syght of the worlde tyl the enmy of goodnes and mankynde by incessaunt enuy had ouerthroweÌ„ caste her in his snare as here after ensueth in thy story ¶ How by lechery and temptaÌ„cyon of the deuyll the kynge voyled his doughter Ca. ij Lucidas Anthiogê° AS this mayden was comen vnto the age for to be maryed kynges / prynces / dubes / erles / and many other grete and noble estates came for to haue her in maryage The kynge made his counseyle for to be assembled for to knowe what man was moost conuenable for to haue his doughter Durynge this tyme the kynge by euyll enchauffemeÌ„t and by temptacyon of the deuyll fyxed and set his loue on his doughter / and by the inextynguybl persecucyoÌ„s and prouocacyoÌ„s of the enemy he was moeued in his slepe / arose in a mornynge at the sprynge of the day and entred in to his doughters chambre coÌ„maunded all that were there for to yssue out in makynge semblaunt that he wolde speke with her in secrete for certayne thynges to her be houe and prouffite And he abydyng alone with her of ardaunt desyre put hymselfe in bedde with her / and she doubtynge his inhumanyte durst not gaynsay hym And so moche he dyde that he not onely maculed her bedde / but also he bereft the treasure of her vyrgynyte left her dystytute of all consolacyon tenderly wepynge / so yssued out of her chambre Thus as she lameÌ„ted wepte her nouryse entred in to the chambre founde her in grete desolacyon and demauÌ„ded her the cause of her waylynge The poore lady durst not relate it for thabhomynacyon that she had in the fayt The nouryse than began for to say A my moost honourable of me so well beloued lady doughter knowe ye that my lyege lady your moder left you vnto me whaÌ„ she passed this lyfe / I that so moche loue you and haue so derely holden tenderly nourysshed prayeth you for to tell me the cause of your dyscomforte WhaÌ„ the lady herde that she prayed her so swetely she sayd A ryght dere moder and nouryse this same day I haue had the gretest losse of the fayrest and rychest Iewell that I had / that is the treasoure of my chaÌ„bre vyrgynall / for it is corrupte defyled or euer I had ony treaty of maryage The nourysse than sayd / who is he that hath ben so hardy suche a thyÌ„ge to vndertake to the dyshonour of the kynge of his realme / began for to crye / but the lady sayd A my nourysse for god mercy / for yf ye say ony thynge I am but deed you also For suche hath done it that it is not conuenyent for to say And to th ende that ye knowe it was my lorde my fader the whiche this day came hyder / and so she recounted all the maner and fayt vnto her nourysse / and prayed her for to holde it secrete And than the nourysse began for to appease the lady shewynge her that the kynge bare the culpe synne AS this cursed kynge had accoplysshed this horryble synne as it is abouesayd he shewed semblaunce before his people as good and debonayre vnto his doughter / and that he was in mynde for to enquyre for some noble man for to gyue his doughter in maryage / the which thynge he thought not / but he purposed that his doughter shold remayne alway with hym in the inhumayne synÌ„e And to eschewe and cause that none sholde haue her / and for to fere them that shold demaunde her he purpensed a falacious polycy cautelous wyle / and made a preposycyon in this wyse He that shall haue my doughter to wyfe shall be called sapyent worthy to haue a kynges doughter / he that feleth hymselfe vnable and ygnoraunt in the solucyon of my questyoÌ„ lete hym not prease to it / for I shall do smyte of his heed as nought worthy for to haue a kynges doughter The which preposycyon he dyde do set at the gates of the cyte For this preposycyon neuertheles many kynges / dukes / erles / baroÌ„s / other grete lordes put them in dauÌ„ger for the beaute of his doughter dystytute of the solucyon of the kynges qestyon And whan they founde not the solucyon of the questyon the kynge made for to smyte of theyr heedes without mercy accordynge to his preposycyoÌ„ / and made them to be put out of the cyte to th ende that they which came for to haue his doughter myght take exaÌ„ple / for to euyte the demauÌ„de of her ¶ How kynge Appolyn assoyled the questyon of kynge Anthiogus of Anthyoche Ca. iij. THe kynge of Anthyoche aforenamed ledde his lyfe in that abhomynable synÌ„e of lechery by the space of loÌ„ge tyme. So it happened that the renowne of the beaute of the lady passed thrugh the regyoÌ„s adiacent and neyghbours tyll it came to the eeres of Appolyn kynge of Thyre whiche was a maÌ„ fayre / yonge / ioyous / eloquent / and a ryght good clerke / also he was a bacheler This kynge herynge of the damoysell aforesayd toke on hym for to assoyle the questyon And came tofore kynge Anthiogus salued hym honourably WhaÌ„ the kynge of Anthyoche sawe hym he doubted hym more than ony of the other for his wysdome to hym sayd Appolyn I knowe well wherfore thou arte comeÌ„ All they that haue wyues ben acquyted AppolyÌ„ answered / that that ye saye is the laste ende of the cause / for I haue no wyfe / but I desyre for to haue your doughter in maryage WhaÌ„ the kynge herde Appolyn thus speke he was so abasshed that he wyst not what to do / and thaÌ„ he sayd Appolyn thou knowest not the condycyons to haue my doughter Appolyn sayd I haue sene them wryteÌ„ at the portall of this cyte / and therfore the ryght shall be sene yf it please god The kynge of Anthyoche than had grete indygnacyon euyll wyll towarde kynge Appolyn / and vnto hym sayd Appolyn take hede vnto my questyon for it is doubtable / and here it is ¶ Grete synne do I vse / the flesshe of my moder I abuse I demaunde broder dere / yf I touche my fader nere I as husbande to my wyfe bynde / and agaynst nature I do kynde APpolyn vnderstandynge the questyon wtdrewe hym a lytell praynge god with good herte / so moche he dyde that he fouÌ„de the solucyoÌ„ / than came to the kynge and sayd Kynge of Anthyoche herkeÌ„ to my solucyon The kyng was ryght dolente of his wordes / and Appolyn sayd In that thou sayest that thou vsest synÌ„e thou sayest sothe / for thou holdest thy doughter in synÌ„e as I vnderstaÌ„de Anthiogus doubtynge that by Appolyn his synÌ„e shold be dysclosed he sayd vnto hym furyously Certes AppolyÌ„ thou arte ferre fro my questyon / well thou hast deserued for to lose thy heed / but of a specyall grace I gyue the .xxx.
forthwith he dyde sende them vnto Archycastres his doughter by Appolyn the whiche after salutacyon made presented them vnto-Archycastres saynge All the souerayne celestyall goddes gyue you good lyfe and Ioye The kynge your moost wel beloued fader greteth your ladyship by me symple and vnworthy seruaunt sendynge you these rolles for to certyfye whiche of the two prynces ye seme best vnto your honour and preemynence And whan the damoysell sawe herde the noble Appolyn speke so demurely and sawe the goodly countenaunce of hym and his behauoure she hadde grete Ioye and sayd Gentylman how ben ye comen here al alone without company or felawshyp Madame sayd Appolyn My lorde the kynge your fader sent me hyder with these two rolles and prayeth you that ye sende bryefly the responce Than the damoysell toke the rolles of Appolyn and began for to rede them / and whan she had redde theym she stode styll and sayd no worde / and than she behelde Appolyn in castynge a grete sygh and after she sayd vnto hym By the faythe of your body wolde ye not haue grete dolour in your herte yf I toke you to husbande and leue all other lordes for your sake Appolyn the whiche thought no harme answered and sayd Certes madame I sholde haue grete Ioye yf ye hadde suche a prynce to your make as vnto your hyghnes apperteyneth for there can none be to bountefull for your persone / for yeare parfyte in beaute / bounte / and scyence Certaynly sayd the damoysell Archicastres yf that ye loued me as moche as I loue you at the herte and courage ye wolde not saye as ye do for nothȳge And whan she hadde fynisshed her wordes she toke paper penne and ynke and by grete hardynesse of loue that enbraced her herte towarde Appolyn she wrote a lettre conteynynge the feruent desyre and amourous prouocacions of her mynde and sealed it with a knotte of loue / and than she gaue it vnto Appolyn her loue for to bere it to her fader / and the wrytynge sayd thus MY moost redoubted and of me moost honoured my lorde my fader syth that it hath pleased your grace for to wryte your mynde and voluntary goodnes vnto me your humble doughter and handmayden for myn honour and felycyte that is for to put me to the choyse of one of the two noble prynces for to elect and take to lorde and make / I indygne sauf onely by the feate of your hyghnes wherof I inwardly thanke you But knowe ye that I wyll and yf it please your haboundaunt bounte haue hym the whiche hath passed the daungerous vndes and perylles of the see / all other to refuse And meruayle you not of me so symple a vyrgyn without shame dyshonoure to haue wryten vnto you my wyll whiche I durste not shewe by the relacyon of my tonge ¶ How Appolyn bare lettres vnto the kynge Ca. xv Kynge Appolyn AS the lettre was made and sealed Appolyn receyued it of the fayre damoysell Archycastres and toke his leue of her ryght curteysly / she of hym full amourously / and lothe for to haue hym out of her felawshyp And whan he came before the kynge he delyuered hym the lettre Whan kȳge Archycastres had receyued it he went a lytel asyde redde it / whan it was redde he torned hym to the two prynces sayd Whiche of you hathe passed the perylles of the see Than answered one of them I am he The other prynce this herynge was moeued with anger sayd How darest thou say say suche thynges before the kynge and me For thou I haue ben nourysshed togyder all our lyfe dayes without separacyon and neuer we entred in to the see / how mayst thou than haue passed the perylles of it Whan the kynge vnderstode that it was none of them twayne he sayd Appolyn Rede ye this lettre for to se yf ye can vnderstande that the whiche I can not Appolyn at the kynges commaundement redde the lettre and founde that it spake of hym / than he waxed all reed and drewe hym asyde Than the kyng sayd / haue ye founde the tenoure of the lettre / Appolyn answered neuer a worde The kȳge behelde his countenaunce and sawe that he sayd no worde / he aduysed hym of the perylles of the see that Appolyn had passed and than he knewe perfytely that the lettre spake of hym and the loue that his doughter Archycastres had to hym / wherof he had grete Ioye in saynge vnto Appolyn / wherfore are ye ashamed of the endytynge of this letttre for I haue grete pleasure of that that my doughter wylleth the thȳge that I desyre Notwithstandynge that I neuer shewed nor durst tel ne make relacion to her of it Whan they hadde fynysshed theyr communycacyon the kynge wente towarde the two kynges sones and sayd Truely I tolde you that ye were not comen in a good season forcause of the infyrmite sykenesse of my doughter Archycastres / wherfore ye may retorne in to your countrees / and whan she is guarysshed and hole I shal sende for you for at this tyme ye can not spede This heryng the two prynces they were not well content And than they toke leue of the kynge honourably and retorned in to theyr countrees vnpurueyed of theyr entencyons Than the kynge Archycastres toke Appolyn by the hande and entred ioyously in to the palays so in to the chambre of the fayre damoysell Archycastres And as sone as she espyed her fader she salued hym honourable / and he rendred her salutacyon and sayd My moost welbeloued doughter whom haue ye chosen for your lorde and husbonde The damoysell herynge thexamynacyon of her fader espouentably kneled downe afore hym and sayd O myghty kynge and fader syth it hath pleased you for to knowe my mynde and femynyne volunte the whiche is reasonable / knowe ye therfore that I hadde leuer haue hym the whiche hath passed the daungerous passages of the see that is Appolyn than ony kynge or prynce that lyueth in this worlde And of one thynge the whiche I shall tell you I beseche you for to pardon me and that ye wyll accepte my petycyon / that is that yf ye gyue me not vnto hym certaynly ye shall lese me and neuer durynge my lyfe shal I haue Ioye and consolacyon without the presence of his persone And for his loue I haue suffred many infyrmytees and greuous afflyccyons of ardaunte desyres of loue syth the fyrst tyme that he played before the barony in your presence vpon my harpe without that euer ony knewe it The kynge herynge the amourous and pyteous wordes of his doughter sayd Ha welbeloued doughter know you certaynly that that the whiche pleaseth you dyspleaseth me not / and all your pleasure shall be fulfylled in this poynt at your owne desyre ¶ How kynge Appolyn espoused the fayre damoysel Archycastres the kynges doughter of Terme Ca. xvi THan incontynent kynge Archycastres sent for all the barons and grete
answered / ye be well founde noble kynge of Thyre Tell me now by thy fayth how thou art comē in to these regyons / for me thynketh that thou arte troubled in thy courage Truely sayd kynge Appolyn I shall tell it the. Knowe thou that I haue payed and assoyled a questyon vnto the kynge of Anthyoche and demaunded his doughter in maryage the whiche he entreteyneth for his paramours and therfore he maketh me to be pursued for to make medye Wherfore yf thou mayst do so moche that I may abyde here a certayne space of tyme thou shold do me a grete pleasure Syr sayd Tranquyle this cyte is so lytell and thy puyssaunce is so grete that thou mayst not be lodged in it And an other cause is also / for the famyne and honger is so grete that none may exteme the vehemēte payne that we endure sustayne / for we haue none esperaūce nor no good trust for to haue ony adiutory and conforte / but onely in the cours and torne of fortune Than Appolyn answered and sayd Tranquyle my dere frende rendre graces and thankes vnto our lord of the good fortune that hathe made me for to aryue here at the porte of this cyte / for I shall gyue vnto this cyte an hōdred thousande charges of wheet corne / vpon the condycyon that ye holde me secretely within your cyte And whan Trāquyle herde hym say so he fell downe prostrate at his fete and sayd Lorde yf thou gyue vnto the poore cyte famysshed for honger socours we not onely shall holde the secretely within the enclose of our sayd cyte but we shall be all well content for to lyue and deye with the. Whan the noble kynge Appolyn sawe his frende Trāquyle so lye grouelyng on the grounde petyously wepynge for the persecucyon of the cyte he lyke a curteys kyng and humble prynce toke hym vp from the grounde and set hym on his fete cōfortynge hym saynge Ha Tranquyle myn olde good frēde be of good conforte and make glad chere for I shall not fayle you as longe as I may lyue Thā Tranquyle thāked hym hyghly and anone went and tolde vnto the gouernoures of the cyte how kynge Appolyn of Thyre was aryued at the hauen and what he had sayd promysed ¶ How kynge Appolyn delyuered the cyte of Tharcye fro grete famyne and honger Ca. viij WHā the lordes and chefe of the cyte herde this they were surprysed with grete Ioye anone they assembled togyder in counceyle for to wyte what were to be done / and than they concluded for to go in goodly ordynaūce to mete the kynge / and whan they came to his presence they fell too the grounde gracyously besechynge his highnes for to helpe them delyuer theyr cyte from the mortall plage of honger / and he toke them vp promysynge helpe so that they wolde kepe hȳ in theyr cyte secretly / whiche they promysed to do Than they brought hȳ in to the cyte with grete honour reuerence Appolyn thā in the myddes of the cyte in a place before all the people moūted vpon a scaffolde and sayd vnto the cytezyns of Tharcye whiche susteyned and suffred grete famyne of honger I Appolyn kynge dystytute of Thyre dooth you for to knowe and vnderstande that I wyll fulfyll and furnysshe your cyte with wheet for the same pryce that I bought it in my realme to th ende and on condycyon that ye holde kepe me secrete in your cyte where as I am / I thynke that in tyme future ye wyll not put in oblyuyon yf euer I haue done you ony good / I tell you that the kynge of Anthyoche pursueth me of a pursuyte mortell and therfore haue I left my realme and am come hyder secretly with such shyppes as ye se for to be socoured of you Thā the cytezyns remercyed thanked him of the grete goodnes that he them offred So they gaue hym the pryce that he demaūded / and Appolyn gaue them plente and habundaunce / that none he rendred to them theyr money to th ende that it shold not be sayd that he were a marchaunt and no kynge And whā he had gyuen all this fraūchyse and boūte to them they in remembraunce of hym and for an extreme colaudacyon made an ymage or statue of clene golde vnto his semylytude and semblaunce and situate it in the myddes of the cyte vpon an hygh colomne or pyler / the whiche ymage or statue helde in his ryght hāde a shefe of whete / with his lyft fote he put corne in to the mesure And at the fete of the sayd ymage vpō the pyller was wryten in letters of golde a clause vercyfyēge in this wyse Tharcye cyte by Appolyn kynge of Thyre was furnyshed / by his fraunchyse it was releued / with wheet and corne he hathe it fostred / and frō the swerde of honger he hathe it delyuered / and from the stroke of dethe he hathe it preserued ¶ How kynge Appolyn of Thyre sayled towarde the cyte of Terme where as his shyppes peryshed nygh vnto the porte / and all his men drowned and he onely preserued by a fyssher Ca. ix THan whan Appolyn kynge of Thyre hadd so Iourned longe tyme in the cyte of Tharcye it fortuned on a daye that he was in company with the auncyent man Tranquylle and his wyfe named Dyonyse the whiche sayd vnto kynge Appolyn that it were thynge vtyle expedyent he for to withdrawe hym and retray in to some other countre / for longe tyme it was syth he came thyder / for lōge contynuaunce in a place maketh reuelacyon and knowlege to the persones adiacent and neyghbours Appolyn herynge the counceyle of them toke leue ioyously of all the cytezyns the which were sory for his departynge / and entred in to his shyppes and mounted on the see for to goo to the cyte of Terme that was in the coūtree of Pentapolytayns / thynkynge there to be sure / for the cyte was pleasaunt strōge And whan he was vpon the see with his thre shyppes they exployted so moche that wtin thre dayes they approched nygh to the cyte of Terme And they beynge there that ayre chaunged / the wyndes waxed furyous / the weder torned in to grete tempestes and blastes heuynge the fee rorynge with tempestyous wawes and droue the thre shyppes here and there agaynst the rockes and sande / and all to roue and sparpeled thē in thousandes of pyeces / bothe maste / sayle / and stere / drowned all within them bothe man and goodes without remyssyon saufe all onely Appolyn that saued hymselfe vpon a poost and all naked came to the see side And whan he was out of the peryll of the see he torned hym towarde the place were as his shyppes men were drowned and with lachrymate chekes tēderly he sayd O fortune ingenyous of mē / fals / fekyll / and vnstedfast euer tornynge and varyenge as a feder in the wynde without
cease / haste thou abyden wayted this grete peryll for to do me so moche harme at one tyme / for thou hast put me totally in extreme pouerte / and hast lefte me alone and all naked of goodes and of all esperaūce / cursed be thou Certaynly yf so were that kyng Anthyogus coude do me no harme thou hast done me more than suffycyent for hym / wors than enraged is he that trusteth in thy feate / alas He beyng in this calamynous sorowe sawe comynge towarde hym a fyssher poorely arayed ragged with a blacke mantell and gyrded with a roten corde Appolyn was in many tribulacyons and anguysshes for he hadde doubte / thought / melancoly / heuines / sorowe / hōger / thyrst / and inwarde care / he went and fell downe flat at the fete of the fyssher and sayd Dere broder who someuer thou be I requyre the that thou wylte haue mercy on the poore naked the whiche hath lost all that he had in the body of the see And to th ēde that thou mayst knowe what I am / knowe thou that I am named Appolyn kynge of Thyre the which by fortune and the see is brought in to perdycyon / wherfore I praye the haue compassyon ouer me and that thou gyue me some conforte and helpe of lyuynge This sayd the fyssher behelde hym lōge sawe hym so fayre and gracyous and vnderstode that he was a kynge pyte moeued his spirytes by maner of cōpulcyō to haue compassyon vpon hym / than he ledde Appolyn vnto a lytell hous besyde the see wher as he wtdrew hym whan he had fysshed and gaue hȳ of suche poore meetes as fysshers do ete whan they ben hongry And the better for to accomplysshe his good dedes and for inwarde pyte that he had of hym he gaue vnto hym the one halfe of his blacke mantell for to couer his body with / and sayd vnto hym go in to the cyte of Terme the which is here by and thou shalt fynde some that wyll haue pyte vpon the. And yf thou fynde none that wyll haue pyte vpon the retorne agayne to me here / and for all my pouerte I shall not fayle the of suche as I haue / and yf it so be we two shall take fysshe for to gete our lyuynge But I pray the yf fortune be and that god wyll that thou remoūte vnto thyn estate that thou dyspyse me not of that the whiche I haue gyuen to the that is the one half of my mantell Appolyn sayd / yf I thynke not on the goodnes that thou haste done to me an other tyme may I suffre the daungerous perylles of the see and that I may neuer fynde ony good persone that wyll haue mercy vpon me Thā the fyssher shewed hym the way / and so Appolyn went to the cyte poorely arayed as he was ¶ How kynge Appolyn poorely arayed entred within the cyte of Terme and played with the kynge Ca. x. KYnge Appolyn comen in to the cyte he wyste not what to do / but behelde all about to se the cyte in abydynge the conuercyon of fortune / and as he wente towarde the kynges palays he sawe comynge a yonge man that cryed to the lordes / cytezyns / pylgryms and all other of what estate or degree so euer they were that wolde play with the swerde rebated and at the shelde lete them appareyle theyr feate redy and come to a place that he assygned Whā Appolyn herde this crye he becrye he began for to complayne hymselfe and sayd thus Alas poore caytyf and myserable kynge what shalte thou do / whyder shalt thou go / thou hast grete cause for to complayne seynge that thou a kynge hast not soo moche as a poore begger or pylgryme / where ben thy treasours and rychesses / where ben thy precyous vestures and clothes / where ben thy lordes and seruauntes thy grete coursers stedes for to ryde vpon thy fote men and pages to cōduyte the where as thou wolde be / thou arte dystytute and vnpurueyed of all thynges belongynge vnto the / for in stede of treasours and rychesses thou hast pouerte and nede / in stede of precyous vestures and clothes thou arte wrapped in a pyece of an olde mantel or cloke / in stede of lordes and seruauntes to reioyce the thou arte all alone in a straunge regyon full of sorowe and dolour of herte / in stede of coursers and myghty stedes to ryde vpon thou goost on thy fete vpon the bare stones in the fylthy stretes and wayes / in stede of fote men and pages to conduyte the thou hast a staffe for feere of beestes goynge amonge poore pylgrymes and beggers whiche take scorne of the / alas thou mayst well complayne thy grete mysfortunes yet neuertheles thou shalt not abyde behynde but put thy selfe forthe amonge the other poore pylgrymes to se the kynge and the maner of his realme yf it happen to playe with some persone In makynge these complayntes with many syghes and teeres the myddaye passed And after dyner the kynge named Archystrates and all the lordes came for to se the play Than they began to playe bothe lordes and other gentylmen a grete whyle Whan Appolyn had longe beholden the playe he demaunded of one and of other of poore estate yf they wolde play for to do pleasure to the company / but of them all none there was that wolde answere hym but dysdeyned to play with hym for his poore clothes and rayment This seynge the kyng Archystrates lorde of the cyte he entred in to the playe accompanyed with many knyghtes squyres and sawe that there was none that wolde playe agaynst Appolyn / he toke vp the swerde and began to smyte fast / and as euyll clothed as Appolyn was he retorned to the kynge and helde hym ryght shorte The lordes seynge Appolyn so poorely arayed smyte vnto the kinge so hardely they wolde haue chased hym away / but the kynge cōmaunded them to lete hym alone The kȳge played yet an other torne / and Appolyn retorned it more styfly Whan the kynge sawe hym play so he merueyled of hym gretely / and sware to the knyghtes by his crowne that neuer in his dayes he had founde none that played soo nymbly and soo expertly as he dyde Whan Appolyn herde how the kynge praysed and commended his playenge to the knyghtes he reioyced gretely / and in maner halfe shamefast and glad he shewed certayne strokes of the shelde or bokeler whiche pleased the kynge moche And whan the playe was fynysshed Appolyn toke leue curtesly of the kynge and departed Whan he was gone the kynge sayd vnto his knyghtes I t were to you by my saluacyon that syth the daye of my natyuyte I sawe neuer a better and more gentyll player at the swerde and shelde than he is to my gre and pleasure / it dyspleaseth me that I knowe not what he is / for myn herte Iugeth hym to be extrayt of some noble house And anone
he called one of his gentylmen and badde hym for to go and se yf he myght fynde the poore man that played at the shelde hym and brynge hym to the courte Than the gentylman departed and founde Appolyn / and whan he sawe hym apparayled in so vyle and poore vestures he retorned without saynge of ony worde and went to the kynge and sayd Syr that man that ye demaunde ought and semeth to be a fyssher or elles a rower in a galey or els some shyppe swayne How knowest thou it sayd the kynge Certaynly his habyte or clothynge demonstreth and sheweth it by reason Ha sayd the kynge the habyte maketh not the relygyous man / and therfore incontynent retorne thou to hym and tell hym that I demaunde hym Than the gentylman retorned as the kynge commaunded hym founde Appolyn syttynge wepynge for his departynge from so noble a company and sayd to hym Aryse and come and speke with the kynge for he demaundeth the. This herynge Appolyn he wyped his vysage / and for to obey vnto the kynge he arose all sorowfull and folowed the gentylman vnto the gate of the kynges palays / and than he sayd vnto the gentylman Frende I wyll not entre for ony thynge for there within is none but men of worshyp grete estates / and to me for to entre within a palays royall so euyll arayed it were grete scorne and shame But goo vnto the kynge and praye hym to tell the his wyll and I shall abyde the here The squyre went vnto the kynge sayd Syr the poore man that ye demaunde is at the gate wyll not entre / for he sayth that he shall be ashamed for to come in to suche a noble court as yours is in so euyll foule clothȳge Than the kynge commaunded that he sholde haue one of his robes that he sholde be well clothed / and so it was done Whan kynge Appolyn was well appoynted he entred in to the palays / whan he came in to the hall he made reuerence ryght honourably vnto the kynge and vnto all the lordes and assystentes Thenne the kynge ryght curteysly welcomed hym and badde hym sytte saynge / thou shalte soupe this daye with me amonge my knyghtes Appolyn than beynge shamefast lete hȳselfe somwhat to be prayed but at the laste he sate hym downe at the table / and wtout etynge he behelde the noble company of lordes and grete estates for he had ben accustomed for to lyue in nobles and to be nourysshed in honour Thus as be loked all about a grete lorde that serued at the kynges table sayd vnto the kynge Certes syr this man wolde gladly your honour for he dooth not ete but beholdeth hertely your noble magnyfycence and is in poynt to wepe Certaynly sayd the kynge peraduenture he hath lost mo goodes than these ben / and therfore he hath remembraunce of theym now ¶ How kynge Appolyn souped in the kynges hall Ca. xi AS he sate and behelde the kynge bad hym ete and be mery better thinges and greter gyue you god And in saynge these wordes came in the kynges doughter accompanyed with many ladyes and damoyselles whose splendente beaute were to longe to endyte / for her rosacyate coloure was medled with grete fauour She dranke vnto her fader and to all the lordes / and to all them that had ben at the play of the shelde And as she behelde here and there she espyed kynge Appolyn than she sayd vnto her fader Syr what is he that sytteth so hye as by you / it semeth by hym that he is angry or sorowfull The kynge sayd I can not tell what he is my lefe doughter / but I sawe neuer so nimble and pleasaunt a player at the shelde and therfore haue I made hym for to come soupe with my knyghtes And yf ye wyll knowe what he is demaunde hym / for peraduēture he wyll tell you sooner than me And whan he hathe tolde you ye may tell hym some thynge gyue hym some good / for me thynke that he is departed frome some good place / and I thynke in my mynde that some thynge is be fallen hym for the whiche he is sory This sayd the noble damoysell wente vnto Appolyn sayd Fayre syr graunt me a boone And he graunted her with good herte / she sayd vnto hym All be it that your vysage be tryst heuy your behauour sheweth noblesse and facundyte / and therfore I pray you to tel me of your affayre and estate Appolyn answered / yf ye demaūde of my rychesses I haue lost them in the see The damoysell sayd I pray you that ye tell me of your aduētures that I may vnderstōde you playnly ¶ How Appolyn fell in conceyte with the kynges doughter of Terme for playenge on the harpe Ca. xii APpolyn herynge the wyll of the damoysell began for to tell his aduersytees and vnfortunate aduentures had vpon the see and elles where And whan he had ended his parlement he began for to wepe tenderly with many sadde syghes Whan the kynge sawe hym so wepe he sayd vnto his doughter Certaynly ye haue doone euyll / for thorow your wordes he hathe renouelled and begon his dolours Wherfore I wyll that for to appease all his sorowes and persuacyons ye gyue hym of myn all that it pleaseth you Whan the damoysell Archycastres vnderstode that she had puyssaunce for to gyue hym what she wolde she had grete pleasure / anone she came vnto Appolyn and sayd Leue thy wepynge from hensforthe / for syth it hath pleased vnto my fader that I gyue the of his goodes I shall make the ryche Appolyn all wepynge thanked her humbly sayd Honourable lady I thanke you of the worshyp that ye wold me more than I am worthy Durynge this tyme the kȳge came to his doughter and sayd Fayre doughter I praye you play a lytell vpon your harpe for to reioyce this gentyl man brȳge hym out of his heuy thoughtes in to lyghter The damoysel anone sent for her harpe / and whan it was comen she sowned so swetely as in the worlde had not ben her parayle Appolyn behelde her ryght amourosly sayd neuer aworde Than sayd the kȳge vnto hym Gentylmā what do ye thynke / eche man reioyceth of the feest of my doughter and ye say nothynge how say ye playeth she not well Syr sayd Appolyn your doughter sowneth meruaylously well and syngeth armonyously But yet for feere of your dyspleasure and hers yf I helde the harpe I coude shewe you where she fayleth Than the mayden gaue her harpe vnto Appolyn the whiche began to sowne to swetely that echone meruayled of his fayre playenge sayng that he was parfyte in the arte Than was the damoysell soo amourous on Appolyn that it may not be recounted / and than she sayd vnto her fader Ye haue promysed me that al that I wolde gyue vnto this gentylman sholde contente you Truly sayd the kynge I
lordes of his realme sayd vnto them Lordes and frendes knowe ye that I wyll shewe vnto you myn entent wherfore that I haue sent for you The cause is this that I wyl gyue my doughter Archicastres vnto Appolȳ in maryage And therfore dysplease you not / for it pleaseth me and my doughter also And thanked be our lord that she hath chosen a mā so secrete and so intellectyf as he is Whan the barōs vnderstode the wordes of the kynge and the effect of his entent they were accorded were ryght Ioyfull of it The noble kynge seynge the perfyte wyll and true entēt of his baronny he was ryght well pleased and thanked thē saynge that as true subgectes they had accorded vnto theyr souerayne and lyege lorde And that he assygned vnto his barons a certayne day for to come vnto the spousayles of his doughter / for he wolde that they shold be there in the honourablest wyse that myght be ordeyned and had / that they sholde spare for none exspence / and so they dyde Whan the day of the spousaylles was comen the damoysell Archycastres was appareylled and aourned in the moost tryumphaunt maner that coude be deuysed / in clothes of golde set with fyne perles and precyous stones / and owches of grete value And the noble kynge Appolyn was clothed in the same suyte also Than after that the espousaylles was finysshed they reentred in to the palays with grete melody of mynstrelles and musycyens But for to recount of the seruyces that day / the tryumphe and noblesse of that feest the games and dedes of worthynes that was there determyned / of the ryche gyftes that were gyuē to lordes and ladyes it were to longe for to recount What sholde I make longe processe all thynge was doone so nobly that no man was myscontent / but reioyced gretly of the excellence therof And the feest accomplysshed and done the lordes estates of the realme toke theyr leue of the kynge at Appolyn and at the fayre damoysell Archicastres and retorned with grete Ioy and tryumphe in to theyr countrees and lordshyppes ¶ How tydynges came by a galey to kȳge Appolyn that the kynge of Anthyoche was deed xvj A Certayne tyme after the ryche maryage and espousalles of the noble Appolyn was acheued and done the damoysell Archicastres waxed grete of a doughter wherof the kyng her fader and Appolyn were ryght Ioyous Vpon a certayne day as Appolin came from studye / he and his spouse fayre Archycastres wente for to sporte them vpon the ryuage of the see / and as they walked vnder the shadowe of the boughes they sawe where as came swymmȳge a myghty vessel that aryued at the porte or hauen of the cyte Whan Appolyn hadde seen and beholden it a whyle he sayd fayre loue and lady lete vs go and se yonder fayre vessell / with a good wyll sayd Archicastres / so they wēte vnto the galey And whan Appolyn had longe beholden it and aduysed the maner and speche of the galyotes and by many other sygnes he knewe that it was of his realme of Thyre Thā he demaūded of the patron of whens the galey was / and wherfore it was so decked and arayed with blacke The patrō all sorowfully sayd / we ben of the kyngdome af Thyre Appolyn this herynge was gladde / in a maner sory / for he wyst not wherfore it was comē into the countree / whyder for his socoure or for to dystroy hym And than Appolyn sayd / ye ben of my countree Dere syr sayd the patron I knowe you not / but I pray you tell me yf it please you yf ye knowe ony tydynges of the lorde of Thyre Certaynly sayd Appolȳ I wote wher he is Alas syr sayd the patron for god / yf ye wolde shewe me hym ye myhht do to hym grete honour and to me grete Ioy and pleasure / for we ben comen hyder for to feche hym and to brynge hȳ in to his realme royall of Thyre / for kyng Anthiogus of Anthyoche his doughter for whō our noble kynge is out of his realme coūtree ben deed wretchedly by the thonder that fell vpō them / and all his kyngdomes / lordeshyppes and treasoures be kept for our good kynge Appolyn Than was Appolyn gladde and sayd vnto his wyfe archycastres Swete loue now may ye knowe yf the aduentures that I haue tolde you ben true or not And I praye you hertely as ye loue me that ye be not dyspleased of one thynge that is that I wyll go receyue my preteryte realme the other the whiche ben for me attendaūt and comen by ryght The damoysell than wepyng sayd Appolyn swete lorde and frende I thynke this that yf ye were ferre fro me ye wolde come vnto myn enfauntemēt and delyueraunce of chylde Wherfore I pray you that you leue me not alone / but haue me with you Appolyn seynge and vnderstandynge the parfyte loue that she hadde vnto hym sayd I am content yf it please my lorde youre fader Than wente the damoysell vnto the kynge her fader and sayd Right honoured and redoubted fader reioyce you and be mery / for true it is that kynge Anthiogus of Anthioche and his doughter ben put to dethe by thonder of the heuens for that he enhabyted kept her as paramours / and all his kyngedomes seygnouryes apperteyneth vnto my well beloued husbande lorde Appolyn the whiche wyll go and receyued them / for a galey of his countree is aryued at an hauen here by the whiche hath denounced vnto hym all the fayte / and abydeth tyll hy departe / wherfore I praye you yf it please you for to gyue me lycence to go with hym / for though ye lete go one doughter with the grace of the potencyall goddes we shall retorne twayne The kynge beynge gladde and Ioyfull of the wordes of his doughter of her tydynges he vnto her accorded in all that she wolde And anone he made to ordeyne and apparayle shyppes and dromōdes with all suche thinges as to them necessary was / and many ladyes and damoyselles and her nouryce named Lycordes for to helpe her yf necessyte happened And than Appolyn Archicastres toke leue of the kynge and in goodly aray they mounted vpon the see for to go vnto the realme of Anthyoche and Thyre ¶ How kyng Appolyn entred the see with his wyfe / and how she was delyuered of a doughter Ca. xviij KYnge Appolyn and Archycastres beynge on the see sayled longe with grete tryumphe and Ioye and so longe they exployted by theyr Iourneys that they came in to the hye see / and thā the fayre weder began for to chaunge and the wynde arose makynge grete noyse and it thondred and lyghtned impyteously that all they were sore abasshed Than on a daye after grete trauayle feere and payne Archycastres began for to trauayle of chylde with grete throwes and dyseases was delyuered of a fayre doughter /
Certes fayre lorde sayd Tarcye I haue done all therto that lyeth in my power but nothynge it auayleth / and he hathe gyuen to me two hondred pens of golde and prayed me to go my waye and lete hym alone for my wordes renouelleth his doloures Than Anthygoras sayd I shall gyue you foure hondred pens of golde so that ye retorne to hym and shewe hȳ that ye desyre nothynge of hym but his welfare and helthe Than the mayden mekely retorned at his commaundement streyght to Appolyn and sayd to hym Syr I wyll sytte me doune by you yf it please you / and yf ye can shewe to me the solucyon of a questyon or twayne I shall go fro you / yf ye can not than must ye reioyce you by some meanes / and here is your pens for I wyll nothynge but your salute and welfare and that ye enioye in my saynges / and anone she began her questyon in this maner There is a lodges in the erthe that souneth with an hye voyce / the host that enhabyteth in it is dombe and sayth noo worde / and yet neuertheles the lodges and the hoost entre ensueth togyder / now answere dyrectly vnto this question Appolyn incontynent answered / the lodges that ye say souneth with an hyghe soune is the see / the hoost therin enhabytaunt is dombe without saynge of ony worde and that entre ensueth ben the fysshes the whiche foloweth the cours and rennynge of the see / and that is the solucyon of your question The mayden than preposed an other questyon sayenge in this maner In the water of the floode that renneth by the brymme spryngeth that of the whiche musyke and swete songe is made / is not of colour sable / the messenger of allegraunce by touchynge Than Appolyn answered that the sprȳgeth in the brȳme of the flode ben the redes wherof musike is made swete soune whā one maketh a pype or other instrument of rede / for it is not of blacke coloure / but it is whyte / messenger of allegrance whan it is touched vpon the pertuys and holes / for it is made to gyue what soune that one wyll The mayden preposed an other questyon in saynge All about gooth the fyre in the hous and dooth noo harme / and maketh soo grete lyght in the myddes of the hous that with grete payne it may be endured / and the hoste is naked within the hous Appolyn answered and sayd The hous is a bayne in to the whiche the fyre entreth all about and maketh grete here and may do no harme / the hoste is naked for he hath noo nede of clothynge in a bayne The damoysell than preposed an other questyon the whiche is this Within this monster shynynge / approcheth alway an endynge / the moone often resembleth the sonne / sheweth nothynge but that that is to come Appolyn thā remembrynge his dolours fel to wepynge agayne Whan the damoysell hadde made her questyons and that Appo had soyled them all saue the last wherto he sayd nothynge she had meruayle / and in beholdynge him she sawe that he wept / wherfore she wyst not what to do but went and toke hym in her armes saynge Alas it is grete domage that a man of soo grete noblenesse as you be sholde vse his lyfe in suche doloures and anguysshes / I pray you be of good conforte for whan it pleaseth our creatour he wyll rendre vnto you your wyfe and your doughter / and than she toke hym by the goune makynge semblaunt for to drawe hȳ out from vnder the hatche Appolyn seynge that she wolde haue had hym out drewe backewarde / and they pulled so bytwene them that her holde slypped and she fell to the grounde and hurte her knee sore Whan she felte that she was hurte she began pyteously to wepe saynge ¶ How Tarcye cōplayned of her mysfortunes before kynge Appolyn for hurtynge of her knee Ca. xxx A Gracyous god fourmer of thynges interyour and exteryour of nought and suffreth al operacyons for to be thought and determyned / how mayst thou suffre that thy symple and humble handmayden not culpable of ony malyce to endure so many greuous perylles and mysfortunes / for syth the houre that I was borne I haue had but aduersytees and trybulacyons / for of the dolour that my moder hadde with me in my natyuyte she departed oute of this lyfe / was casten in to the see in an arche leeded / and afterwarde I was brought in to the cyte of Tharcye of the whiche I bere the name / and was delyuered and recōmaunded vnto a cytezyn of that same cyte named Tranquyle / and vnto his wyfe named Dyonyse / and vnto a nouryce admytted by my fader the whiche ryght wel and dylygently kept me And whan that she laye vpon her deed bedde she recounted vnto me before her dethe all myn exstraught lygnage / and all the aduentures whiche I hadde passed in myn adalescency / and yf she had not tolde me than I had not knowen who was my fader ne who was my moder / for I had wende afore that Tranquyle hadde ben my fader Dyonyse his wyfe my moder / by the whiche Dyonyse I was prepayred to be slayne of her esclaue vpon the see syde / but it happened that a galey came swymmynge therby that toke me and delyuered me from the handes of the esclaue / and the men of the sayd galey solde me in this cyce vnto a ruffyen whiche hathe kept me by force in the place publyke for haue made me enclyne to that moost vyle syn̄e of luxurye / but graces be gyuen to our lorde by whose power I haue kept my vyrgynyte vnto this houre Alas my lorde my fader was named Appolyn and was kynge of the londe of Thyre / and than she began for too complayne in saynge with a pyteous voyce Ha my ryght dere fader where be ye now / in what londe ben ye remaynynge that ye come not for to se me / and delyuer me from this payne shame full scandalyzacyon in the whiche I am / where I haue soo longe abyden without conforte sauf onely of the curteys prynce of this cyte whome our lorde rewarde ¶ Of the Ioye bytwene Appolyn Tarcye Ca. xxxi KYnge Appolyn heryng the wordes of his doughter in that maner was so feruently taken and surprysed with Ioye and gladnes that of longe tyme he coude not speke pronounce a worde / but whan his speche came without aduyse he began for to crye O all ye my seruauntes leue your heuynes and make Ioye Than all they of the shyppe ranne vnto hym wenynge that he had ben from his wytte And whan they came they founde hym holdynge his doughter bytwene bothe his armes / and than he sayd vnto theym Certaynly my dere frendes here is my doughter Tarcye for whome I haue had so moche trauayle endured so many sorowes Than he and she deuysed and talked of many
his moost beloued wyfe and espouse on lyue the whiche with his owne handes he hadde casten into the see / well may ye thynke that he had grete lyesse and Ioye / his sorowes were torned to myrthes and consolacyons He fyrst was vnfortunate lost londes / rychesses / wyfe / doughter / and al his other goodes / now he hath founde all agayne Thus the Ioye was so grete amonge theym that it can not be estemed / and anone it was spredde ouer all the countre that the abbesse had founde her husbande / wherof they of the cyte had grete Ioy / and put an other abbesse in her place And there they soiourned a certayne tyme and after they toke theyr leue thankynge the cytezyns and so departed mouÌ„ted vpon the se ¶ How Appolyn was crowned at Anthyoche / after retorned to the cyte of Tharcye caused execucyon to be done vpon Tranquyle Dyonyse his wyfe Ca. xxxvi Dyonyse Tranquyle APpolyn beynge vpon the see with his wyfe his doughter exployted so moche that they ariued at the cyte of Anthyoche / in the whiche cyte the crowne of the realme was kepte for Appolyn And there he was crowned with grete solempnyte and tryumphe was honourably receyued as to a kynge apperteyneth And than he departed thens retorned to his owne realme of Thyre where as he was also receyued with grete reuerence / and the feestes endured .viii. dayes for the loue of the quene and her doughter And for his welcome home he gaue vnto Anthygoras the sayd countree Than afterwarde they retorned vpon the see went so longe by theyr Iourneys that they aryued at the cyte of Tharcye / where as they were welcomed with grete Ioye And than Appolyn sent for Tranquyle and Dyonyse his wyfe / whan they were comen he went in to the myddes of the cyte stode vnder the ymage that was made to his symylytude / and torned hym to the people and sayd O you cytezyns of Tharcye ye haue caused me to endure many trybulacyons And they answered all nay lorde / but we alwayes haue sayd that the crowne of this cyte shold remayne to you for the benefaytes that in tyme past ye haue doone vnto vs / we ben all content for to lyue and deye with you And that ymage shall be for euer a memoryall of your goodnes Therfore I sayd it sayd Appolyn / for whan I went last out of your cyte I left and gaue my doughter with grete ryches to nourysshe vnto Tranquyle Dyonyse his wyfe whan I retorned to fetch her they wolde not rendre her to me Dyonyse that herynge began for to saye How sholde we haue rendred her to you whan she was deed / and your owne selfe felt the sauour that came from her whan ye redde the superscrypcion of the monument that the cytezyns dyde make for the honour of her and the loue of you Than Appolyn was somwhat moeued with impacyence whan he herde how falsely she made her excuse and made to call forthe his doughter Tarcye tofore al the people / and than he sayd to her My fayre doughter now must ye bere wytnesse and recorde of your dethe Than the maden came tofore Dyonyse and sayd God saue the Dyonyse I am Tarcye whiche is rysen from dethe vnto lyfe Whan the cursed woman herde her speke thus she began for to tremble for feere and wyst not what to say Than Tharcye commauÌ„ded for to brynge forthe thesclaue that sholde haue put her to dethe And as soone as she was comen Tarcye sayd to her Theophyle knowe thou that I am Tarcye of whome thou wolde haue smyten of the heed / wherfore I am comen hyder for be auenged and do the same to the. And therfore tell here openly who commaunded the so to doo And thesclaue sayd / certaynly it was Tranquyle and Dionyse his wyfe / and so tofore the cytezyns he recounted al theyr fayte and false preposycyon of theym Whan the cytezyns herde and vnderstode this they cryed all with one voyce brenne them / brenne them And incontynent without longer abydyng was made two grete fyres and in the one they put Tranquyle / and in the other Dyonyse his wyfe / and thus they fynysshed theyr dayes for theyr falsenes Than they wolde haue brent thesclaue / but Tarcie saued her lyfe and sayd For that thou suffred me to saye my prayers I was delyuered from dethe / therfore I wyll that thou be saued / also I gyue the an C. besauntes of golde / make the fre of all seruage / wherof she thanked her / went her waye makynge grete Ioye that she was so escaped ¶ How Appolyn was crowned kynge of Penthypolytayne / after his wyfes fader Ca. xxxvii AFter al these thyÌ„ges abouesayd Appolyn thaÌ„ked humbly the cytezyns abode there halfe a yere / and he toke his leue honourably mounted vpon the see and came to the cyte of Terme where as his wifes fader reygned And whan he knewe that his sone Appolyn and his doughter Archycastres came to hym he went met them with a grete coÌ„pany of lordes welcomed theym hyghly And there they abode a yere in grete Ioye solace And at the ende of the yere kynge Archystrates deyed for aege / and Appolyn honourably made hym to be entyered But or he deyed he gaue to Appolyn the cyte and dyademe of Terme whiche he receyued and was crowned with grete nobles and magnyfycence / and the other parte of his realme he deuyded after his pleasaunce / and gaue the one halfe therof vnto Archycastres his doughter / and the other halfe he gaue to Tarcye the wyfe of Anthygoras / and after that the doole was made a yere And at the ende of the yere euery persone began for to reioyce them And vpon a daye as Appolyn and his wyfe were talkynge of one thynge and other done in tymes past he bethought hym on the poore fyssher the whiche hadde gyuen hym the halfe of his mantell / and forth with he sente for hym The poore man was sore afrayed whan he herde the maundement of the kynge for he thought nomore on it / and so he came all heuely afore hym / and thaÌ„ Appolyn sayd to the quene Here is the man by the occasyon whome I recouerd that whiche I hadde lost in the see For he gaue me the one halfe of his mantell / and shewed me the way for to come to this cyte / where as I was well receyued of my lorde your fader whome god pardon And than he toke the fyssher by the hande and sayd Be ye not remembred how ye saued me and conforted me whan I had loste my shyppes was caste naked on the see syde / the poore man sayd yes my lorde Certes sayd Appolyn I sayd to you that yf euer I came to myn aboue I sholde thynke on you / incontynent he gaue hym .i. besauntes of golde / and thre fayre houses in the cyte / so that he that was the poorest was made the rychest Than he sent for hym that had brought hym tydynges from Anthyoche that kynge Anthyogus was deed / and made hym ryche in lykewyse as he dyde the other ¶ How kynge Appolyn dysceased and his wyfe also / and how theyr sone possessed theyr realmes Ca. xxxviii BY processe and length of tyme kynge Appolyn had a sone by his wyfe Archycastres the whiche was kynge and reygned after theym in the realme of Thyre Than they retorned in to Anthyoche lyued there the space of .lxxiiii. yere in grete Ioye noblesse / peas and tranquylyte And thus in his lyfe he was kynge of Thyre of Anthyoche / and of Terme / and of dyuers other realmes the whiche he helde and mayteyned in good peas durynge his lyfe And durynge his dayes he wrote and put in remembraunce the fortunes and peryllous aduentures the whiche vnto hym were happened and comen / and he compyled .vi. volumes of bokes / of the whiche one remayned in the temple of Dyane in the londe of Ephesym The seconde in the cyte of Terme The thyrde in the cyte of Anthyoche The fourthe in the cyte of Mylytayne The fyfth in the cyte of Tharcye And the syxte in his realme gentyll of Thyre After all these thynges and many other he dysceased out of this worlde / and in deyenge he enbraced his wyfe and kyssed her in takynge his loue And she for veray pure sorowe and loue enbrac d hym and makinge grete lamentacyons and complayntes she gaue vp her spyryte with hym / wherfore the realmes made grete doles and sorowe And than they were bothe taken vp and layde in an arche of golde and they were sepultured accordinge to theyr estate And thus it pleased almyghty god to call theym to his reygne and to fynyssâ—â— theyr regall nobles whiche myght not alway endure ¶ Thus endeth the moost pytefull hystory of the noble Appolyn somtyme kynge of Thyre newly translated out of frensshe in to englysshe And enprynted in the famous cyte of London in the Fletestrete at the sygne of the sonne by Wynkyn de worde In the yere of our lorde M. d. and .x. the .xxviii. daye of the moneth of February The fyrst yere of the reygne of the moost excellent and noble prynce our ryght naturall and redoubted souerayne lorde kynge Henry the .viii. wynkyn de worde