus and Harlant made the vāwarde for the kynge Sythen the erle of Mans and he of Mortayne the aungeuynes the poyteuynes made the rerewarde So rode they towarde theyr enemyes and laye vpon the felde ordeyned the halfe dele amonge theym to watche and the other halfe dele to slepe And aboute mydde nyght they had a grete fraye for Reynault de sully and Aygret de poully with well a thre hondred sheldes come drawynge downe to the nedes the whiche men knewe than whan men knewe them they made of theym ryght grete Ioye So put they theym with theyr wyll with the aungeuynes And the kynge sayd vnto them to Bertram de dōne to Androwe de la toure fayre lordes god bethanked there is moche folke of vs of grete worthynes our refuge our dongeon is in you in your handes So ye come without that ye were desyred in good ordynaunce assemble not tyll ye se we haue grete nede of you Ponthus Harlant the senesshall ordeyned the barons Ponthus sayd vnto y e kynge and the lordes My lordes yf ye wyll leue me I counseyll that we goo vpon them tofore daye or aboute the poynt of daye and or they be armed or theyr horses sadled and or that they be sette in ordynaunce they shall be halfe dyscomfyted for they holde theym soo grete folke that they doubte no man And therfore me semeth that it shall be so done that they shall be the easelyer dyscomfyted Sothely sayd the kynge all the barons this coūseyll is good Now take we our horses for it is tyme. Than euery man armed hym and lepte vpon theyr horses And the weder was styll and fayre the mone shone ryght clere So rode they towarde y e hoost of y e sarasynes whiche were towarde preste in theyr pauylyon had taken theyr counseyl y t syth they were not fought with y t they wolde ouer ryde brytayne lede w t theym engynes ladders for to assayle townes castelles they doubted not to haue batayle made no watche ne none awayte to tell of but helde them as folkes assured for y e grete nombre y t were of them Now befell that the bataylles approched so nygh y t they sawe the sarasyns whiche y t occupyed wel two myle There were many pauylyons of many dyuers coloures ¶ How Ponthus y t had the fyrst batayle recomforted his felawes how bernarde de doe landry de la tour Guyllyam de roches socoured Ponthus his folke THan Ponthus whiche ledde the fyrst batayll sawe them sayd to his folke Se here the enemyes of our fayth whiche wyll dissheryte vs we be in the seruyce of god almyghty wherfore no man ought to haue doubte that one of vs ne is worth an hondred of them I pray you of two thynges that one to trust all in god for by his myght ye shall come aboue them That other that ye take none hede to no pyllynge to no couetyse but go to dyscomfyte them put theym out of this countre for y e honour of our lawe for the pyte of the comyn people whiche dwell out of the fortresses haue so moche trauayll for the goodes and y e profytes wherby we lyue And for that we be ordeyned for to defende the chyrche theym And whan he had sayd all vnto theym that he wolde he sayd Now forth my frendes thynke euery man for to do well Than euery man toke herte vnto them smote theyr horses with the spores towarde the tentes made a grete crye smote downe tentes and pauylyons to slee turkes some sterted out naked and wende to haue armed them the other fledde fro pauylyon to pauylyon So was there on theyr syde grete hewȳge and grete crye on all partyes and the daye began to appere and wexed clere Brytons slewe all that they myght holde y e other put a fyre in the lodges in suche
wyse that it was all clere Kynge Karados was all afrayed made his trumpes and his trumpettes to blowe anone euery man armed them lepte vpon his hors that myght So were they all ouertaken for on all parties men ranne vpon them surely but there were soo grete nombre of theym wherfore or men myght haue conquered the thyrde parte of his hoost that other were on horsbacke armed and assembled them by grete flockes vpon a grete playne with ryght a grete batayll with his folkes well armed eche helde theym in ordynaunce with the chyeftene for it was come to the nede Than sholde ye haue sene the sarasynes enbatayll them in grete maner alwayes they were ouertake in suche wyse that they were more than .vii. thousande deed that was aboute the fourth parte of theyr folke all had well nyghe fledde And kynge Karados whiche was of grete courage of that that he was on horsbacke toke his baner in his honde for to make his folke to come agayne they herde his voyce his crye so gaue he hardynes to the moost cowarde of theym And aboute the sonne rysynge was there grete hewynge and grete crye for at that tyme the thre bataylles of our folke were assembled vpon the sarasyns there was a ryght pyteous stoure of our folke whiche set fyre in theyr lodges and slewe theym Kynge Karados rayled a batayll of well a seuen thousande turkes and wolde haue come to smyte vpon the syde of y e batayll of our folke whiche had moche to do and so moche that they wente abacke And than sayd Androwe de la toure Bertram de donne Guyllam de roches Lordes it is tyme to departe se our folkes whiche lese theyr places and also beholde a grete batayle whiche cometh to smyte vpon them abyde we not tyll that they smyte for that sholde be peryll Thā dressed he his spere vpon his thyghe and wente renged ayenst the kynge Karados ¶ How Ponthus helped the kynge of brytayne that was ouerthrowen had hym out of the prees ¶ How Ponthus helped the kynge of brytayne that was ouerthrowen and had hym out of the prees ANd whan he sawe theym come he tourned to themwarde made hym redy afore for to go gyue theym strokes with his spere and his cosyn germayne Broalys whiche was a good knyght wente to smyte Bertram de donne Androwe de la toure The kynge bette downe Bertram Androwe bette downe Broalys toke his hors gaue it to Bertram de donne he sayd vnto hym felowe that is not the fyrst seruyce ye haue done me The sarasynes assembled aboute Karados there were many fayre Iustes bytwene two batayles Guyllam de roches Geffrey de lesygnen eche of thē bete downe his but I knewe not theyr names Than assembled they on all parties There was grete frusshynge of speres many folkes ouerthrowen that had no power to releue themselfe than set they theyr handes to theyr bryght swerdes of stele there was grete noyse of the dede and of them that were hurte On that other partye y e kynge of brytayne faught whiche was fallen of his horse in the batayle and was ryghte sore brused but that Ponthus came vpon hym of auenture whan he sawe the kȳge on the erth his hors aboue his body it nedeth not to aske yf he was ryght sory and heuy And wete well that he was in waye to be deed ne had be Royart deronge Mountfort and the lorde of Clymaus these thre amonge other susteyned the grete dede suffred moche But Ponthus set his body in auenture to rescue his lorde sette his hande on his swerde smote on the ryght honde on the left sleynge men hors and dyde dedes of armes so y t all meruaylled of hym gretly so moche he dyde that all fleldde with his strokes In lytell whyle he departed the grete prees with the helpe of Harlant the senesshall and his cosyn germayne Polydes these two felawes sewed hym what partye that euer he wente And Ponthus dyde so moche of armes that he rescowed the kynge alyght to helpe hym vp agayne The kynges ryght arme was broken ryght euyll ledde for he was ryght olde and brused for he was of an hondred yere of age more but he had ben a ryght good knyght and of grete courage on horsebacke was he set maugre his enemyes Whan Ponthus apperceyued that his arme was broken So sente they him out of the batayll wolde he or not was withdrawen And the batayll was ryght cruell on that one syde on that other And Ponthus behelde that the batayll on the best syde had moche a do where the erle of Dongres was Gautyer de rays Bernarde de la roche Geffrey dauncemys Bryaunt de quynten Mountfort many other barons of brytayne whiche were ouerthrowen were in grete auenture to be deed or taken For ayenst one bryton was .x of the sarasynes but aboue all set he hym in grete defence Bernarde de la roche Than sayd Ponthus se our folke whiche haue grete nede of helpe go we and rescue them than smote they the hors with the spores theyr swerdes in theyr handes came so styffely that they frusshed all tofore them And Ponthus wente tofore them sleynge all that euer he smote bette and slewe and maymed folke soo moche that the hardyest made hym waye So dyde they so moche within a lytell whyle that they recouered our folke put the sarasynes to flyght wolde they or not And made them to resorte agayne in to the grete batayle whiche was ryghte greuous and peryllous for the grete nombre of paynyms the whiche smote vpon the crysten mennes helmes Kynge Karados helde with grete dystres the erle of Mans and the lorde of Craon and had ouerthrowen them and many of the manceaus and herupoys as Hamelyn de sylle Geruays de la porte Thy bault de matheselon Peter de doncelles Sauary de la hay Gerarde de chateau goutyer Guyllam de roches Geffrey de lesygnen and Leoncel But they defended them on fote were assembled whiche auayled them moche Androwe de la toure and Bertram de donne sette grete payne for to recouer theym but there was soo grete prees of sarasynes and soo grete a folke that vnnethes myght they come to them tyll that Guyllam de roches sawe Ponthus whiche that made the renges to shake with the helpe that sewed hym Syr it is nede se yonder a grete partye of our barons the whiche ben on fote Than smote they on that syde and brake the prees in suche wyse that they recouered the erle and theym the whiche hadde nede and ryght soone they were on horsbacke agayne And thā the batayll began ryght cruell for at that tyme there was none that wolde besene a cowarde Grete crye grete hewynge there was on euery partye And kȳge Karados dyde
grete and meruayllous dedes of armes he and Broalys and Corbatan his vncle Tho were the thre knyghtes of all the sarasyns whiche susteyned most theyr folke makynge the grete stoures the grete dedes of armes whiche most releued agayne in theyr grete nede ¶ How the kynge Karados was dyscomfyted by Ponthus and his folke POnthus behelde the kynge whiche dyde ryght grete dedes of armes sawe hym ryght rychely armed with perles precyous stones and vpō his helme a ryche crowne of golde and slewe many of the crysten people and had ouerthrowen Guyllam de roches slayne Guyllam de dygnan and bette downe many knyghtes woūded Than said he to Androwe fayre lorde what an aduersary haue we of that kynge of his two knyghtes whiche be besyde hym yf they dure longe they wyll doo vnto vs moche harme And yf these thre myght be sette on fote or to the deth it semeth me that we sholde haue y e hyghe hande of them Syr sayd Androwe de la toure goo to that one we shall go to the other two Than sayd Ponthus I shal go to y e kȳge put me in auenture of all his strength And he wente forth gaue the kynge so grete a stroke that he bette hym downe of his horse to y e erth and at the fallynge he brake his canell bone And Androwe bette downe Broalys smote of his ryght arme that he dyed withall And Harlant the seneshall smote Corbatan agayne so felony that he bette him downe and whan these thre were defowled it nedeth not to aske yf they sarasynes were abasshed for y e dyscomfyture was there ryght grete all theyr power was fallen and they dwelled as shepe wtout shepeherde Than toke they theym to dyscomfyture and to lese londe And than our cresten folke toke boldnes vpon theym and to haue the crye of them so slewe they many of them from thens forth The kynge myght vnnethes releue agayne so slewe hym one that bare the lyon that was Reynault de vytre or deglysson I wote neuer The sarasynes wyst not where to flee or to hyde them On y e coost towarde the nauy was a ryght grete stoure of sarasynes whiche wyste not yet of the deth of theyr kȳge and hadde bette downe Bausaye mayle Geruays daner the mount Iohn̄ payne de rochefort there helde they strayghtly our folke But whan they sawe theyr folke slayne they meruaylled moche and whan our folke w t whome they fought sawe them affrayed they toke herte to them ranne vpō them And also there came to rescowes Geffrey de lesygnen leoncel the herupoys and brytons soo many that they made them to leue the place there was grete slaughter of paynymes and of sarasynes ¶ How the sarasynes were ouercomen drowned POnthus dyde meruayllous dedes of armes for he slewe folke also hors all that he toke with the stroke was deed defouled or beten doune his shelde was to all presented he departed the grete strokes with his bryght swerde So Ioyned there theym togyder Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe leoncel Guyllam de roches Bernarde la roche Harlant the seneshall And whan they were assembled togyder they dyde meruayllous dedes of armes for there where they sawe y e grete prees they bette in and broke in amonge theym and made theym to make waye who that euer it happed w t theyr good swerdes of stele none ne durste abyde theym And Ponthus whiche dyde meruayllous dedes of armes was knowen by the strokes whiche he departed on the ryght syde and on the lefte So cryed he vnto them they be dyscomfyted the paynymes whiche were as bestes without shepherde for theyr kynge and theyr capytaynes were tho deed so coude they take no good counseyll ne sette noo remedy in them so they lete themselfe be to all hewen Soo was there within a lytell whyle suche slaughter that all the feldes were strawed with deed men and with maymed they fledde towarde the nauy drowned them in the water and our folke pursewed theym made them to be drowned perysshed Ponthus toke a lytell vessell slewe well a .xxx. whiche hasted them for to saue theym toke foure all on lyue and asked theym where the tresour the ryches of y e kynge was And they shewed hym a fayre shyppe than he sayd lede me thyder or ye shall dye they ledde hym thyder And Ponthus his cosyn germayne Polydes seuen of his felawshyp sterte in to the shyppe slewe caste out all that they founde therin in to the water So loked they the cofers where as the kynges golde was and his syluer fayre felowes kepe me this vessel sayd Ponthus to his seuen felowes I wyll see yet yf there be ony yet that wyll lyfte vp the heed ayenst vs. Than lepte he out of the shyppe and come to the londe by a vessell but there was none that defended hym but all were slayne or drowned Brytons herupoys Torengeaus Manseaus pooteuynes and normans ranne in to the shyppes and in to the vesselles and the other serched the tentes and the pauylyons and there was none so poore but that he had ynoughe and that one more than that other Men serched the feldes eueryche for his frendes And they founde the vycount of Auerences deed And Ihon̄ paynell Turnebeef and the lorde of villyers so made the normans grete sorowe for they were good knyghtes And what of the Manseaus Hongres de beaumount Margeron and y e lordes of doncelles And Amaulry de sylly Of the herupois Gassos de mountereul Rowlande de chenulle Endes de penaunces and Fresylde la hay Of poyteuynes Gautyer de chateau neuf Androwe de montagu and Hubault de la forest And other brytons Peter de duel Raoul le reis Iohn̄ dauauger hardy de leon Huberte de dygnan Godfrey de roham Aubrey de rays and many other good knyghtes eueryche made theyr frendes for too be borne in to theyr coūtre and the hurte for to be kepte Ponthus made the grete shyppe and the grete tresoure for to come vnto his place at vennes And he departed grete foyson vnto good knyghtes and vnto the good folke of armes soo largely that he was ryght hyghly praysed and alowed therfore The kynge was withdrawen agayne to quypercorentyne there assembled al y e grete lordes The kynge feested the straungers and gaue them grete gyftes after that euery mā was of degre And than he sayd vnto theym lordes ye be come gramercy vnto you in to goddes seruyce in to the seruyce of the holy chyrche and of the poore people And by the grace of the hyghe lorde and by your grete prowesses and hardynes ye haue delyuered this countree of mysbyleuers whiche wolde haue dystroyed our holy lawe And it is sothe that his purneyaunce hath gyuen you this holy gyfte and this grace for ayenst one of you there was syxe of them So
ought we with all our hertes to thanke god And after that spake they ynough of them whiche had done best sette grettest remedy dyde suffred grettest dedes of armes but without comparyson Ponthus had the loos sayd all with one voyce that he had ouercome all And so gaue they the grete pryce vnto Geffrey de lesygnen to Androwe de la toure vnto Bernarde de la roche And that they thre were after Ponthus whiche moost had suffred gretest dedes had done of armes many other there were whiche had done ryght well but longe sholde it be to tel the prowesse of them Thre dayes the kynge withhelde them and feested them and gaue theym fayre gyftes to eche of them after that he was And after that toke they leue of the kynge And Ponthus conueyed them as ferre as he myght ¶ How the crysten men retourned in theyr coūtrees And of the grete chere that Sydoyne made to Ponthus her welbeloued knyght at Uennes ANd thus they departed fayre and Ioyful and euery man wente in to his countree And the kynge tourned agayne to vennes So nedeth it not to aske yf Sydoyne had grete Ioye and sayd to Ponthus swete loue blessyd be god of the goodnes and of the honoure that ye receyued of this batayll for soo god helpe me I haue so grete Ioye of the goodnes that I haue herde saye that myne herte is all ledde with gladnes nor there is no thynge that I take soo grete pleasaunce in as to here tell the grete goodnes and the loos that euery man gyueth you Madame sayd Ponthus it lacketh moche that all is not true Some haue sayd vnto you and reported more than there is suche parauenture as loue me But alwaye I thanke you of the goodnes worshyp that ye wolde me as I thynke it Madame wete it well that yf god wyl gyue me grace to doo some good that it cometh to me frome you for soo moche onely that I take me all for to please you and in y e hope that I haue for to fall in your good grace and for to do you seruyce whiche myght please you the whiche god graunte me to do your worshyp Ponthus my swete loue your seruyce take I in gree with all myn herte whyle that I fynde you true wtout thynkynge of ony vylanye for our loue I wyll that it be clene and certayne without ony thought of vylanye And wete it wel for certayne that fro the tyme I may apperceyue that ye thynke ony other thynge thā worshyppe of me and of my frendes ye shall lese me and so moche as I loue you I shall hate you to the dethe Madame he sayd ne thynke neuer that I wolde ymagyne thynges the whiche that toucheth agaynst your worshyp And for that that I haue founde you and fynde it so clene so good and soo sure that I prayse you and loue you better a thousande tymes and more ardaūtly for a nobler tresoure is there none in y e worlde than is a good woman and a clene what sholde I saye you gretely loued they twayne togyder of true loue wtout ony vylany but enuye may not suffre thȳges ende well as ye shall here more playnly here after folowynge ¶ How that Ponthus was ordeyned and constytned constable of brytayne THe kynge sente to seke all his barons sayd vnto them Fayre lordes I say you that I am ryght olde may not trauayll as I was wonte it nedeth me from hens forwarde to take myne ease therfore it is good that by youre good counseyll there be chosen a good constable that he may haue the rule and y e charge of brytayne to whome the barons of the countre wolde best obey without daunger So loke amonge you one chose hym for I wyll y t he be chosen and made by you by your good counsyell And than sayd the barons all with one voyce We knowe not whome men myght better fynde yf it pleased hym to be it than Ponthus he is worthy to gouerne an Empyre of bounte of beaute of wytte of gouernaunce and of gentylnes as a kynges sone as the beste begynner of knyghthode that at this daye is lyuynge Whan the kynge harde that he had ryght grete Ioye for that was all that he sought but he wolde not do it without that he spake to them therof to the ende that they sholde haue hym in the more fauour good wyll Soo was there none that withsayd it Ponthus was cleped and it was sayd vnto hȳ before them all that the kynge the barons of brytayne hadde chosen him constable for the moost suffysaunt So thanked he the kynge the barons sayd vnto theym after that he had auysed hym a lytell that he had not the wytte the gouernaunce ne the worthynes in hym to be it that he was ryght yonge bothe of wytte and of age but nothynge auaylled theym his lackynge but that he was by strength charged wheder he wolde or no. So was he in his offyce bothe beloued and dredde And whan there was ony dystruccyon bytwene rhe barons the knyghtes he was he that set them agayne in peas at accorde he kepte the ryght of brytayne without doynge ony wronge he made hym to be byloued of all he Iusted he made feestes he was ryght pleasaunte to grete to small specyally amonge ladyes gentelwomen he was so curteys that there was none dyde of so soone his hode ayenst hym that his ne was done of as soone agayne he harde the poore and he dyde them ryght in shorte tyme of the request where he had reason he wolde not that the poore folke were oppressed he loued god and holy chyrche herde-euery daye two masses at y e leest he loued hawkynge huntynge and all dysportes he made ladyes gentylwomen to synge to daunce all Ioy was there he was he gaue them dyners soupers he was well beloued of fayre ladyes and gentylwomen whiche shewed hym many grete sygnes of loue drewe to hym gretly but neuer prayed he them of loue but that touched to theyr worshyp for ony semblaunt that ony of theym made So sayd they bytwene them oftentymes y e one to another She sholde be blessyd who sholde be byloued of Ponthus some sayd in pryuete wolde god he loued me as moche as I wolde loue hym that he had me also dere as I haue hȳ moche made he hȳ to be byloued of lytel grete But enuye whiche faileth neuer came to one of hys felowes of his coūtre whiche was one of y e .xiiii. whiche was meruaylous subtyll of spekynge full of gile and his name was Guenellet ¶ How Guenellet put dyscencyon bytwene Ponthus Sydoyne GUenellet whiche sawe the loue of Sydoyne of Ponthus soo had he enuye for to make it to be lefte he asked of Ponthus his mayster an horse whiche Sydoyne had gyuen hym he thought
at euen ryght late that none sholde apperceyue hȳ wente to reste hym and sente for Harlant the seneshall vnto his bed and sayd vnto hym Harlant my swete frende I wyll go out a lytell whyle to knowe somwhat on y e worlde and for to acqueynte me with good knyghtes So haue I spoke to y e kynge that I shall leue you my lyeutenaunt ye wote well how I loue you wherfore I praye you for my cosyn germayne myne other felowes A whyder wyll ye go fayre swete frende I wyll go out a lytell whyle wyll not dwell longe I wyll that no man wote it for a cause Harlant wolde not enquyre for he doubted not y t he wolde haue taryed lōge And whan y e Harlant was departed he made his clerkes to come forth wryte two letters y t one he gaue his power to Harlant that other he recōmaunded hym to his felawshyp and prayed them to serue well the kynge to obey Harlant that he sholde come agayne from thens as he sholde go to So he left them there toke them to the clerke badde hym y t he sholde not delyuer theym tyll the nexte daye at euen and he dyde y t for drede that his felowes wolde haue pursewed hym ¶ How Ponthus departed from the courte secretely ANd whan it was aboute mydnyght he arose vp arayed hȳ parted thens as pryuely as he myght He rode all tyll daye syth wente hym in to the forest of brycelyon in a pryoury an heremytage whiche was all solytary depe in the forest where he was well a seuen dayes euery daye he went to here masse at y e heremytage And he dyde moche abstynaūce as to faste thre dayes in the weke the frydaye he wered y e heere he thought for y t y t the kynge was olde that y e realme abode to hȳ y t he wolde not be farre for y t y t yf there fel ony trouble y t he myght remedy it So was he moche annoyed was at euen in y e forest ryght pensyfe full of stody lystened y e songe of the byrdes whiche was ryght delycyous as in y e tyme of Aueryll made a songe where he was at y e refraynȳge of y e songe of y e byrdes No Ioye sholde me recōforte whā she whiche I haue loued so moche wolde be so straūge to me there he set it in a songe And syth he thought he wolde take an empryse of dedes ot armes So wrote he his ordynaunce and sent to seche a dwarfe made hȳ to be arayed ryght wel clothed hȳ in a robe of sylke ryght nobly toke hȳ a yeman horses a letter wryten in foure whiche sayd thus The blacke knight w t y e whyte armes doth to wete to y e best knyghtes of eche coūtre y t they shall fynde at y e wel of auenture in y e forest of brycelyon a blacke pauylyon w t whyte teres euery tuesdaye in the yere at the houre of pryme also they shall fynde a tree where his sheldes shall hange there shall be an horne whiche a dwarfe shall blowe whā he hath blowen it there shall come out an olde gentylwomā with a sercle of golde an heremyte with her whiche shall saye them what they shal do she shal lede thē in a medowe where y e blacke knyght shal be armed whiche shal Iuste thre courses after y e Iustes he shall fyghte w t a swerde poyntles to the vtteraunce hym y t he shall conquere shal aske of all the knyghtes in good fayth the fayrest mayde of the realme of lytell brytayne to her shall he yelde hȳ prysoner to do her wyll w t hym on the sorowfull blacke knyghtes behalfe with y e whyte teres And ouer that it is to be knowen that all they that haue Iusted shall yelde theym in this forest at wytsontyde come twelue moneth at a feest whiche shall be therin And he whiche that shall Iuste best shall haue the spere the guffanon and a sercle of golde with stones And he whiche shall smyte strongest with the swerde and longest fyght shall haue the swerde with the gyrdell of golde the crowne of golde yf it befall that ony of theym conquere the blacke knyght he shall mowe sende hym to pryson to suche a lady as shall please hym ¶ How Ponthus sente a dwarfe thrughe all y e coūtree of Fraunce to anounce and shewe of dedes of armes that sholde be made in the forest of betelyen euery tuesdaye thrughe the yere ANd whā Ponthus hadde taken these letters to the dwarfe he cōmaunded hym y t he sholde go by all the coūtrees of Fraūce there where he wyste ony assemble of feestes or Iustes that he do them to wete all aboute The dwarfe whiche that coude speke ryght well wente by all the countree doynge them to wete and many one meruaylled wherfore the blacke knyght wolde fyght so And for that that he chose the best knyghtes of euery countree and many one made them redy to come thyder sayd that he sholde haue grete worshyp that he sholde haue the swerde or y e spere yet more who sholde mowe conquere hym it taryed not longe that there came thyder ynoughe of brytayne of other countrees And Ponthus made his folke swere the pryour and the heremyte all that they sholde not dyscure hym And he sente to Rennes the whiche was afore named vyle ronge to seke that that hym neded And he sent to seke an olde gentylwoman whiche sholde be of his counseyll arayed her in cote and in mantell of sylke a large sercle of golde vpon her heed and had a kercher of almayne tofore the vysage that men sholde not knowe her And Ponthus was disguysed in maner of an heremyte with a grete heed of heere and whyte berde a vyser had in his hande a letter of the ordynaunce And at that tuesday there came many knyghtes wenynge to haue Iusted and to haue doo dedes of armes to the blacke knyght whiche was at the well some men called it the well of brylaunson And sawe pyght a grete tent a grete pauylyon it taryed not longe that a dwarfe came out of the pauylyon ryght foule horye came to a tree where henge a grete horne and the blacke shelde with the whyte terys toke the horne blewe ryght strongly whan he had blowen it out came the gentylwoman the heremyte whiche helde her by the brydell of golde came ryght to y e shelde and made the dwarfe to crye that the knyghts of euery coūtre whiche wolde do dedes of armes with the blacke knyght sholde hange vp theyr sheldes at that grete tre where the speres were aboute And there were lytell hokes of yren where euery man myght hange his shelde euery man that was there made his
not for fere that he hadde that I sholde haue be wrothe with hym he wolde not haue lefte the countre It was vnto me grete foly for to put in doubte that his swete herte sholde not haue be trewer than ony other than she wepte and sorowed in her herte for very fere that she sholde haue loste hym soo she sorowed daye nyght There were many grete complayntes in the courte for the goynge awaye of Ponthus The kynge was heuy and myght haue no reste and oftentymes wysshed after hym and so dyde his cosyn germayne and all his felowes and all maner of people bothe grete and small and the courte was in grete heuynes for hym It was but lytell whyle after that Bernarde de la Roche came vnto courte and asked fayre Sydoyne sayenge that he was her prysoner the kynge sente for her and she came with a grete foyson of ladyes and of gentylwomen and theyr assembled knyghtes and all maner of people bothe grete and small to here the lorde la roche Bernarde And whā she was come downe in to the hall tho Bernarde kneled doune to her spake on hyghe y t al men myght here hȳ sayd Madame to you sendeth me y e blacke knyght w t the whyte teres the whiche by his worthynesse hath cōquered me in armes bad me y t I sholde yelde me prysoner to y e fayrest gentylwoman of this realme So haue I enquyred of all the knyghtes squyers y t were there whiche was the fayrest they all helde them to one voyce to you So yelde I me to you in to your pryson as your knyght ye to haue power to doo as of your owne yet he bad me y t I sholde salewe you from hȳ Sydoyne wexed reed was asshamed by cause y e men helde her y e fayrest Trewly sayd she I thanke them all but they haue symply aduysed me And I thanke the knyghte y t sent you hyder but tel me yf ye wote fro whens he is Truly said he madame nay O sayd y e kȳge may no man knowe what he is truly no sayd Bernarde but so moche I say you he is the goodlyest knyght armed y t euer I sawe the best can smyte bothe w t spere w t swerde And me semeth y t he is somwhat more thā was Ponthus he is moche lyke hȳ but it is not he for men say y t he is in y e realme of poulayne or in hūgary at y e warres whiche ben there There was moche spekȳge of y e blacke knight how y t he sholde y e nexte tuesdaye fyght w t Geffrey de lesygnen w t Androwe de la toure on y e other tuesday than after y t w t y e Erle of mortayne The kȳge all y e ladyes made grete chere vnto y e lorde de la roche they dyde ete all togyder in the hall w t the kȳge at mete Sydoyne bourded w t Bernarde and sayd tho vnto him lorde de la roche I am ryght Ioyfull to haue suche a prysoner as ye be So ye ought to haue grete doubte of the prysonynge that ye shall haue to suffre And Bernarde began for to smyle said Madame yf ye shewe me none harder prysonȳge thā this is I shal suffre it wel And wete it well as I thȳke or this yere be passed ye shal haue more largely and so shall I not be allone After dyner began the daunces and the karolles but Sydoyne daūced but a lytell and yet wolde she haue daunced lesse ne had ben for fere y e men sholde haue perceyued her sorowe ¶ How Ponthus conquered Geffrey de Lelygnen and sente hym vnto Sydoyne THe daye fayre clere the lorde of Lesygnen the whiche was a meruayllous good knyght was armed and on horsbacke came before the fountayne And y e blacke knyght lepte out of his pauylyon his spere in his hande y e shelde aboute his necke as sone as eche of them sawe other they let theyr horses renne gyuȳge grete strokes with theyr speres So that bothe horses fell vpon theyr arses almoost all was ouerthrowen Neuerthelesse they rose agayne toke other speres grete strōge sharpe they afferred eche frome other came agayne as faste as theyr horses myght dryue for to Iuste y e one ayenst y e other gaue so grete strokes on y e sheldes y t all ouerthrewe bothe knyghtes horses was so rudely y t the hors of Geffrey felle y e heed vnder the body myght not stere neyther knyght nor hors for Geffrey had his legge his thygh vnder y e hors was ryght sore brused But ponthus rose agayne vpon his horse yet he was sore ashamed y t he was ouerthrowen So loked he on the knyght y t myght not stere frome vnder his hors than he alyght came to y e knyght dyde so moche y t he drewe hym from vnder his hors he had his fote out of Ioynte so he myght not stande but vpon one fote yet he layde his honde on his swerde as he y t was of grete herte grete hardynesse And whā Ponthus sawe y t he myght not stonde but vpon one fote he wolde not smyte hym but lete hym smyte a stroke or two sayd vnto hym Syr knyght I se you in a symple party shame it were for me for to assayle you And geffrey sayd wherfore I holde me not ouercome as longe as I may holde my swerde in my hande whā he wende to stryke Ponthus he mette with a stone w t his fote whiche made hym for to ouerthrowe And whan Ponthus sawe y t he dyde helpe hȳ for to ryse agayne And sayd vnto hym Syr knyght yf ye were hole I wolde renne vpon you but I se well your dysease ye shall not yelde you to me but to the fayrest gentylwoman of all brytayne y t whiche shall take you to her mercy and salewe her from the blacke knyght soo I praye you that we do no more than we haue done for I wote well yf ye were in good estate ye wolde not leue me soo hole as ye haue letfte me for I knowe well your worthynesse of tyme passed And whan Geffrey sawe the debonayrete and grete bounte of the blacke knyght he praysed hym moche and sayd Syr I shall go where y t it pleaseth you to cōmaunde me And yf I wyste that it sholde not displease you I wolde aske you your name And ponthous answered hȳ agayne Syr ye nor none other shall wete it at this tyme. And Geffrey helde hym styll and wolde no more enquere And ponthus toke his leue of hym wente his waye pryuely in to the forest by the pathes as he was wonte to do So the people that sawe the batayll meruayled moche and sayd Ryght curteys is the blacke knyghte haue ye not seene his debonayrete and his
there two dayes y t one w t the kyÌ„ge that other w t her after y t she gaue them leue So they departed for goo se the batayll of the erle of mortayne whiche was a ryght good knyght ¶ How the fourth tuesday Ponthus conquered Thybault de bloys erle of mortayne sent hym as y e other also of other knyghtes on tuesdaye ensewynge SO the olde gentylwoman the dwarfe came out of y e pauylyon had a bowe turkoys and her foure arowes as ye haue herde before the heremyte with the vyser ledde her by the brydell and made her sygne to whiche she sholde shote as at for that moneth And the olde gentylwoman smote fyrst in y e shelde of Thybault de bloys the whiche was named for a good knyght And the other arowe in the shelde of damp Martyne The thyrde arowe in the shelde of Henry de mouÌ„t maurency and the fourth arowe was in the shelde of Roberte de resyllyon These were the foure knyghtes moost named of whome that the sheldes of theyr armes were hanged vp whan she had shote her foure arowes she withdrewe her to the pauylyon And anone after the blacke knyght came out armed with all his armes his shelde aboute his necke the spere in his hande And on the other syde came in Thybault the erle of mortayne ryght rychely arayed with grete foyson of trumpettes and taboures And as soone as eche of theym sawe other they lette theyr horses renne and gaue grete strokes But Ponthus reuersed so the erle that he hadde almoost beten hym downe vnto the grounde So they sette hande vpon theyr swerdes and eche of them ranne vpon an other ryght rudely but Ponthus smote so myghty strokes and so harde that he kerued a two all that euer he hyt the Erle defended hym to his power Soo endured the batayll ryghte longe but Ponthus whiche was grete and stronge toke hym by the helme and drewe hym so sore that he rente it frome hym threwe it to to the grouÌ„de And than abode in his coyfet of yren on whiche he gaue hym a grete stroke sayenge vnto hym that he sholde yelde hym but he smote hym not with the cuttynge And the erle endured moche but nedes he muste yelde hym whyther he wolde or not Soo he badde hym yelde hym to the fayrest lady of Brytayne So he departed wente in to the forest as he dyde before And the erle wente yelde hym vnto fayre Sydoyne as the other knyghtes dyde whiche dyde hym grete worshyp and so dyde her fader the kynge The nexte tuesdaye faught Tybault de bloys soo all the other tyll the yeres ende after folowynge But it were to longe taryenge to tell the Iustes and the bataylles that euery man dyde in that moneth in all the other monethes in all the other monethes folowynge for there were many fayre Iustes grete bataylles and many noble dedes of armes the whiche sholde be to longe for to tell who that wolde rehers theym all But the ende was that they were all ouercome in armes and sente in to the pryson of fayre Sydoyne So they were two fyfty knyghtes prysoners of the best that men myght fynde in ony londes for to conquere worshyp Euery man herde sawe that the good knyghtes wente to assaye themselfe that he chose alwaye the best that men myght fynde to do dedes of armes Euery man desyred for to be of y e nombre for to assaye them ayenst hym And so grete was the voyce the renowme ranne thrughe frauÌ„ce almayne by all other countrees that all knyghtes came henge vp theyr sheldes So there came many of the realme of frauÌ„ce of other realmes countrees And Ponthus chose alwaye by worthynes the best faught but with one of euery countree bycause his name sholde go the ferther So was there of the nombre of the two fyftye The duke of Osteryche the duke of Lorayne the Erle of baar the erle of Mountbelyart the erle of mouÌ„fort and other dukes and erles Syr Wylyam of bayrs Syr Arnolde of henaude the erle of Sauoye other dyuerse good knyghtes soo leue I of theyr names for it were ouer longe to tell so I torne agayne for to abredge my mater soo that it befell y t whytsontyde was come at the yeres ende that all y e prysoners came for to yelde them ther as it was ordeyned Ponthus dyde make a grete halle couered with leues and a fayre grene fast by the fouÌ„tayne of meruaylles that men called Belenson And sent for al maners of mete wynes for all maner of stuffe thaÌ„ he wrote vnto the kynge of Brytayne saynge The blacke knyght w t the whyte teeres w t all humylyte honoure moost mekely recoÌ„maundeth hym vnto your moost noble excellent grace The blacke knyght besecheth you mekely that it please your hyghnesse for to be at this feest of Pentecost in the forest of briciâ—iun at the fountayne of meruaylles with the fayrest ladyes and geÌ„tylwomen that is in all your realme And also y t it pleaseth you not to forgete my lady your doughter for to se counsayll to whome y e pryce shall be gyuen that is to hym the whiche hathe best Iusted and myghtyest foughten of the two and fyghty knyghtes for euery tewesdaye of the yere Whan the kynge had sene the lettres he hadde ryghte grete Ioye and sayd that the blacke knyght had done him grete worshyp y t there sholde he be than he sente for his doughter tolde her the tydynges that was sente hym And charged her for to sende for the fayrest ladyes and gentylwomen of his realme to come vnto her at y e Penthecost And fayre doughter ye ought for to doo it for y e knyght hath done you grete worshyp that by his swerde hath sente in to your pryson so many good knyghtes lordes wherof grete worshyp is fal vnto you also vnto your realme for the whiche I am moche beholdynge vnto y e blacke knyght Fayre Sydoyne kneled downe and sayd syth that it pleaseth you I shall do your coÌ„maundemente So she dyde wryte lettres vnto y e grete ladyes of Brytayne that they sholde be with her the frydaye afore whytsondaye And that they sholde brynge in theyr coÌ„pany the fayrest ladyes and gentylwomen that men myght fynde The ladyes that herde the maundemente of Sydoyne they had grete Ioye and made theym redy and came to that Iourney And there was a grete assemble So they came vpon whytsondaye to the fouÌ„tayne with theyr tentes and pauylyons and they were pyght there aboute that they semed as it were a grete hoost Ponthus came agaynst the kyÌ„ge And he hadde sente the day tofore .xiii. gownes of a sute to his xiii felowes and one to herlaunt y e senesshall bycause that they sholde bere him felowshyp It nedeth not to aske yf his cosyn germayne and his felowshyp had
grete Ioye of the worshyp that god had sente hym whan they kynge wyst y t it was Ponthus y t had done so moche in armes it nedeth not to aske y e Ioy he had of it and the chere y t he made hym colled hym kyssed hym than he sayd vnto hym ye haue longe hyd you frome vs and men sayd that ye were in hungary and in poullayne at warres y t were there but in good fayth myne herte tolde me that it was ye that dyde suche meruaylles Ponthus wexed rede sayd nothynge for he was ashemed that the kynge praysed hym so moche ¶ How Ponthus made to make a conuys and made to be gyuen vnto euery knyght after as they hadde deserued AFter that he wente agaynst Sydoyne y t was accompanyed with many fayre ladyes And salewed her mekely she yelded him agayne his salutacyon as she that had all Ioye y t herte myght thynke than she sayd vnto hyÌ„ in smylynge O Ponthus ye haue hyd you loÌ„ge tyme froÌ„ vs in this forest I doute me y t ye be become an ermyte wylde A madame sayd he saue your grace I am easy to tame And than he departed frome her as he that was all taken in the loue of his lady that of loÌ„ge tyme he had not sene her And than he wente too se the ladyes the whiche were all dysguysed with grene bowes garlondes and he sayd vnto them My ladyes I praye god that eche of you haue that y t your hertes desyre for in good fayth it is a good syght to se soo fayre a company The ladyes yelded hym his salutacyon the whiche were full of Ioye for to se hym for they loued hym meruayllously well aboue all knyghtes And the one sayd to another It is Ponthus the good and fayre knyghte thanked be god of the grete worshyp that he hathe sente hym and I praye god that he wyll kepe hym vs as the best knight of the worlde and this was there speche ferre and nere So they arryued at the fountayne bothe y e kynge and the ladyes with grete Ioye And on that other syde came the knyghtes straungers The kynge and the ladyes made them grete Ioye And there was grete sowne and noyse of dyuers maners of myÌ„stralsy so that all the wode ronge of it And the kynge and ponthus dyd grete worshyp to the dukes and lordes as to the duke of Ostrytche of Lorayne of baar to the erle of dampmartyn of Sauoye of mouÌ„tbelyart to other dyuers grete lordes So they wente and herde masse that the bysshop of Rennz sange after that they came to the halle And the kynge the dukes and Sydoyne were sette at the hygh dese and after euery man after as he was Greate was the feest and grete was the hall and on the syde were hanged the .lii. sheldes of the knyghtes conquered Ryght straunge and fayre thynges were made bytwene the courses as armed chyldren that fought togyder dyuers other thynges and syxe olde knyghtes and syxe olde squyers some bare the spere the gouffanon blacke with the whyte teeres of grete margaretes oryente perles a ryche cercle of golde meruayllously wrought of ryche perles and of good stones The other bare the ryche swerde with the pomel of golde And the gyrdell of sylke wrought with golde grete margaretes and perles with precyous stones that it was a fayre syght to se. And this rychesse had ponthus won in the shyp of the Soudans sone So he sayd hymself that he myght no better beset them than afore so many notable prynces and grete lordes for he shewed all his dedes ryght honourably The knyghtes and y e ladyes wente aboute the halle syngynge as though they wyste not to whome they sholde presente theym And than they came before the lorde de Lesygnen and presented hym the spere and the ffouffanon and the ryche cercle of golde y e whiche they set vpon his hede for y e beste Iuster And after they came to Androwe de la toure and presented hym the ryche swerde and the ryche crowne set vpon his heed whyther he wolde or no for he excused hymselfe moche wende to haue refused it saynge that they dyde hym worshyp that he had not deserued and that there were dyuerse other that had better wonne it than he had and he wexed rede was ashamed but Ponthus hadde so ordeyned it for he sayd in good fayth that he had yeuen hym moost a do as for one daye Also Geffrey hadde ryght wel Iusted Than beganne mynstrelles for to playe of all maner of mynstrelsy and also the herauldes began to cry that men sholde not haue herde thondrynge for al roÌ„ge bothe wood and forest of the noyse There was gyuen many dyuerse meases and good wynes and also grete yeftes vnto heraudes and mynstrelles Ponthê° came behynde the kynge and sayd to hym in his ere Syr it please you we shall do crye the Iustes ayenst to morowe and on tewesdaye at Uennes bycause y t ye sholde knowe these prynces and these dukes for it shall be your worshyppe A sayd y e kyÌ„ge in good fayth it is a good and a trewe counseyll and I praye you that it be done Than Ponthus called an heraude and made hym to crye that the whyte knyght with the rede rode shall be this mondaye and tewesdaye in y e cyte of Uennes with fyue felowes and hymselfe shall make the syxte for to withstande all maner of knyghtes with speres And he that shall haue the pryce on y e mondaye without forth shall haue the gyrdell and the gypsere of y e fayrest of the feest And he that dooth best on the tewesdaye shall haue the sparohawke mewed with the loynes of perles and margarytes and a chapelet that the fayrest of the feest shall gyue hym And he of the ynner partye that shall Iuste best shall haue a rynge of the fayrest ¶ How Ponthus made a Iustes to be cryed in the cyte of Uennes and how he smote downe the strongest that he recountred ON y e morowe after they departed by tymes wente and herde masse at saynt peters of Uennes and than they wente and dyned and after dyner the kynge the ladyes wente to the schalfoldes And than came Ponthus his hors al whyte with a grete rede rose that betokened his lady his fyue felowes of the whiche one was Bernarde de la Roche the vycount of Lyon the vycount of donges Polydes and Herlaunt y e senesshall all good knyghtes The Iustes were grete on the mondaye and on the tewesdaye there were many grete Iustes and many grete strokes gyuen But ouer all knyghtes Ponthus Iusted beste for he bete downe knyghtes horses dyd suche meruaylles y t euery knyght doubted to mete w t hym so he set bothe herte wyl bycause y t his lady was there present bothe grete small praysed hym moche the ladyes
sayd se hym come y t beteth all downe before hym He is a grete fole that gooth agaynst hym his spere spareth no man but y t he hurteth hym or felleth hym Sydoyne sawe well that the ladyes all other preysed him she sayd no worde but kepte her selfe close that no man sholde apperceyue that she had more Ioye of hym than of another how moche that her herte hadde all maner of Ioye Ryght well Iusted the duke of Of trytche and he of Loreyne the erle of Sauoye the erle of mountbelyart many other but it were to longe to tell And all the good Iusters on the monday and on the tewesdaye were ryght worshypfully feested At y e souper on the tewesdaye the feest was grete and large they gaue the pryce on the mondaye of the vtter partye to the erle of mountbelyart ryght a good knyght and he had the gyrdell and the Gypsere of Sydoyne bycause that she was chosen for the fayrest of the feest The pryce of without on the tewesdaye was yeuen to the duke of Ostryche Soo hadde he the sparohawke with the ryche loynes and the chapelet of Sydoyne Ponthus hadde the pryce on mondaye as of within And he wolde that the pryce vpon tewesdaye within sholde haue ben gyuen vnto the lorde de la Roche the whiche hadde beste Iusted of all the other saue oonly Ponthus the whiche no man myght come nere by fer The ladyes sente a rynge with a greate Rubye vnto Ponthus And an ouche ryghte ryche vnto Bernarde lorde de la Roche Heraude mynstrelles ledde grete Ioye and grete noyse After souper they carolled and daunsed sange songes tyll mydnyght than they dranke and ete spyces And after that the straungers toke theyr leue of the kynge and of Sydoyne and of the grete ladyes And they departed on wednesdaye by tymes whan they had herde masse Ponthus conueyed thē to y e castell of gyron where he had ordeyned them a dyner after dyner he wolde haue conueyed theym ferther but the lordes wolde not suffre hym yet he offered hymselfe ryght moche vnto theym so they toke theyr leue that one of that other The lordes bothe grete small they praysed moche Ponthus of his good felawshyp of his good chere that trewly he was the goodlyest knyght the best and the moost gracyous of the worlde at theyr aduyse that there was none lyke hym and also they praysed moche Sydyone of her beaute of her curtesye and that he that sholde haue her sholde be well eurous And Ponthus tourned agayne to the kynge and to the ladyes After dyner the ladyes and the knyghtes of Brytayne toke theyr leue of the kynge of his doughter The kynge and his doughter came syngynge sportynge theym towarde syclynere On a tyme Sydoyne Ponthus spake togyder So sayd Sydoyne vnto Ponthus ye haue hyde you longe tyme from vs I meruaylled moche that I herde none other tydynges frome you Madame sayd he I sent you euery weke a messanger Ye saye trouth swete frende sayd she ye sente me the moost notable messangers that myght be founde Neuertheles it wolde haue done me grete pleasure to haue wyst who had sente them syth that they came from you for euery man sayd ye were in hungary And also I meruaylled moche that ye dyde me none otherwyse to wete of your goynge awaye therfore myne herte was in ryght grete disease A madame he sayd I was here nyghe you that were in my herte in my thought and all y t euer I dyde I thought to do it for your loue for to encrease your good renowne for I wyst well that ye sholde be chosen for the fayrest of Brytayne so I haue done soo moche that the best knyghtes that men knowe of eche countre be come for to se you and to put them in your mercy But for all that madame in good fayth it was not I that dyde it it was ye madame wherfore I thanke you for the power and the hardynesse ye gaue me for of my selfe I durste not haue vndertake it Ponthus sayd she I wote well that this goodnes and worshyp cometh to you frome god and frome none other but that is for that ye loue god and drede he hath gyuen you the grace and the hardynesse and the strength soo ye ought for to thanke hym hyghly Madame he sayd so do I but I thynke well that the enterpryse came frome you Now Ponthus sayd she leue we this talkynge for in good fayth y e gretest Ioye myn herte may haue is for to here good tydynges of you as longe as I fynde you trewe for the worshyp of me of my lord madame said he of that be ye certayne for I haue leuer to be deed than thynke other wyse by my fayth Upon this talkynge arryued Guenelet one of y e .xiiii. felawes ¶ How Ponthus was accused to the kynge by Guenellet y t was amerous of Sydoyne his doughter THis Guenellet was ryght enuyous a fayre speker and a grete flaterer Soo had he grete enuy at his mayster and had so grete sorowe that ony sholde be more mayster in the courte than he Soo sawe the kȳge was olde aged and he thought that by fayre speche and flaterynge he wolde be mayster he thought to put out and estraunge his mayster whiche was the preuyest w t y e kȳge to doo hym treason So he sawe the kynge alone in the wood where as he hunted and sayd vnto hym I shall tell you a grete counseyll so that ye wyll swere vpon kynges wordes that ye shall not dyscure me I shall swere it to you sayd the kynge whiche was all good and true mystrusted hym in no thynge My ryght dredefull lorde sayd Guenellet ye haue nourysshed me and made me and all the good that I haue is of your well doynge therfore oughte I for to haue you better than other fader and moder or all the worlde soo maye not my herte suffre your domage nor dysworshyp therfore wyll I tell you a thynge whiche toucheth gretely agaynst your worshyp How moche that I loue Pōthus more than ony man saue onely you So wolde I suffre no thynge that sholde be ayenst your worshyp Syr it is thus that Ponthus loueth my lady your doughter therfore be ye well aduertysed for he is a ryght good knyght Soo I haue doubte that some foly loue may fall bytwene them wherof she ye myght haue grete shame and dyshonour A sayd the kynge Guenellet I se well that ye loue me ryght well and that ye wolde not be glad of my dysworshyp soo am I ryght moche beholdynge to you for euer more I thanke you gretely And thus thanked hym the kynge as he y t wende that he had sayd trouth And sayd Guenellet ye ought not to thanke me for I holde me so moche boūde vnto you that there is no thynge y t ony
erthly man myght do for his lorde but that I wolde do it for you onely to dye for to alength your lyfe yf it nede were But syr I tel you how ye shall preue hyÌ„ yf he saye that he loueth her not bydde hym swere make an othe ye shall se perauenture that he wyll not Now Guenellet had herde saye of Ponthus in the partyes of Galyce of spayne a kynges sone sholde make none othe of thynge y t were put vpon hym as longe as he myght fyght therfore yf he dyde he sholde be dysworshypped therfore tolde he this to the kynge for he wyste well y t he wolde make none o the and by that waye he wolde set the kynge hym at dystauÌ„ce for to estrauÌ„ge hym from the countre for to haue the more rule gadered in to his owne hande for an enuyous man may no thynge suffre The kynge was all pensyfe angry of these tydynges as he whiche loued his doughter meruaylously well was aferde to haue dyshonoure Whan he was come fro y e wode alyght of his hors Ponthus whiche was there came tofore hym wenynge to haue taken his swerde his gloues as he had done before of customes but the kynge tourned hym frome hym warde and made no semblauÌ„t to hym nor to speke to hym whan Ponthus apperceyued it he wyste well y t the kynge was dyspleased with hym soo wente he to hym sayd syr how is it that ye are dyspleased with me for goddes loue tell me what I haue forfayted Ha sayd the kynge whiche was ryght angrye Ponthus Ponthus I haue made lytell nourture of you whan ye haue auysed you for to dyshonour me how syr sayd Ponthus by what waye By that waye sayd y e kynge that ye loue my doughter for to dyshonoure her And I haue no chylde but her and she is all my Ioye and all the lengthynge of my lyfe Syr said Ponthus who tolde you so yf there be ony that dare saye it nowe I am redy for to preue it with my body that he lyeth falsely saue your honour Nay sayd the kynge yf ye wyll swere vpon holy gospels that ye loue her not as I haue sayd parauenture I wyll byleue you Syr for to say that I loue her not as I owe to loue the doughter of my ryghtfull lorde I say not the contrary but that I wolde doo thynge or thynke that sholde touche the dysworshyp of her or of you I shall answere as a true knyght ought to do and syr ye wote well ye ought not to aske me none other thynge to my worshyppe for ye wote well ynoughe that a kynges sone oughte not to make none othe of noo thynge that were put vpon hym as longe as he myght defende hym with his body And that is the vsage of the countre where I was borne I wote neuer sayd y e kynge whiche was ryght fell and angry of the wordes that he had herde Syr sayd Ponthus yet wyll I offre you more that I wyll fyght with two or thre yf there be ony that wyl mayntene it for I fele my quaryll so good and so clene that I am all in certayne that god shall helpe me as a true Iuge A sayd the kynge ye holde yourselfe so stronge so knyghtly y t ye wote well there dare none fyght w t you A syr sayd Ponthus I offre you all that euer I may with my worshyp profre The kyÌ„ge passed forth and sayd y e batayll sholde not be done as for y â— dâ—de ¶ How Ponthus toke leue of the fayre Sydoyne WHan Ponthus sawe that he was ryght sorowfull and angry bycause y t he was a kynges sone he was sory for to make an othe y t it sholde torne hym to dyshonour and to reprefe and on the other syde bycause the kynge wolde do hym no ryght So he came to the kynge and toke his leue of hym sayd vnto hym that he wolde not dwelle in his courte in mysbyleue nor in suspeccyon and thus departed he and came vnto Sydoyne and tolde her how the kynge had sayd vnto hym and how he had offered for to fyght with two or thre and how that the kynge wolde do hym no ryght and wolde make hym to be sworne to his dysworshyp And whan Sydoyne vnderstode this it nedeth not to aske yf she had grete sorowe and sayd A god whiche ben these false tryatours flaterers that so grete vntrouth and lesynges haue contryued for by my fayth I dare swere in god that in our loue was neuer vnclenly thought But thus it is that enuye may neuer deye Madame said he by my fayth ye saye trouth But I wyll take my leue of you with as grete sorowe and heuynesse as euer toke knyghte of his lady A sayd she swete loue ye were better to make the othe for ye may do it surely and to put away all blame A madame sayd he neuer sholde I dare be sene in the countre where I was borne And neuer god wyll that I be the fyrste of kynges sones that sholde make an othe for it sholde be a reprefe to myn heyres for euer more Madame how moche that the body go the from you a whyle I shall be with you at the seuen yeres ende and I be a lyue yf soner I come not wherfore I praye you yf it please you to kepe you frome maryenge vnto that tyme ye may A sayd she how the terme is set longe and I shall be the whyle so sorowfull and shall haue so many heuy dayes sorowfull houres to suffre At these wordes she was all vanysshed fell in a swowne They had bothe theyr hertes soo heuy that with grete payne they myght speke saue onely that they embrased eche other and the teres fell downe fromr theyr eyen And Ponthus put his hatte before his eyen and departed and wente to his chambre and shytte the dore to hym and than his herte waxed all heuy and sayd to hymselfe y t he was the moost vnhappyest knyght that lyued whan suche a lady may receyue blame for hym without ony cause And also he leseth all Ioye for to leue y e countree and the syght of his lady where euer he gooth So he complayned and bewaylled hymselfe sorowfully whan he had ben a whyle in suche payne and sorowe he refrayned and enforced hymselfe to be of good chere yf he had sorowe Sydoyne had no lesse for she entred in to her garderobe and called Elyos with her whan she sawe no mo but they two and that they were alone than began her sorowe soo meruayllous grete that it was pyte to se. ¶ How Sydoyne complayned ryght pyteously the departynge of her louer Ponthus A Sayd she Elyos my loue he gooth his waye y e fayre the good y e floure of knyghthode and of curtesye and the best on lyue and the best instructe and he that hathe best maner of demeanynge amonge all maner
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
woman ryght charytable and whan she was in her warderobe there was none but she Elyos the poore man Than Sydoyne spake fyrst and sayd vnto hym Swete frende and loue who toke you the rynge that I founde in the cuppe I praye you tell me and hyde it not from me Wote ye not quod he to whome ye toke it to yes sayd she is he deed or a lyue tell me Truely sayd he he is on lyue She Ioyned her handes togyder thanked god and sayd lorde I thanke the of thy grace O madame wende ye that he were deed ye truly said she for Guenelet had soo affermed it ouer all Madame sayd he yf ye sawe hym what wolde ye saye what sholde I saye sayd she neuer erst befell me so grete Ioy as I sholde haue Whan he herde all this he fordyde no more his speche toke a cloth and rubbed his vysage anone she knewe hym A sayd she ye be Ponthus the thynge in the worlde that I moost loue nexte god my fader and ye be ryght welcome Than she had grete Ioy halfed hym A madame sayd he I haue grete Ioye y t ye be so well and rychely maryed and he sayd it for to assay her A my swete loue sayd she speke neuer therof for I shall neuer haue other than you yf it please you for to haue me for I swere to you bothe with mouthe and w t herte and so y ◠latter dede standeth for nought for the fyrste othe must be holden A madame thynke neuer for to take a poore man beggynge his brede and to leue a ryche kynge and a myghty I wolde neuer coūseyll you so for to acquyte your trouth Ryght dere knyght and loue sayd she I shall neuer haue other but you for I sholde be a thousande tymes more at hertes ease to suffre in youre felawshyp the pouerte dysease that ye suffre than all the rychesse with y e myghtyest kynge that is And yf ye haue ony pouerte or trybulacyon god hathe sente you for to assaye you the whiche after wyl sende you of rychesse more than euer ye had so that ye haue good truste in hym Whan Ponthus herde of the grete trouthe of Sydoyne and stedfastnes of her the teres fell from his eyen after smyled sayd Madame neuer truer nor better lady was there neuer than ye be I shall hyde no thynge fro you wete it for trouth that I haue more golde syluer and precyous stones Iewelles seuen tymes than hathe my lorde your fader and also I haue .xii. thousande men of armes waged for halfe a yere to conquere the realme that was my faders so dysmay you for no thȳge but I shall tell you what ye shall doo make Polydes my cosyn germayne for to lede you and that he kepe him with you and all my felowes suche as loue me and I shall come se you in suche araye Soo he tolde her how he sholde be arayed and ordeyned and I may no lenger abyde with you And toke his leue and folde her in his armes halsed her and yet durste not kysse nor desyre for to kysse her ¶ How Ponthus came to the Iustes and Iusted at auenture with the kynge of Burgoyne and ouerthrewe hym so that he dyed SO he wente his waye haltynge as he had ben a lame begger came to his man that abode him lepte vpon horsbacke came to the wode where as he had lefte his felawshyp whan they sawe hym in suche plyght they knewe hym not and some there were that wolde haue taken hym for a spye but he began to laughe sayd I am Ponthus quod he to them and than euery man knewe hym so there was game ynoughe Syr sayd the erle of Gloucestre almoost we had doo you shame how be ye thus dysguysed Fayre lordes quod he I dyde it for a cause I wolde not ben knowen Than ordeyned he y t euery man sholde arme them for to come to y e Iustes that they sholde come by ·xx by .xxx. to the scaffolde that none sholde Iuste but by his cōmaundement he tolde them of the maryage and of the grete feest that was there So Ponthus arayed hym and fourty knyghtes all in a sute of the best of the notablest of all his felawshyp And he tolde theym all his mater that he had to doo So they came to Iuste in the ranges the brytons the bourgoygnyons were sore ameruaylled what they were y t were so nobly arayed that so well Iusted And Sydoyne was come before to the scaffoldes with ladyes and gentylwomen Polydes ladde her by the brydel and therfore was Guenelet ryght wrothe that Polydes had taken it from hym saynge vnto him that she had so cōmaunded hym And she had tolde hym afore that he sholde se Ponthus his cosyn germayne wherfore Polydes had so grete Ioye that no herte myght thynke it and than she tolde it to all his felowes saue onely Guenelet wherfore they were all as Ioyous as they myght be it is not to for aske yf Sydoyne had all worldly Ioye in her herte So she sawe Ponthus comynge the whiche was more semelyer than ony other knyght more goodlyer he Iusted from ranke to ranke bette downe knyghtes horses and brake speres dyde meruayles in armes Sydoyne bowed downe to Polydes tolde hym Se ye yonder knyght armed in purple and asure with a whyte lady that holdeth a lyon enchayned ouer the lyon ben letters of golde that sayth God helpe the fourty felawes And they ben all in sute of hym saue onely they haue no letters of golde truely he with y e letters of golde is Ponthus your cosyn germayne and all the other ben of his felawshyp So Polydes helde hȳ with Sydoyne lyke as she had cōmaūded hym The kynge of bourgoyne came in to the felde vpon a grete Iennet of spayne he was rychely armed with hym forty knyghtes in a sute euery man his spere in his hande so they begā to renne Iuste And whan Ponthus sawe them he dressed hym towarde them and began to ouerthrowe bothe hors man soo that euery man was abasshed for to mete with hym The kynge of Brytayne y t was on the scaffoldes with the ladyes the olde knyghtes asked who was that goodly knyght that had the lady in his shelde holdeth a lyon enchayned with letters of golde and hath so many knyghtes in a sute euery body sayd that they wyste neuer saue that he hytteth none but that he ouerthroweth So he ouerthrowe beteth doune knyghtes and horses and what dedes of armes that he doth he is a stronge aduersary ▪ Truly the lady of Dueyl whiche was ryght wyse a fayre lady I sawe neuer no knyght erst y t coude soo well ryde an hors nor none y t resembled so moche Ponthus on whose soule god haue mercy Than sayd the kynge to Sydoyne
fayre doughter I wolde not that he sholde mete with your husbonde for I am aferde y t he sholde hurte hym for his strokes ben ouer harde My lorde sayd she yf he be wyse he shall kepe hym fro hyÌ„ for yonder knyght is to harde They had moche talkynge of Ponthus of his knyghthode but all they were in grete thought for to wete what he was It taryed not longe after y t Ponthus of auenture encountred with the kynge of bourgoyne so he sawe hym ryght nobly rychely arayed armed he thought well that it was the kynge or some grete lorde of Bourgoyne than he smote his horse with his spores and hytte hym in the myddes of y e shelde his spere was grete stronge so he toke hym as he whiche had ynoughe of strength and hardynes and in especyall to do dedes of armes before his lady that of soo longe tyme he had not sene her so the stroke was so grete that he bare the kynge ouer the croper of his hors that he loste the brydell of golde and that other was yonge and stronge bare hym backwarde fell in to a grete pytte full of stones and Ponthus wende for to haue lepte ouer but they fell all in so sore the kynge vndernethe all that he was deed and his hors deed The Bourgoynyons were all heuy and sory for theyr lorde and euery man cryed y e newe wedded kynge is deed Ponthus herde it y t whiche recked but lytell of it and no more dyde Sydoyne Ponthus alyghted of his hors and all his felowes wente vp vnto the scaffoldes and dyde of his helme and anone euery body knewe hym he came to Sydoyne and toke her by the hande and sayd Madame ye must be my prysoner saue ye shall haue good pryson She wexed reed and had grete Ioye in her herte an answered agayne yf I owe to be your prysoner I muste nedes suffre it The kynge was gone downe of the scaffoldes the whiche was ryght sory for the deth of the kynge of bourgoyne but whan it was tolde hyÌ„ that it was Ponthus that had done al the meruayles and y t he had takeÌ„ his doughter he was ryght Ioyfull sayd y e god hathe ordeyned y t he shall haue her we may gyue her to no better knyght for truly there is in hym so moche worthynes y t he is able to haue y e kyÌ„ges doughter of frauÌ„ce but truly I wende he had be deed as men dyd me to vnderstande Than he came ayenst Ponthus Ponthus sayd y t good lyfe gyue hym god as to his lorde there was grete Ioye bytwene them It is not to aske yf the lordes the ladyes made hym grete Ioye And his cosyn germayne and his felawes made hym grete Ioye saue Guenelet whiche made Ioye with mouth but not with herte The cyte and al the people thanked hyghly god sayd that god had vysyted them for we shall now haue a kynge whiche shall kepe vs from all harmes dyseases Grete was the Ioye of this auenture Ponthus helde with hym the erle of Gloucestre the erle of Wynchestre the erle of RychemouÌ„de dyuers other barons knyghtes of Englonde and all the remenaunt he sent to the shyppes The kynge made grete Ioye to these lordes and soo dyde Sydoyne and in especyall to the erle of Gloucestre the whiche was ryght a good knyght he asked hym of the welfare of the kynge of Englonde whiche was his cosyn The erle tolde hym of the auentures that was befall to the kynge to the realme how by the worthynes of Ponthus they had the ouer hande of the kynge of Irlonde and how that he toke hym in the myddes of all his men ledde hym awaye whether he wolde or not all the maner also how that he wolde not put hym to no raunsom but made a ê“eas bytwene bothe kynges And also the erle tolde hym how the soudans sone londed with grete nombre of people how they were by Ponthus dyscomfyted slayne how Ponthus wanne the grete tresoures of the sayd hethen kynge that be so grete that it is meruayll for to here for he had not cessed to robbe pyll vpon crysten londes well the space of .xii. yere After he tolde hyÌ„ how y t he named hyÌ„selfe Surdyt de driot voyce and made himselfe but a poore knyghtes sone Whan the kynge herde that he had so named hyÌ„selfe he auysed hym sayd that he dyde it bycause that he had aledged mater ayenst him and the name was by cause that he sholde haue his doughter and the cause that he named hyÌ„ de droit voyce bycause he wolde haue foughten with two or thre and many studyed vpon these names After the erle tolde the kynge how the kyÌ„ge of Englonde all his couÌ„seyll had offered Ponthus to haue Genneuer his eldest doughter to be kyÌ„ge after y e decesse of her fader in his lyfe to be gouernoure of Englonde how he exscused hyÌ„ wolde not be it And also he tolde hyÌ„ y t by a naked knyght he was knowen y t he was the sone of Harlant how the kynge all the lordes helde themselfe asshamed for y t they had done him no more worshyp than they dyde bycause he was a kynges sone The kynge of Brytayne had grete Ioye to here tell of the grete worshyp of Ponthus yet well more had Sydoyne the lordes y t were there for it was ryght a noble a good tale to here After y t the erle had tolde his tale the lordes of Brytayne called the kynge asyde sayd to hyÌ„ Syr what thynge wyll ye do do speke vnto Ponthus in haast y t he take your doughter than shall ye all your realme be well kepte for we be in doubte y t he wyll not take her bycause of y e kynges doughter of Englonde for y t is moche better maryage than this also he hath so grete tresoures ryches y t setteth but lytel by ony dauÌ„ger Fayre lordes sayd the kynge I praye you that ye wyl thynke theron for I desyre it moost of ony thyÌ„ke in the worlde for neuer erst befell vs so good an auenture Than wente the lordes comyned togyder and gaue the voyce to speke to the vycouÌ„t of lyon for to speke to Ponthus Syr they spake to hym ryght goodly how that he was fyrst saued in y e couÌ„tre of bryatayne and how that the kynge loued hym and how that by enuy false lesynges the kynge he were at debate how that the kynge was aged how that he was to lyght of byleue there is no man wtout some tatche And therfore y e kynge for the loue that he hath to you for the welth profyte of the countre he offreth you his doughter to be kynge after hym And Ponthus y t desyred none other thyÌ„ge answered Than
of margaretes that it was meruayll for to se the grete ryches that it was worthe for it was praysed more than thyrty thousande besauntes of golde The kyÌ„ge sawe theym and sayd to his doughter Fayre doughter ye be not maryed to prynce dyssheryted god hath gyuen hym and you fayre good and ryche and noble lo ye ought to thanke god After that Ponthus gaue to the kynge ryght fayre gyftes and good Iewelles as precyous stones perles and cuppes of golde and to the barons of Brytayne he gaue gyftes of golde ryches after that they were he was moche praysed for his grete gyftes and of his grete largesse The day of the maryage were the lordes of Englonde of Irlonde of scotlonde rychely arayed and they of brytayne dyde them grete worshyp Grete was the feest grete was the Ioye of mynstrelles and of heraldes Grete gyftes gaue them Ponthus There was many rhynges bytwene y e courses And there were made many meruayllous thynges Ponthus made auowe whiche was moche spoken of for he sayd thus bycause that men sholde nâ—t saye the kynges doughter hath taken a man without londe therfore I make myne auowe that neuer shal I come in her bedde tyll that I be lorde of the realme and londe whiche was my faders crowned or elles I shall dye therfore And I auowe to god y t I neuer kyssed her nor requyred her of thynge that sholde tourne to disworshyp whan that I departed out of this countree nor thought more to doo vnto her than vnto myne owne moder Soo he sayd thus bycause of the wordes the kynge had meued before tyme for the whiche he departed from brytayne And whaÌ„ Sydoyne wyste y t he had made this auowe she was ryght Ioyfull therof all thoughe she had leuer haue had his felawshyp so it was moche spokeÌ„ of some sayd that he was a ryght good man and a trewe knyght and some sayd that he had delayed the grete frendshyp disporte that she supposed to haue hadde with hym Than sayd the kynge in good fayth I was to hasty to byleue suche tales so lyghtly The feest was ryght grete but the kynge wolde not that yere sholde be Iustes for the auenture of that befell of the kynge of bourgoyne for fere that some myschefe sholde haue befallen And than they began to synge daunce and made many geÌ„tylmanly dysportes And at euen Ponthus came in to the chambre to Sydoyne and said vnto her A my swete loue all my Ioye my herte my lyfe all my sustynaunce I haue ben to hasty of the auowe that I haue made but in good fayth I made it for to saue your worshyp for the wycked tongues of the worlde are alwaye redy to reporte the worste And for trouth my fayre loue I shall suffre greter dysease than ony body for the grete desyre that I haue to be bytwene your armes but god wyll I shall be there hasty for it is the gretest desyre that myne herte hath My swete loue and lorde sayd she wote it well that all your pleasure is myne we ought to desyre no thyÌ„ge so moche as worshyp and good name so ye haue done well for to put awaye the doubte of the mysse sayers Inoughe they talked togyder than they halsed and kyssed there was moche Ioye feestynge of armes tyll the .xv. dayes were passed There was y e monstre and the brytons were nombred foure thousande fyue hondred armed men And of the normans twelue hondred and were all waged payed for syxe monethes It was a fayre thynge for to se theym assemble with the nauy of Englonde ¶ How Ponthus departed from Brytayne for to go â—onquere his countree PPonthus toke his leue of y e kynge and of Sydoyne And by flatery this Guenelet dyde soo moche that he abode with the kynge with Sydoyne as all gouernour keper of them And Ponthus toke hym a party of his tresoure to kepe So at the departynge there was wepynge ynoughe of Sydoyne and of the ladyes Ponthus kyssed her toke his leue and betoke her the moost parte of his Iowelles rychesse to kepe Than he departed wente by londe passed by nauntes came to sable danlon to derbendelles there was his grete nauy And there arryued Geffrey de lesygnen Androwe de la toure with grete felawshyp And than Ponthus receyued theym with grete Ioye as the two knyghtes straungers of the worlde that he loued beste than he gaue theym grete gyftes And than came Guyllam de roches a good knyghte Paraunt de rocheforte the lorde de douay Pyers de donne Gerarde de chateau goutyer Iohn meleurier with the herupoys Of the manseaus beaunmount la vale Sygles de doncelles and other of the countre of mayne Of Tourayne baussay mayle hay of other tourangeaus Of poytw the vycount of toures the erles brother of marche maulyon chastemur la garnache dyuers other Ponthus gaue them grete gyftes that they all were abasshed of his largesse sayd that there was none to serue hym he is worthy to conquere and to gouerne all the worlde by his grete courtesye and largesse To euery baron knyght he delyuered shyppes after that they had people And than they toke the see and departed with grete Ioy. It taryed not longe that all the nauy assembled soo it was a good syght to se the shyppes and the sayles drawen vp that it semed a grete forest So they had wynde at wyll passed the yle of doloron And whan they were a .vi. myle from the columpne Ponthus made the ancres for to be caste and all the shyppes to abyde he sayd to the lordes to the chyefteynes it were good to entre in to the countre by nyght for the mone shyneth and therfore lette vs londe a thre or foure myle from columpne and than to withdrawe our nauy agayne for I wolde not sayd Ponthus that they of y e countree sholde knowe vs for certayne causes Than he ordeyned aboute y e sonne goynge downe that they sholde departe and so they dyde And soo they londed a foure myle frome the cyte of columpne Whan they were londed they sente theyr shyppes in to the hyghe see bycause that they sholde not be aspyed Than they hydde them in a valey vnder a grete wood and helde themselfe as preuy as they myght ¶ How Ponthus founde his vncle the Erle of desture syr Patrycke y e knyght in a chapell by columpne THan Ponthus toke an hors rode out at the wood syde for to se yf he myght fyÌ„de ony man of the couÌ„tree for to wete and to knowe the rule of the londe So it befell y t he came to a lytell chapell ryght deuoute It happened of fortune y t the erle of desture Ponthus vncle syr Patrycke y e knyght y t saued him his .xiii. felawes were rysen afore day So these two knyghtes loued togyder as bretherne and they
hadde saued the people from the deth made them to yelde trybute to the hethen kynge in abydynge the mercy of god of theyr delyuernaunce Soo they were vp before day to come on pylgrymage to that chapell that they sholde not be aspyed of y e sarasynes So it befell whā Ponthus sawe y e chapell he wente thyder and a lyght and wente in and it was in the sprynge of the daye so he loked and sawe two men knelynge before y e auter for the whiche he had grete Ioye for he supposed they were crysten men syth they were in y e chapell in theyr prayers And whan y e two knyghtes herde hym come they were sore aferde wende to haue ben aspyed of the sarasynes And Ponthus asked theym what they were name you hardely tell me what ye be what lawe ye holde of sayd Ponthus god wyll I shal not hyde my name nor my god for in good fayth I am a crysten man thā sayd his vncle ye be ryght welcome for your felawshyp pleaseth vs well also we be crysten men in herte but we pray you that ye well tell vs what ye be In good fayth sayd he my name is Ponthus I was y e kȳge of galyce sone whan his vncle the erle of desture herde it he ranne to hym his armes abrode and halfed hym kyssed hym and sayd A my ryght dere neuewe blessyd be god that he hath gyuen me the grace that I may se you or I dye Whan Ponthus sawe that he was his vncle felte the good chere and the good wyll y t he made hym he had grete Ioye sayd vnto hym For the loue of god syr what ye gyue me grete Ioy in myn herte yf it be as ye say The day began for to wexe clere so eche of them knewe other and whan they knewe they kyssed wepte bothe two neyther myght speke a worde whan they myght speke the erle sayd A fayre lorde neuewe how durst ye come hyder thus allone for yf ye be aspyed ye are lyke to be deed Fayre vncle sayd he I am not allone but I haue here with me more than .xxviii. thousande men of armes as of the floure of Englonde of Scotlonde of Irlonde of Brytayne of other countrees aboute Whan his vncle herde it he kneled downe and Ioyned his handes thanked god hyghly of his grace than he tolde hym the gouernaunce of the londe how the countre and the people were saued but that they yelde trybute to the kynge Broadas And than he shewed hym syr Patrycke the knyght that had saued hym And they twayne had saued all the countre Ponthus came to hym toke hym in his armes and sayd that he was all his So they spake ynough of dyuers thynges And Ponthus ledde theym for to se his meyny and whan they sawe them they had grete Ioy It behoueth sayd the two knyghtes that ye ordeyne you your bataylles And so he made his ordynaunce and set in a valey foure thousande men of armes that whan the kynge sholde come out of the towne for to fyght they sholde fall behynde hym that he sholde not withdrawe agayne to y e towne And also they delyuered to syr Patrycke fyue hondred men of armes for to laye in a certayne place that whan the kynge all his power were come out of the twone they sholde go in as thoughe they were sente for to kepe the towne and thus it was ordeyned amonge theym Than sayd syr Patrycke fayre lordes this assemble is made by the pourueyaunce of god that hath sente vs Ponthus the ryghtfull lorde of this countree The Erle of desture sawe his sone Polydes y t whiche was a ryght goodly knyght so he kyssed hym and made hym grete Ioye Than sayd the erle of desture lorde sette you in ordynaunce for I shall goo tell the kynge Broad as that crysten men are entred for to robbe this countre he shall come out with as many men as he may shall come rennynge without ony ordynaūce wherfore he shall be the more easy for to dyscomfyte And sende ye forth a lytell balyngere for to fetche a thre score shyppes to come to the londe sette some hous on fyre soo he shall not knowe of your grete power wherfore he shall come all dysarayed without makynge ony ordynaunce Than the Erle toke his leue and departed came to the towne reght erly he came to the kynge as a man afrayed the kynge rose vp and he salewed hym by mahowne than he sayd to the kynge Syr the crysten men be come for to pyll and to robbe your countre and they ben but two myle frome the towne be they many sayd the kynge Syr I wote neuer but as I may apperceyue there ben a thre score shyppes Fye sayd he be they no more by mahowne in an euyll tyme be they come So I shall tell you for I dremed this nyght that I became a grete blacke wolfe and y t ye set vpone me a grete whyte greyhounde a braket and y t the greyhounde slewe me A syr sayd the erle to the kynge ye oughte not to byleue in dremes ye saye trouth sayd the kynge Go and make to blowe vp the trumpettes do crye that euery man do arme them Soo we shall take the fals rybaudes and robbers on the see the whiche I shall make them all to be slayne and to be drawen at the hors tayles Ye saye well sayd the erle whiche thought it sholde not go soo The erle wente forth armed hym made to crye that euery man sholde arme them So euery man armed them and lepte on horsbacke The kȳge was rychely armed and wente out of the towne without makynge of ony ordynaunce but who so myght go wente Soo there wente forth mo than .xii. thousande on horsbacke with out fote men archers arbelasters of suche as had none horses ¶ How Ponthus slewe Broadas y t slewe his fader Ponthus had ordened his bataylles sette in a valey foure thousande mē of armes for to fall bytwene them the towne And syr Patrycke came with his fyue hondred fyghters in to a preuy place for to wynne the towne he abode tyl that he sawe his tyme to departe The kynge smote his hors w t the spores to y t parte where he sawe y e smoke towarde y e see and sawe not past a .iii. score shyppes now on them they be all shente theyr god shall neuer saue theym but y t they shall dye an euyll deth he abode not tyll he was passed the place where the .iiii. thousande men were than he behelde afore hym sawe y e grete bataylles in ordynaūce so he was ameruayled of this dede wende to haue withdrawen hȳ for to haue set his men in ordynaūce he ordeyned a grete party for he was a wyse knyght an hardy in armes and as he made his ordynaunce he herde
for some of them dyde yelde them and were conuerted Ponthus gaue them good ynough to lyue vpon and the remenaūt that myght flee they fledde wherof some were slayne by y e spanyardes and by theym of y e realme of Castyle other perysshed in dyuers places myscheuously Wherof y e Sowdan of babyloyne was syth ryght sorowfull for to haue loste thus his thre sones and his men he was ryght angry with mahowne sayd before all men as a man out of his wytte that the god crucyfyed had ouercome hym that he was of greter vertue than mahowne whan he hadde not saued his sones his men And so there was grete complaynt for theym in babyloyne in damaske Ponthus made leches to be sought for to hele the people that were woūded and hurte in the batayll hymselfe vysyted them often made men to brȳge them all that theym neded he fested felawshypped the lordes and gaue theym grete gyftes And also he founde in a toure the grete tresour of kynge Broadas the whiche was a grete thynge to tell And whan he had ouer ryden the countre and clensed of the mysoyleuers he founde moche people the londe well laboured bothe of vynes and of cornes From all the countrees the people came rennynge for to se theyr ryghtfull lorde as it had ben to myracles they loued hym well for his grete renowne and worthynes his bounte and his courtesye for there was none so symple nor so poore but that he wolde speke to here hym mekely he was ryght pyteuous of the poore people he loued god and holy chyrche And whan he had done all his dedes he came to the columpne to his crownacōn where he was full solemply crowned by the handes of the bysshop at whiche daye he helde a notable a royall feest And thyder came to hym the kynge of Aragon his vncle that was his moders brother the whiche had grete Ioye to se hym of his vyctorye he tolde hym how kynge Broadas had warred vpon hym and how there was takē a trewes bytwene them for a certayne tyme in to the tyme that god had set remedye and thrughe his grace he hath ryght well purueyed of the pyte by you Thus complayned the kynge to his neuewe yet he tolde hym that he abode y e comynge downe of the kynge of Fraūce the kynge of spayne that sholde haue come this somer but I thanke god it is now no nede The feest was grete of the kynges crownacyon there was made many straunge thynges The grete lordes of the countre they came dyde theyr homage And also the fayre ladyes hadde grete Ioye that they were comen out of hell and of seruage where as they had lyued in sorowe heuynes now they be aswaged in to Ioye myght in to paradyse as them semeth They lyked well theyr kynge in so moche that they had Ioye to loke vpon hym and all maner of people thanked god hyghly of theyr delyueraunce There was songes and many mynstrelsyes whiche were to longe to tell ¶ How Ponthus knewe his moder amonge y e poore people that wente askȳnge theyr brede for goddes sake how he put his crowne vpon her heed THe kynge dyde brynge presente by .xii. fayre ladyes and .xii. olde knyghtes grete gyftes Iowelles to the good knyghtes chyeftaynes some of fayre coursers other of fayre cuppes of golde and syluer of fayre clothes of golde of sylke and many other grete Iowelles soo y t all men were ameruaylled of his largesse He was a man ryght pleasaunt and of grete courtesye of good condycyons So there befel a grete meruayll for the custome was that before the kynge sholde be serued .xiii. poore people for the loue of god and his apostles So it befell the erle wente vysytynge the tables as god wolde he behelde the table of the poore people and sawe a woman that loked vpon the kynge as she behelde hym the teeres fell downe frome her eyen The erle loked vpon her auysed her so wel that by a token she had in her chynne he knewe well that it was y e quene moder vnto kȳge Ponthus And whan he knewe her sawe her in so poore estate that her gowne was all to clouted and all to rente he myght not kepe hym from wepȳge so his herte swymmed for pyte to se her in soo poore araye And whan he myght speke he thanked god and wente behynde the kynge his neuewe sayd to hym Syr here is a grete meruayll wherof sayd the kynge The best and y e holyest lady that I knowe my lady the quene your moder is here in where is she sayd he and he with grete payne myght tell hym for pyte and whan he myght speke he tolde hym in counseyll Syr se her yonder w t the .xiii. poore folke at y e fyrst ende and y e kynge Ponthus behelde her and she apperceyued it and put her hode afore her eyen wepte And the kynge had grete pyte in his herte and sayd vnto his vncle Fayre vncle make noo semblaunt that none aspye it but whan we are vp fro the table I shall goo in to the warderobe thyder brynge her pryuely to me and so it was done Whan the tables were taken vp and graces yelden to god the kynge departed pryuely and wente in to his warderobe and the Erle of desture his vncle brought thyder the quene his moder pryuely And whan kyge Ponthus sawe her he kneled downe before her toke his crowne set it on her heed And she toke hym vp all wepynge kyssed hym often she kyssed hym and halsed hym sore they wepte she her sone the erle And whan they myghte speke kynge Ponthus sayd vnto her A madame so moche pouerte and dysease ye haue suffred endured A my swete knyght and sone sayd she I am come out of the paynes of hell and god hath gyuen me paradyse whan it hath pleased hym to gyue me soo longe lyfe that I may se you with myne eyen and that I se vengeaunce for my lorde your fader that tho tyraūtes put to the deth and also that I se the countree voyded of the messebyleuers and the holy lawe of Ihesu cryste to be serued I wote well that this trouble and sorowe hath endured well a .xiii. yere as by chastysynge of god for the grete delytes lustes that were vsed in this realme soo me semeth now that god hath mercy on his people that he hath kepte you and sente you for to delyuer the countre of the mysbyleuers Ryght well spake the quene wysely as an holy lady that she was Now I praye you sayd the kȳge tell me how ye escaped how ye were saued Fayre sone I shal tell you whan y e crye was grete in the towne in y e mornynge your fader slayne I was in my bedde your fader armed
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
vnto Guenelet that better he myght not besette her And for to make the maryage he gaue hym all his tresour that he broughte out of Englonde The letters were ryght well deuysed in the letter of quene Sydoyne was how he prayed her and requyred her for the loue that was bytwene theÌ„ that she wolde take Guenelet his cosyn And whan the kynge his doughter sawe the letters it is not to aske of the greate sorowe that they made heuynesse Quene Sydoyne swowned ofte wepte wysshed after hym the whiche myght not out of her mynde she drewe and rente her fayre heere and made so grete sorowe that it was pyte to se So the ladyes all the couÌ„tre were in grete heuynes for hym and sayd Alas what domage what pyte the floure of knyghthode the floure of all gentylnes my roure of all good maners And the comyn people they wepte sorowed for theyr frendes for theyr kynnefor they wende y t they all had ben deed There myght no man comforte quene Sydoyne Alas sayd she he where as all bounte trouth dwelled in by whome I thought to haue all Ioye the whiche was so free so true loued me so well and was so lykly to haue holde the people in rest peas how hath god suffred suche an auenture ayenst hym and ayenst me Alas so rowfull creature what shall I do So there was none so harde an harte but that he sholde haue had pyte on her This sorowe dured more than eyght dayes with out ony cessynge And Guenelet came and sayd to the kynge how that kynge Ponthus requyred hym that he sholde gyue hym his doughter soo he flatered hym ryght fayre sayd that he sholde serue hym her and worshyp them kepe them and the realme And that kynge Ponthus had gyuen hym golde syluer more than the realme was worthe So he offred it to hyÌ„ sayd Syr I praye you go speke with your doughter that she wyll consent The kyÌ„ge was aged so he wyste not what to saye And Guenelet dyde so moche by his subtyll wytte that he made the kynge to consent The kynge came to his doughter and comforted her in the fayrest wyse that he myght sayd vnto her that dyscomforte dyde but greue her without ony helpe to her nor to his realme And syth that kynge Ponthus requyred it that she sholde haue Guenelet that for the loue of hym And for the grete tresour that he hadde gyuen hym also that he sholde obey vnto hym and kepe his realme for sayd the kyÌ„ge he is wyse shall abyde in this realme for to rule it for yf I gaue you to ony kynge he wolde lede you in to his countre soo sholde this londe abyde without ony gouernoure whan quene Sydoyne had herde her fader thus speke she hadde grete meruayll sayd that god be pleased he shall not be her husbonde and that she sholde rather dye And than the kyÌ„ge that loued her soo moche sayd â—yth that it pleaseth you not ye shall not haue hym but â—adde her be of good comforte Soo he came to Guenelet and sayd his doughter wolde haue none husbonde at this tyme. O sayd Guenelet refuseth she me it shall not be al at her wyll So he came to her made moche of her gaue her fayre langage how that he thought to serue her to obey her she to be lady of all that no thynge shall be done in the realme but by her commaundement how he hath the tresoure of her sayd lorde that was wonne vpon the sarasynes the whiche was gyuen hym by his letters Moche made he of her and flatered her but alwaye it auaylled not for she swore vnto hym that she sholde not be wedded of all that yere for man that speketh with tongue O said he yf your fader coÌ„mauÌ„de you wyll ye dysobey hym My lorde may coÌ„maunde me what soeuer it pleaseth hym sayd she but for to dye I shal abyde all this yere after say I not but that I wyll obey hym ye said Guenelet make ye refuse of me wyll ye not obey the letters of your forsayd lorde the whiche ye desyred and loued soo moche that there was no thynge but that ye wolde do for hym And syth ye lyste not to obey hym nor to his prayer nor to his letter also ye lyste not to obey the coÌ„maundement of your fader By y e fayth I owe to hym but yf ye take other counseyll I doubte that ye wyll be angred so he thretened her whan by fayrenes he myght not haue her And than he sayd syth that he hath the letter of her forsayd lorde and the consent of the kynge her fader that she sholde do it whyther she wolde or not ye sayd she am I in that partye ye sayd he by my fayth ye shal se what shal befall Rather said she I shall suffre euery lymme of me to be hewen from other ye sayd he it shall be sene all betyme So he departed as a mad man for he wened not to fayle of her Quene Sydoyne was all abasshed thought in her herte that it was not the fyrst treason y t he had done SooÌ„ she thought well that the letters sholde be falfe for other tymes he had done vnderstonde y t kyÌ„ge Ponthus thus was deed so called she two squyers .iii. yemen of her chambre that she had called Elyos and two other gentylwomen sayd vnto them that doubted her of Guenelet shewed them how he was hote wenynge to haue her eyther by fayre or by foule for he is malycious perauenture he wolde werke by stryngth So I haue purposed we shall go in to yonder toure and do bere thyder some vytayll there shall we abyde vnto y e tyme we haue some rescowe of our frendes or some of the barons or elles haue herde the trouth of my lorde kynge Ponthus ¶ How Guenelet menassed Sydoyne the whiche had drawen in to a toure THey dyde bere brede wyne in botelles and barelles in pottes flesshe chese all thyÌ„ge that theym neded as longe as they had layser than they shette the dore with y e barres bare vp rockes stones for to defende it for Guenelet had thought for to take it ayenst her wyll for to haue done her outrage yf she wolde not haue consented So he came in to her chambre and whan he founde her not he serched the warderobe where he founde a gentylwoman whiche tolde hym she was withdrawen in to the toure how she had vytaylled it and stuffed it And whan he herde it he loked as a madman and came before the toure prayed her full fayre that she sholde open hym the dore swore by his fayth that he wolde not mysse doo her but quene Sydoyne whiche knewe well his vntrouth sayd that he sholde not come in But whan he sawe that
he myght not come in by that meane he thretened her sore and swore that he sholde take her by force make her his wenche yf she wolde not be his wyfe badde her chose whiche that she wolde A said she whiche that was angry to here tho vngoodly wordes Traytoure thou shalte not come therto and god wyll for thou shalte dye an euyll deth for this false enterpryse Than he waxed angry and sayd syth that he had done so moche he wolde fynysshe it what soo euer befall Soo he toke the kynge and put hym in pryson for fere that he sholde gader no men of armes ayenst hym And than he came to the bourgeys sayd vnto hym how quene Sydoyne was gyuen hym of her husbonde by good letters also the kynge her fader was accorded therto hycause that she wolde haue be wedded to a man of nought the whiche wolde haue hated and dystroyed y e countre but sayd he yf I haue her I shall kepe the fraunchyses and lybertees shall kepe you as golde doth the stone So I haue set the kynge in a chambre for he is al doted and hath no wytte he wolde lyghtly consente vnto the lewde courage of his doughter wherby the countre sholde be loste yf it befell as they thynke but I shal kepe them well therfro with goddes helpe youres for to saue the welfare of brytayne So he gaue largely to them that he supposed myght noye hym he dyde it in suche wyse wenynge to them that he had sayd trouth wherfore they durste not ones aryse nor meue and also he had many straunge sowdyours ¶ How Guenelet made to assayle the toure where as Sydoyne was in WHan he had spoken with the bourgeys and y e people he came to the toure assayled it So there was within but .v. men foure women that threwe downe grete stones defended the toure well also there was the moost parte of them y t dyde but fayne for they wolde not that she sholde be taken The assaute lasted a grete whyle And whaÌ„ Guenelet had fayled he was ryght sorowfull angry thought at y e leest he wolde haue enfamysshed them In good fayth sayd quene Sydoyne we haue vytayll ynoughe for a moneth or more in the meane tyme god shall helpe vs and sende vs rescowes And whan Guenelet vnderstode her he wende to haue renne madde for anger for he was all dystraught bycause he fayled of his purpose wolde wysshed y t he had neuer begon but syth that he hath vndertaken it he wyll fynysshe it or elles dye therfore Soo he set good watche wardes aboute the toure that there sholde no vytayll come to them than he bethought hym of a grete malyce for he came to the kynge prayed hym that he wolde go to his doughter for he woteth well y t he sholde tourne her of her foly that she hath taken in honde and tolde hym that he wolde not famysshe her but fall to a trety The kynge was good trewe thought none harme but wente to his doughter tolde her how she was in waye to be deed shewed her many ensamples And she answered hym to the contrary how he thought well the letters were false and ye wote well sayd she that other tymes hath he sayd that he was deed Soo I shall rather dye but yf I knowe y e very trouth In good fayth sayd the kynge it may well be as ye saye for I knowe no man of knowlege that hath ben there and harde it is where as none escapeth So they ben somwhat comforted for the grete vntrouth that they knowe in hym Guenelet asked the kyÌ„ge that he sawe aboue at the wyndowe Syr what wyll she doo Soo helpe me god sayd the kynge I may not spede for she is yet all sorowfull and angry for her lorde wherfore I may haue no good answere No sayd Guenelet by the holy fayth ye shall abyde with her and bere her felawshyp for to ete pesen plommes for ye shall bothe two dye for honger or I shall haue her So the kynge abode with his doughter wherfore she had the soner pyte for the honger and dysease of her fader Foure dayes or fyue they had mete ynoughe but at the syxte day theyr vytaylles fayled them for them had neyther brede nor flesshe So they were two dayes that they ete no mete saue a lytell chese eche of theÌ„ a draught of wyne The kynge began to feble sore Quene Sydoyne had noo more but syxe apples wherof she gaue her fader euery daye two she wepte and sorowed for the grete dysease that her fader was in and that dyde her more sorowe than her owne So loked ofte tymes out at a wyndowe towarde y e see yf she myght se ony thynge come Soo she wysshed ofte tymes after her lorde kynge Ponthus and than she wepte and made grete sorowe desyrynge her owne dethe sayd to the kynge A my lorde it had ben better for you that I had ben deed longe ago than to gyue you suche a payne or that ye had suffred so moche honger for me The kynge wepte and sayd I had leuer dye fâ—r honger rather than yonder traytour sholde haue you by this meane Quene Sydoyne called hym and sayd fals traytour how mayst thou suffre the kynge to dye whiche is soo good a man Alas sayd she is it y e norture that he hath made of the whan thou hast besyeged makest him to dye for honger and for thurste that often tymes hathe gyuen the good mete and drynke is this the guerdon that thou yeldest hym She sayd hym moche shame but it auaylled noo thynge for he made his othe that he sholde made hym too dye for veray greate honger yf she wolde not consente to be his The kynge dyed almoost for honger laye in his bedde and myght not stere And whaÌ„ quene Sydoyne behelde hym she sayd that she had leuer dye or languysshe all her lyfe than her fader sholde dye for her than she sayd vnto hym wepyÌ„ge My ryght swete lorde fader I may no lenger suffre your sorowe nor the honger ye abyde I haue leuer to for dye or elles to be in sorowe al my lyf languysshynge than to se you in this plyght The kynge wepte and wyste neuer what to saye for to se that he sholde haue his doughter by this waye it greued hym sore on the other syde to se hymselfe dye her togyder it dyde hyÌ„ harme for they sholde be cause of theyr owne dethe So he sorowed sore sayd that he had to longe lyued so he coude not counseyll hymselfe sayd vnto her Fayre doughter I wote neuer how we may be auysed nor what counseyll I may gyue you so moche sorowe I haue but for to se you dye I may not suffre it And I wolde that the deth toke me so that kynge Ponthus were on lyue
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